Deflectable variable radius catheters
First Claim
1. A deflectable catheter comprisinga continuous catheter shaft comprising a flexible distal end section and a proximal end wherein the flexible distal end section comprises a tip or tip electrode, wherein the flexible distal end section is biased to assume a loop structure;
- a first control wire and a second control wire, both control wires contained within the deflectable catheter and connected to the catheter shaft;
a variable radius control wire contained within the deflectable catheter and connected at or near the tip or tip electrode of the distal end section;
a first compression coil housing both the first and second control wires;
a first actuator at the proximal end that engages the first control wire to produce a desired deflection in the distal end section; and
a second actuator at the proximal end that engages the variable radius control wire to modify the loop structure;
wherein the variable radius control wire is housed in a second compression coil, and wherein the second compression coil is housed inside the first compression coil.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a deflectable catheter capable of forming many variable radius spiral forms from a single, flexible, distal end section. In one aspect, the catheter employs a variable radius control wire to extend or deform a pre-formed loop structure into a three dimensional spiral-like form or geometry. The ability of a single catheter to create a multitude of shapes and sizes allows users to access to a number of anatomical areas without changing the catheter during a procedure or treatment. In another aspect, the invention encompasses methods of producing deflectable variable radius catheters, where two or more regions of the catheter having common control wires are fused or formed onto one another.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A deflectable catheter comprising
a continuous catheter shaft comprising a flexible distal end section and a proximal end wherein the flexible distal end section comprises a tip or tip electrode, wherein the flexible distal end section is biased to assume a loop structure; -
a first control wire and a second control wire, both control wires contained within the deflectable catheter and connected to the catheter shaft; a variable radius control wire contained within the deflectable catheter and connected at or near the tip or tip electrode of the distal end section; a first compression coil housing both the first and second control wires; a first actuator at the proximal end that engages the first control wire to produce a desired deflection in the distal end section; and a second actuator at the proximal end that engages the variable radius control wire to modify the loop structure; wherein the variable radius control wire is housed in a second compression coil, and wherein the second compression coil is housed inside the first compression coil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A deflectable catheter comprising
a continuous catheter shaft comprising a flexible distal end section and a proximal end, wherein the flexible distal end section comprises a tip or tip electrode, wherein the flexible distal end section is biased to assume an open loop structure in a neutral state; -
a first control wire and a second control wire, both control wires contained within the deflectable catheter and connected to the catheter shaft; a variable radius control wire contained within the deflectable catheter and connected at or near the tip or tip electrode of the distal end section; a first compression coil housing both the first and second control wires; a first actuator at the proximal end that engages the first control wire to produce a desired deflection in the distal end section; and a second actuator at the proximal end that engages the variable radius control wire to modify the loop structure; and wherein the deflectable catheter comprises a second compression coil housed within the first compression coil. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification