US 11,793,396 B2
Devices, systems, and methods for advancing and positioning tethered capsule microendoscopes
Guillermo J. Tearney, Cambridge, MA (US); Chulho Daryl Hyun, Cambridge, MA (US); and Joseph A. Gardecki, Acton, MA (US)
Assigned to The General Hospital Corporation, Boston, MA (US)
Appl. No. 16/957,314
Filed by The General Hospital Corporation, Boston, MA (US)
PCT Filed Jan. 11, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/013172
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 23, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/140174, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 18, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/616,137, filed on Jan. 11, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0345217 A1, Nov. 5, 2020
Int. Cl. A61B 1/04 (2006.01); A61B 1/00 (2006.01); A61B 1/005 (2006.01); A61B 1/008 (2006.01); A61B 1/07 (2006.01); A61B 1/273 (2006.01); A61B 5/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 1/041 (2013.01) [A61B 1/008 (2013.01); A61B 1/0052 (2013.01); A61B 1/00126 (2013.01); A61B 1/00156 (2013.01); A61B 1/07 (2013.01); A61B 1/2736 (2013.01); A61B 5/0073 (2013.01); A61B 5/0084 (2013.01); A61B 5/4238 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device for capsule endomicroscopy, comprising:
a tether having a proximal end and a distal end, the tether having a first diameter;
an optical fiber disposed within the tether, the optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end;
a tube enclosing at least a portion of the tether, the tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the tube having a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter;
a capsule housing coupled to the distal end of the tether and the distal end of the tube;
an optical element disposed within the capsule housing, the optical element being optically coupled to the distal end of the optical fiber and configured to direct light received from the optical fiber toward a periphery of the capsule housing;
a plurality of articulation joint components; and
a wire that passes through each of the plurality of articulation joint components,
each of the plurality of articulation joint components being disposed within the tube.