Abstract:
A storage apparatus for an elongate medical device such as an endoscope. The apparatus includes a mounting bracket and a holder movably coupled to the bracket. The holder is configured to receive a body portion of the medical device, and is moveable between a storage position in which the holder is disposed at a first height, and an accessed position in which the holder is disposed at a second height, less than the first. The apparatus includes an optional tension element that receives an elongate portion of the medical device, which can be draped over the tension element. The tension element engages the elongate portion, and raises it upward, or at least prevents it from descending to the ground, as the holder transitions from the storage position to the accessed position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a medical device storage apparatus, and more particularly, to a storage apparatus for storing elongate medical instruments, such as endoscopes.  
         [0002]     In recent years, endoscopes have become an integral tool in the medical industry for the identification and treatment of various diseases and conditions. Endoscopes come in a variety of sizes and configurations, but typically include a body having a visual display, and an elongate flexible or rigid tubular portion coupled to the display. The tubular portion is designed for insertion into the body of a patient. Optical instrumentation, for example, lenses, lights and/or fiber optic bundles, is positioned in the end of the elongate portion (opposite the body) to assist in imaging internal organs and tissues of the patient.  
         [0003]     Endoscopes and other elongate medical devices usually require specialized storage cabinets. These cabinets usually are designed to hold the devices (a) without bending the elongate portions so that fiber optic bundles or other sensitive components within those portions remain undamaged, and (b) above the ground so that the optical instrumentation is in a safe position. Conventional endoscope storage cabinets usually include a fixed shelf defining a u-shaped recess disposed several feet above the bottom of the cabinet. The endoscope body is supported by the shelf surrounding the recess, and the elongate portion of the scope hangs freely below.  
         [0004]     Although conventional endoscope storage cabinets provide storage for endoscopes, they suffer several shortcomings. First, because many endoscopes are relatively long, the shelves on which they are stored must be high above the floor. This makes it difficult for shorter individuals to access the endoscope. Second, conventional storage cabinets provide little protection for the instrumentation in the hanging end of the endoscope. Accordingly, if an inattentive user quickly removes the scope from the cabinet, the hanging end of the scope may drop on the ground and damage the instrumentation. Third, the shelving in endoscope cabinets usually hugs the cabinet wall to reduce the dimension of the cabinet. As a result, individuals with large hands have difficulty accessing and removing the body of the endoscope from the shelf.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The aforementioned problems are overcome by a medical device storage apparatus including a mounting bracket and a holder movably coupled to the bracket. The holder is configured to receive a body of the medical device, and is moveable between a storage position in which the holder is disposed at a first height, and an accessed position in which the holder is disposed at a second height, less than the first.  
         [0006]     In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an optional tension element that receives an elongate portion of the medical device, which can be draped over the tension element. The tension element engages the elongate portion and raises it upward, or at least prevents it from descending to the ground, as the holder transitions from the storage position to the accessed position.  
         [0007]     In another embodiment, the apparatus can include a guide element coupled to at least one of the mounting bracket and the holder. The guide element can optionally be in the form of a housing which covers several of the components of the apparatus. The guide element can include a protrusion and/or a channel which engages the elongate portion of the medical device to align it with the tension element.  
         [0008]     The medical device storage apparatus provides a simple and effective mechanism for safely storing and easily accessing elongate medical devices, for example endoscopes. First, because the holder can be moved to a lower height, the apparatus can provide easy access to the stored medical device for users of varying stature. Second, the optional tension element can prevent the hanging end of the medical device from accidentally being dropped to the floor. In turn, this protects costly instrumentation in the end from damage. Third, when moved from the storage position to the accessed position, the holder can move the medical device away from the wall to which the apparatus is secured. This can provide roomy, comfortable access to the device.  
