Assemblies for creating compound curves in distal catheter regions

• US 20020068868A1
• Filed: 01/22/2002
• Published: 06/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1990
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Swanson, David K., Fleischman, Sidney D., Whayne, James G., Thompson, Russell B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,008,401 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/434
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00916 with means for switching or controlling the main function of the instrument or device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00952 rotatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0161 wherein the distal tips have two or more deflection regions
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0163 Looped catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0105 Steering means as part of the catheter or advancing means; Markers for positioning systems for detection of markers A61B
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0136 Handles therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0144 having flexible regions as a result of inner reinforcement means, e.g. struts or rods
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0147 with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0152 with pre-shaped mechanisms, e.g. pre-shaped stylets or pre-shaped outer tubes

Abstract

Compound steering assemblies, usable in both diagnostic and therapeutic applications, enable a physician to swiftly and accurately steer the distal section of the catheter in multiple planes or complex curves to position and maintain ablation and/or mapping electrodes in intimate contact with an interior body surface.

Claims

1. A steerable catheter comprising

an elongated catheter body secured to a proximal handle and having a distal end carrying at least one functional element,

a unitary spring structure for steering said distal end comprising at least two orthogonally arranged flattened sections bendable normal to flattened planes of said sections,

said flattened sections being axially displaced along the length of said spring structure thereby comprising a proximal flattened section and a distal flattened section,

at least one steering wire being attached to each flattened section to apply bending forces thereto,

a coil spring having a hollow interior lumen extending along the length of said catheter body, a distal end of said coil spring being affixed to said proximal flattened section,

at least one steering wire extending distally from said distal end, said wire being attached to said distal flattened action for application of bending forces thereto, said steering wire having a proximal end connected to means in said handle for application of pulling forces of said wire, and

at least one steering wire being attached to said proximal flattened section for exertion of bending forces thereon.

5. A catheter according to claim 1 wherein said unitary spring structure comprises two orthogonally arranged segments which are soldered together to form said unitary structure.

6. A catheter according to claim 1 wherein a pair of steering wires is attached to each of said orthogonally arranged flattened sections.

7. A catheter according to claim 1 wherein a guide tube containing at least one of steering wires is attached to a proximal one of said flattened sections.

2. A steerable catheter comprising

an elongated catheter body secured to a proximal handle and having a distal end carrying at least one functional element,

a distal steering assembly which includes a section containing a preshaped wire, said wire being biased to bend said assembly into a curvilinear shape in a first plane, and

a second steering mechanism independent from said preshaped wire which enables bending said assembly in a second plane that is non-parallel to the bending plane of the preshaped section.

3. A catheter according to claim 2 wherein said preshaped wire is located proximally to said second steering mechanism.

4. A catheter according to claim 2 wherein said preshaped wire is contained within an introducer tube for introduction into a living body, wherein said introducer tube retains said preshaped wire in a generally linear orientation.