Automatic/manual longitudinal position translator and rotary drive system for catheters

• US 20020072704A1
• Filed: 10/02/2001
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Idriss Mansouri-Ruiz
• Original Assignee: Idriss Mansouri-Ruiz
• Inventors: Mansouri-Ruiz, Idriss
• Granted Patent: US 6,814,727 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/95.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4461 Features of the scanning mechanism, e.g. for moving the transducer within the housing of the probe

Abstract

An automatic pullback catheter system (2) includes a disposable catheter assembly (6) mountable to a drive assembly (4). The drive assembly includes a body (8) to which a drive chassis (14) is mounted for movement along a longitudinal path (16) by a motor (20) which rotates a longitudinal drive screw (22) selectively coupled to the drive chassis by a threaded clamp (24). A rotary drive motor (30), mounted to the drive chassis, rotates a first combined connector (34). The catheter assembly includes a hollow sheath (38) housing a rotatable and axially movable cable assembly (44). The sheath includes a proximal hub (42) mountable to the body. The cable assembly includes an elongate imaging cable (46) with a second combined connector (36) at its proximal end. The first and second combined connectors are blind matable connectors and provide for the longitudinal movement coupling, the rotary movement coupling and the data/information connection of the two connectors.

Claims

1. A catheter assembly comprising:

a hollow sheath having a proximal portion and a tip;

an elongate operative element slidably and rotatably housed within the sheath, the operative element comprising a distal end and a proximal end;

the elongate operative element comprising a relatively stiff, self-supporting initial section at the proximal end thereof; and

a combined connector secured to the proximal end of the operative element, said combined connector comprising a data/information connector and a mechanical connector.

2. The catheter assembly according to claim 1 wherein said data/information connector comprises an electrical connector.

3. The catheter assembly according to claim 1 wherein said mechanical connector comprises a rotary drive connector.

4. The catheter assembly according to claim 3 wherein said rotary drive connector comprises an axially- and circumferentially-extending drive surface.

5. The catheter assembly according to claim 1 wherein said combined connector comprises a rotary alignment surface.

6. The catheter assembly according to claim 1 wherein said elongate operative element comprises an imaging cable having an image element at said distal end thereof.

7. The catheter assembly according to claim 1 wherein said initial section comprises a metal tube.

8. The catheter assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a fluid seal between said proximal portion of said sheath and the initial section of the elongate operative element.

9. The catheter system according to claim 1 wherein said elongate operative element comprises a flexible imaging core and a relatively stiff tube at the proximal end thereof to create a relatively stiff, self-supporting initial section of the elongate operative element at the proximal end thereof.

10. A combined connector assembly, for use with a catheter system of the type including a rotary and longitudinal driver and a catheter assembly having an outer sheath and an inner catheter rotatably and slidably housed within the outer sheath, the combined connector assembly comprising:

a first combined connector connected to and movable with the driver and a second combined connector connected to and movable with the inner catheter; and

said first and second combined connectors being blind matable connectors constructed to (1) provide a data/information connection between the driver and the inner catheter when connected, and (2) cause the second combined connector and inner catheter therewith to rotate and move longitudinally according to the rotation and longitudinal movement of the driver.

11. The connector assembly according to claim 10 wherein the first and second combined connectors comprise:

socket and plug electrical connectors; and

first and second rotary drive connectors with axially- and circumferentially-extending drive surfaces.

12. The connector assembly according to claim 11 wherein said socket and plug electrical connectors are located coaxial with said first and second rotary drive connectors.

13. The connector assembly according to claim 10 wherein said first and second combined connectors comprise rotary alignment surfaces which engage when said connectors are connected so to ensure proper rotary alignment of said connectors when connected.

15. The catheter system according to claim 14 wherein the body and the drive chassis comprise a linear bearing, the linear bearing comprising a linear bearing track mounted to the body, the linear bearing track lying parallel to said longitudinal path.

16. The catheter system according to claim 14 wherein the longitudinal mover comprises:

a drive screw rotatably mounted to the body;

a drive screw motor mounted to the body and drivingly coupled to the drive screw; and

a drive screw clamp mounted to the drive chassis for movement between drive screw engaged and disengaged positions so that said chassis is moved along the longitudinal path when the drive screw clamp is in the drive screw engaged position and the drive screw motor is rotating the drive screw.

17. The catheter system according to claim 16 wherein the drive screw is housed within the body.

18. The catheter system according to claim 16 wherein the drive screw clamp is a manually-operated clamp.

19. The catheter system according to claim 14 wherein the first and second combined connectors comprise:

socket and plug electrical connectors; and

first and second rotary drive connectors with axially- and circumferentially-extending drive surfaces.

20. The catheter system according to claim 19 wherein said socket and plug electrical connectors are located coaxial with said first and second rotary drive connectors.

21. The catheter system according to claim 14 wherein said first and second combined connectors comprise rotary alignment surfaces which engage when said connectors are connected so to ensure proper rotary alignment of said connectors when connected.

22. The catheter system according to claim 14 wherein said proximal portion of said sheath comprises a fluid port.

23. The catheter system according to claim 14 wherein the elongate operative element comprises a relatively stiff, self-supporting initial section at the proximal end thereof.

25. The method according to claim 24 wherein the catheter assembly mounting step is carried out by positioning the first combined connector at the extended position, the first and second combined connectors being connected to one another while the proximal portion of the sheath and the proximal portion mount are being secured to one another.

26. The method according to claim 24 wherein the connecting step is carried out by moving the proximal end of the catheter assembly in a straight line causing the frictional coupling of the first and second combined connectors.

27. The method according to claim 26 wherein the proximal end moving step causes the first and second combined connectors to be frictionally coupled.

28. The method according to claim 24 wherein the selectively rotating step is carried out using a motor.

29. The method according to claim 24 wherein the selectively longitudinally translating step is carried out using a motor.

30. The method according to claim 24 wherein the selectively longitudinally translating step can be carried out manually or using a motor.

31. The method according to claim 30 wherein when the selectively longitudinally translating step is carried out manually, a user manually disengages a drive chassis of the drive assembly from a drive screw of the drive assembly to permit said drive chassis, and the first combined connector therewith, to be freely manually-translated along a longitudinal path.

32. The method according to claim 24 wherein said positioning step is carried out manually, a user manually disengages a drive chassis of the drive assembly from a drive screw of the drive assembly to permit said drive chassis, and the first combined connector therewith, to be freely manually translated along a longitudinal path.

14. A catheter system comprising:

a drive assembly comprising;

a body including a proximal portion mount;

a drive chassis movably mounted to the body for movement along a longitudinal path;

a longitudinal mover operably coupling the drive chassis and the body for selective movement of the drive chassis along the longitudinal path; and

a rotary driver mounted to the drive chassis and moveable therewith along the longitudinal path, the rotary driver comprising a rotary drive motor and a first combined connector rotatable by the rotary drive motor and movable along the longitudinal path between first and second positions; and

a catheter assembly comprising;

a hollow sheath having a proximal portion and a tip, said proximal portion of the sheath being removably secured to the proximal portion mount of the body;

an elongate operative element slidably and rotatably housed within the sheath, the operative element comprising a distal end and a proximal end; and

a second combined connector secured to the proximal end of the operative element; and

said first and second combined connectors being blind matable connectors constructed to (1) provide a data/information connection between the operative element and the rotary driver when connected, and (2) cause the second combined connector and operative-element therewith to rotate and move longitudinally according to the rotation and longitudinal movement of the first combined connector.

24. A method for operating a catheter system comprising:

selecting a catheter assembly, said catheter assembly comprising;

a hollow sheath having a proximal portion and a tip;

an elongate operative element slidably and rotatably housed within the sheath, the operative element comprising a distal end and a proximal end; and

a second combined connector secured to the proximal end of the operative element;

mounting said catheter assembly to a drive assembly, the drive assembly comprising a rotatable and translatable first combined connector;

connecting the second combined connector of the catheter assembly to the first combined connector;

securing the proximal portion of the sheath to a proximal portion mount of the drive assembly;

selectively rotating the first combined connector which in turn rotates the second combined connector which in turn rotates the elongate operative element within the sheath; and

selectively longitudinally translating the operative element within the sheath by moving the first combined connector along a longitudinal path between an extended position and a retracted position.

33. A method for preparing a catheter system for use, comprising the following steps:

selecting a catheter assembly, said catheter assembly comprising;

a hollow sheath having a proximal portion and a tip;

an elongate operative element slidably and rotatably housed within the sheath, the operative element comprising a distal end and a proximal end; and

a second combined connector secured to the proximal end of the operative element; and

mounting said catheter assembly to a drive assembly by;

positioning a rotatable and translatable first combined connector at an extended position; and

connecting the second combined connector of the catheter assembly to the first combined connector while securing the proximal portion of the sheath to a proximal portion mount of the drive assembly so that rotating the first combined connector rotates the second combined connector which in turn rotates the elongate operative element within the sheath, and moving the first combined connector along a longitudinal path between said extended position and a retracted position translates the second combined connector which in turn translates the operative element within the sheath.