         [0009]     These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be more readily understood and appreciated by reference to the detailed description of the invention and the drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a medical device storage apparatus including a housing in a storage position;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a medical device storage apparatus including a housing in an accessed position;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the medical device storage apparatus without the housing in a storage position;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the medical device storage apparatus in transition from a storage position to an accessed position;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the medical device storage apparatus in the accessed position; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 6 . is a section view of a locking feature taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0000]     I. Overview  
         [0016]     An embodiment of the medical device storage apparatus is shown in  FIGS. 1-5  and generally designated  10 . The apparatus  10  can include a holder  20  connected to a frame that is disposed under the housing  30 , the frame being mounted to a stationary structure, for example, a wall or a cabinet, via a mounting bracket  40 . The housing can be configured with an optional guide element  34  in the form of a projection and/or a channel. An optional tension element  50  can also be included in the apparatus.  
         [0017]     In use, a medical device, for example, an endoscope  100 , is stored on the apparatus  10 , with the head or body  110  of the device being held by the holder  20 . The elongate portion  106  of the endoscope  106  hangs below the holder, and can be draped at least partially over the tension element  50 . A distal end  104  of the endoscope, which may include optical or other sensitive instrumentation, hangs below the tension element  50 . In the storage position or mode shown in  FIG. 1 , the distal end is stored a safe distance  108  above the ground. As used herein, ground can refer to a floor, a storage device bottom, or any surface under the storage device. To access the medical device, a user grasps the handle  23  to move the holder  20 , and thus the endoscope  100 , from the storage mode ( FIG. 1 ) toward an accessed position or mode ( FIG. 2 ). In so doing, the apparatus  10  enables the holder  20  and thus the endoscope  100  to be gradually lowered under a relatively constant force. Simultaneously, the elongate portion  106  of the endoscope rides over the tension element  50 , and is aligned with the tension element via guide element  34  when included. In turn, the elongate portion  106  of the endoscope raises so that the endoscope distal end  104  moves away from the ground another distance  109  (or at least moves no closer to the ground). Accordingly, the distal end  104  of the device is protected from collision with the ground as the medical device is accessed.  
         [0018]     Although the apparatus  100  is described herein as being an endoscope, the apparatus  10  is well suited for storing a variety of other medical devices that include an elongate portion. Further, the components of the apparatus  10  described herein can be constructed of any material as desired, for example, metal, alloys, synthetic materials and/or combinations of the same.  
         [0000]     II. Construction  
         [0019]     With reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , the components apparatus  10  will be described in more detail. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the apparatus  10  can be outfitted with a primary housing  30  and a secondary housing  36 , which cooperate to conceal internal components of the apparatus and provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance. The housing  30  can include a guide element  34 , which aligns the endoscope elongate portion  106  with the tension element  50 . The guide element  34  can prevent the endoscope from excessive rocking in the holder as the apparatus transitions to an accessed position. The guide element can be in the form of a projection, a channel, or any suitable structure. The housing  30  can be fixedly secured to the secondary bracket  60  using conventional fasteners. The housing  36  can be secured to the mounting bracket  40  so that it rotates as the apparatus  10  transitions from the storage position ( FIG. 1 ) to the accessed position shown ( FIG. 2 ). The housings  30  and  36  can be configured and constructed from materials, such as plastic, to ease sterilization and cleaning when the apparatus  10  is used in hospitals, laboratories and similar environments.  
         [0020]     The internal components of the apparatus  10  are shown in  FIGS. 3-5 . One such component is a mounting bracket  40  which is adapted to mount to a support structure, for example, a cabinet or a wall. The mounting bracket generally remains stationary during operation of the apparatus. The mounting bracket shown includes a forward projecting rectangular plate, and a second plate disposed at an angle to that plate. The second plate can include apertures and/or fasteners which facilitate securing the bracket to a support structure. The bracket  40  can be constructed in any alternative shape or form as desired.  
         [0021]     Coupled to and above the mounting bracket  40  is a holder bracket  60  including a holder  20 . Although shown as separate components, the holder bracket  60  and holder  20  can be a single, integral unit. The holder  20  can be constructed with an exterior cushion layer adapted to gently contact and/or cradle the endoscope  100 . For example, a foam-backed polyvinyl sheet can be wrapped around or over the holder  20 , and secured to the holder with an adhesive.  
         [0022]     The holder  20  can include a handle  23  which enables a user to grasp the holder and access the endoscope  100 . Although shown connected to the holder  20 , the handle  23  can be connected to any component of the apparatus  10  above the mounting bracket which enables the user to move the holder  20 . The holder  20  can define a recess  22  into which a portion of the endoscope fits. A portion of the holder  20  can further include a stabilization recess  24  to ensure that the head  110  is properly aligned within the recess  22  and/or holder  20 .  
         [0023]     Optionally, the holder  20  can be configured to receive multiple endoscopes. In such an embodiment, the holder can include multiple recesses  22  and stabilization recesses  24  spaced apart from one another a sufficient distance to accept several endoscopes. The spacing also can be of a specific shape, for example, the recesses can be in a quadrant configuration. Where the holder  20  is configured to hold multiple endoscopes, the apparatus  10  can include multiple tension elements  50  (described below). In such a construction, the mounting bracket and/or housing  36  can be modified to accept the multiple tension elements. For example, the mounting bracket can be extended on opposite sides and include additional brackets to which the additional tension elements mount. Other components of the apparatus  10  can alternatively be modified to support the additional multiple tension elements.  
         [0024]     As shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , the holder bracket  60  is joined with the mounting bracket via the elongate connecting members or elements  42 ,  44 . The elongate members can be of any shape or size as the application requires. For example, although shown as channel-shaped bars, the members can be cylindrical rods or flat strips of rigid material. The elongate members  42 ,  44  are pivotally secured to the mounting bracket  40  and the holder bracket  60  via fasteners  41 ,  43 . As used herein, fasteners can include any element adapted to join one element to another, including but not limited to bolts, screws, rivets, grommets and other types of fasteners.  
         [0025]     The apparatus  10  also includes a biasing element  80  and a compression element  70 . The biasing element  80  can be pivotally secured at one end to the first elongate element  42 , and at the other end, to the second elongate element  44  with fasteners  46  and  48 , respectively. The biasing element  80  can be a coil spring, an elastomeric material, or any body or device that returns to its original shape when released after being distorted. Although shown as being joined with the first elongate member  42  and the second elongate member  44 , the biasing element  80  can alternatively be joined with the holder bracket  60  at one end and the second elongate member  44  at the other end, or with the first elongate member  42  at one end and the mounting bracket  40  at the other end, or to the holder bracket  60  at one end and the mounting bracket  40  at the other end, or in any other configuration that slows the return of the apparatus  10  to the storage position.  
         [0026]     The compression element  70  can be pivotally secured at one end to the first elongate element  42  with fastener  46 , and at the other end, to the mounting bracket  40  with fastener  47 . Although shown as a gas cylinder spring, the compression element  70  can be any body or device that re-expands to its original shape or dimension when released after being distorted. Furthermore, although shown as pivotally joined with the first elongate member  42  and the mounting bracket  40 , the compression element  70  can be joined at one end with the holder bracket  60  and the mounting bracket  40  at the other end, or in any other configuration that urges the apparatus  10  to return to the storage position.  
         [0027]     A tension element  50  can be mounted to the mounting bracket  40 . As shown, the tension element is in the form of a reel, which is rotatably mounted to the bracket  40 , including opposing flanges that form a channel within which the elongate portion  106  of the endoscope can rest. The tension element can alternatively be joined to either of the elongate connecting members  42  or  44 , or even to the holding bracket  60 , or the holder  20 , or either of the housings  30 ,  36 . In one such alternative embodiment, a threaded insert (not shown) can be associated with the housing  36 , for example by heat inserting the insert into the housing. A threaded fastener can be coupled to the insert. This fastener can be an axle on which the reel is mounted. Although shown as a rotatable reel, the tension element can be a fixed non-rotatable reel or spool, or even a member projecting from the remainder of the apparatus  10  and adapted so that the endoscope elongate portion  106  can be draped over that element.  
         [0028]     Another optional feature that can be included with the apparatus is a locking feature  90 , shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 . The locking feature  90  includes a leaf spring  92  secured to a component of the apparatus  10 , for example the elongate member  42 , via a fastener  94 . The leaf spring presses a bearing  96  so that it registers in a hole  97  defined by the member  42  (or whatever component to which the locking feature is coupled). A portion of the bearing  96  projects through the hole  97 . Another component of the apparatus, for example the mounting bracket  40 , defines another hole  98 . The locking feature  10  operates such that when the apparatus is transitioned to the accessed position, the bearing partially retracts from the hole  97 , rides over a portion of the mounting bracket  40 , until seating again in the hole  97 , and at least partially in the hole  98  defined by the mounting bracket  40 . Accordingly, the feature temporarily locks the apparatus in the accessed position.  
         [0000]     III. Method of Manufacture and Use  
         [0029]     Methods for manufacturing and using the medical device storage apparatus of the present invention will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1-5 . To begin, the components of the apparatus  10  are constructed using conventional manufacturing techniques and materials. In assembly, the holder bracket  60  is secured to the mounting bracket  40  via the elongate connecting members  42 ,  44 . This is accomplished by securing the fasteners  43  and  41  to these components. The holder  20  can be secured to the holder bracket  60  with one or more fasteners (not shown) and held in a fixed position relative to that bracket. The compression element  70  and biasing element  80  are secured to the respective elongate connecting members  42 ,  44  and mounting bracket  40  as shown. The tension element  50  can be fastened to the mounting bracket  40  with the same fastener  53  used to connect the elongate element  44  to the mounting bracket  40 .  
         [0030]     In use, an endoscope  100  is positioned on the apparatus  10  as shown in  FIG. 3  such that the body  110  of the endoscope rests in the recess  22  defined by the holder. The body can further rest in the optional stabilization recess  24  to ensure that the body  110  is properly aligned within the recess  22 . The elongate portion  106  of the endoscope, which is typically flexible and several feet long, hangs below the holder. When a tension element  50  is included with the apparatus  10 , the endoscope elongate portion  106  can be draped over the tension element  50  as shown in  FIGS. 3-5 . In one embodiment, the tension element  50  is positioned relative to the remainder of the components of the apparatus so that the distal end  104  of the endoscope is maintained a safe distance  108  above the ground  200 .  
         [0031]     To move the storage apparatus  10  from the storage position shown in  FIG. 3  to the accessed position shown in  FIG. 5 , a user grasps the handle  23  and begins to pull generally downward on the handle. The biasing element  80  assists the user in so moving the holder  20  by counteracting the compression element  70 , which urges the holder  20  to the storage position. In one embodiment, the biasing element  80  and compression element  70  interact so that transitioning from the storage position to or toward the accessed position can be performed by a user applying to the handle  23  a relatively constant force, for example, about two to three pounds.  
         [0032]     As shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , as the holder transitions to a lower height, the tension element  50 , being in a fixed location relative to the ground  200 , assists in raising the distal end  104  of the endoscope an additional distance  109  away from the ground. Accordingly, when a user removes the endoscope  100  from the holder, the distal end  104  is raised that sufficient additional distance  109  above the ground  200  to minimize the likelihood that the end  104  will collide with the ground when removed completely from the apparatus. This can further protect any instrumentation in the distal end  104  of the endoscope.  
         [0033]     Where included, the locking feature  90  ( FIGS. 4 and 6 ) can temporarily lock the apparatus in the accessed position. To disengage the locking feature, a user need only push the holder toward the stored position. This will urge the bearing  96  against the resilient leaf spring  92 , and accordingly disengage the bearing  96  from the mounting bracket hole  98 .  
         [0034]     After the endoscope  100  is removed from the apparatus and the handle  23  is released (and the optional locking feature  90  is disengaged), the stored energy in the compression element  80  returns the holder toward and/or to the stored position. The biasing element  70  concurrently counteracts the compression element to ensure that the holder  20  is not catapulted at an unmanageable speed to the storage position.  
         [0035]     Further, if the endoscope is placed on the holder  20  when the apparatus is in the accessed position, the compression element  80  and biasing element  70  cooperate to move the endoscope in a relatively slow motion toward the stored position. Additionally, during such movement, the distal end  104  of the endoscope is lowered slowly and securely toward the ground until it rests a safe distance away  108  from the ground.  
         [0036]     The above descriptions are those of the preferred embodiments of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents. Any references to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” or “said,” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.