Patent ID: 9173546
Filing Date: 2015-11-03
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A diagnostic device for pathologies of naturally occurring tubular anatomical structures comprising: a tubular elongated structure developing between a proximal end and a distal end and being adapted to be inserted in the tubular anatomical structure, wherein said elongated structure comprises an inner tube and an outer tube adapted to internally receive said inner tube, means for locally dilating the walls of the tubular anatomical structure being associated with the distal end of said elongated structure, said means for locally dilating being movable between a closed position for the introduction of the device and at least one open position for the viewing and evaluation of the pathology, wherein said means for locally dilating comprise petals being arranged such that one first end thereof is associated to the distal end of the elongated tubular structure, said petals being adapted to assume at least one closed configuration and one open configuration, said inner tube and said outer tube being suitable to translate relatively to each other to open or close said petals, control means being associated to the proximal end of the elongated structure, said control means being operatively connected to said means for locally dilating in order to move them between the closed position and the open position, and vice versa, wherein the outer tube comprises a thickened portion adjacent a proximal end thereof, and wherein in the region of the petals, the outer tube comprises a thinned portion that extends distally to form said petals and a flexure hinge at said first end of the petals in which the outer tube and the petals form together one continuous external surface, and each of said petals is coupled with a portion of said inner tube forming a unidirectional guide adapted to close or open the petals in response to the translation of the inner tube relative to the outer tube and the petals, and wherein each petal comprises a longitudinally extending rib, and wherein said inner tube comprises a distal flange provided with openings through which respective ribs of said petals are displaced.