Apparatus for the introduction and manipulation of multiple telescoping catheters
First Claim
1. A delivery apparatus, comprising:
- a steerable shaft comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a pull-wire conduit that extends at least partially through the proximal and distal portions of the shaft;
a pull wire extending through the pull-wire conduit and having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, wherein the distal end portion of the pull wire is fixed to the distal portion of the shaft; and
an adjustment mechanism operatively connected to the proximal end portion of the pull wire and configured to increase and decrease tension in the pull wire to adjust the curvature of the distal portion of the shaft;
wherein the distal portion of the shaft comprises a steerable portion having a first inner layer that defines an inner diameter of the shaft and a second outer layer that defines an outer diameter of the shaft, the steerable portion including a compression-resistance portion incorporated into the second outer layer of the steerable portion and extending angularly along a portion of a cross-section of the second outer layer, the second outer layer of the steerable portion into which the compression-resistance portion is incorporated having a first hardness, the compression-resistance portion having a second hardness that is greater than the first hardness.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A delivery apparatus includes a steerable shaft having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a pull-wire conduit that extends through the proximal and distal portions. A pull wire extends through the conduit and has a distal portion that is fixed to the shaft. An adjustment mechanism is connected to the proximal end portion of the pull wire and configured to increase and decrease tension in the pull wire to adjust the curvature of the shaft. The distal portion of the shaft has a steerable portion including one or more layers. A compression-resistance portion is incorporated into a layer of the steerable portion, and extends angularly along a portion of a cross-section of the layer. The layer of the steerable portion into which the compression-resistance portion is incorporated has a first hardness, and the compression-resistance portion has a second hardness that is greater than the first hardness.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A delivery apparatus, comprising:
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a steerable shaft comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a pull-wire conduit that extends at least partially through the proximal and distal portions of the shaft; a pull wire extending through the pull-wire conduit and having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, wherein the distal end portion of the pull wire is fixed to the distal portion of the shaft; and an adjustment mechanism operatively connected to the proximal end portion of the pull wire and configured to increase and decrease tension in the pull wire to adjust the curvature of the distal portion of the shaft; wherein the distal portion of the shaft comprises a steerable portion having a first inner layer that defines an inner diameter of the shaft and a second outer layer that defines an outer diameter of the shaft, the steerable portion including a compression-resistance portion incorporated into the second outer layer of the steerable portion and extending angularly along a portion of a cross-section of the second outer layer, the second outer layer of the steerable portion into which the compression-resistance portion is incorporated having a first hardness, the compression-resistance portion having a second hardness that is greater than the first hardness. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method, comprising:
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inserting a shaft of a delivery apparatus into the body of a patient, the shaft having; a proximal portion, a distal portion, a pull-wire conduit that extends at least partially through the proximal and distal portions, and a pull wire extending through the pull-wire conduit, the distal portion of the shaft comprising a steerable portion having a first inner layer that defines an inner diameter of the shaft and a second outer layer that defines an outer diameter of the shaft, the steerable portion including a compression-resistance portion incorporated into the second outer layer of the steerable portion that extends angularly along a portion of a cross-section of the layer, the second outer layer of the steerable portion into which the compression-resistance portion is incorporated having a first hardness, the compression-resistance portion having a second hardness that is greater than the first hardness; and applying tension to the pull wire to adjust the curvature of the distal portion of the shaft. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A delivery apparatus, comprising:
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a steerable shaft comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a pull-wire conduit that extends at least partially through the proximal and distal portions of the shaft; a pull wire extending through the pull-wire conduit and having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, wherein the distal end portion of the pull wire is fixed to the distal portion of the shaft; an adjustment mechanism operatively connected to the proximal end portion of the pull wire and configured to increase and decrease tension in the pull wire to adjust the curvature of the distal portion of the shaft; and wherein the distal portion of the shaft comprises a first inner layer that defines an inner diameter of the shaft and a second outer layer that defines an outer diameter of the shaft and a compression-resistance portion incorporated into the second outer layer of the distal portion, the compression-resistance portion extending angularly along a portion of a cross-section of the second outer layer and having a hardness that is greater than a hardness of the second outer layer into which the compression-resistance portion is incorporated, the compression-resistance portion being angularly offset from the pull-wire conduit along the cross-section of the layer. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification