Steering mechanism

• US 10,039,436 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2016
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Tah, Richard C., Ostrovsky, Isaac, Slanda, Jozef
• Primary Examiner(s): Price, Nathan R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Snyder, Melissa A
• Application Number:
  US15/149,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20160249785A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00042 for mechanical operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0052 Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0053 using distributed actuators, e.g. artificial muscles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/126 provided with means for cleaning in-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/10 for stereotaxic surgery, e.g. frame-based stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0136 Handles therefor

Abstract

A hand-holdable steering mechanism is used as part of a medical device such as a catheter or an endoscope to allow movement of a steerable distal portion of the catheter or endoscope. The mechanism can include a housing, a first actuator, and a second actuator. The first actuator is configured to move the steerable portion along a first plane when the first actuator is moved between first and second positions. The second actuator is configured to move the steerable portion along a second plane different than the first plane when the second actuator is moved between first and second positions.

Claims

1. A medical device, comprising:

a handle extending along a longitudinal axis;

a steerable member coupled to the handle; and

a steering system including;

a first actuator rotatable about a first axis different than the longitudinal axis between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the steerable member extends in a first direction along a first plane and in the second position the steerable member extends in a second direction along the first plane; and

a second actuator moveably coupled to the first actuator and moveable between a first position and a second position about an axis other than the first axis, wherein in the first position, the steerable member extends in a first direction along a second plane and in the second position the steerable member extends in a second direction along the second plane.

2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the second actuator is independently moveable relative to the first actuator.

3. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

4. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the first plane is a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the handle and the second plane is a plane normal to the first plane.

5. The medical device of claim 1, further including at least two first plane wires.

6. The medical device of claim 1, further including at least two second plane wires.

7. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the first actuator is pivotably coupled to a proximal end of the handle.

8. The medical device of claim 1, further including a cam coupled to the first actuator.

9. A medical device, comprising:

a handle extending along a longitudinal axis;

a steerable member coupled to the handle; and

a steering system including;

a first actuator rotatable about a first axis different than the longitudinal axis between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the steerable member extends in a first direction along a first plane and in the second position the steerable member extends in a second direction along the first plane, wherein the first plane is normal to the longitudinal axis of the handle; and

a second actuator coupled to the first actuator and slideably moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the steerable member extends in a first direction along a second plane and in the second position the steerable member extends in a second direction along the second plane, wherein the second plane is normal to the first plane.

10. The medical device of claim 9, wherein the second actuator is independently moveable relative to the first actuator.

11. The medical device of claim 9, wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

12. The medical device of claim 9, wherein the first actuator is pivotably coupled to a proximal end of the handle.

13. The medical device of claim 9, wherein the first actuator is coupled to at least one first plane wire.

14. A medical device, comprising:

a handle extending along a longitudinal axis;

a steerable member coupled to the handle; and

a steering system including;

a first actuator rotatable about a first axis different than the longitudinal axis between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the steerable member extends in a first direction along a first plane and in the second position the steerable member extends in a second direction along the first plane, wherein the first actuator is pivotably coupled to a proximal end of the handle; and

a second actuator coupled to the first actuator and moveable between a first position and a second position, the second actuator having a first portion positioned within the first actuator and a second portion positioned exterior of the second actuator, wherein in the first position, the steerable member extends in a first direction along a second plane and in the second position the steerable member extends in a second direction along the second plane.

15. The medical device of claim 14, wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

16. The medical device of claim 14, further including a cam coupled to the first actuator.

17. The medical device of claim 14, wherein the first plane is a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the handle and the second plane is a plane normal to the first plane.

18. The medical device of claim 14, further including at least two first plane wires.

19. The medical device of claim 14, further including at least two second plane wires.

20. The medical device of claim 14, wherein the first actuator includes a first end coupled to the handle, a second end opposite the first end, and an arm extending between the first end and the second end, wherein a portion of the handle is positioned within an opening defined by the arm between the first end and the second end.