Steerable catheter with reinforced tip

• US 20020161353A1
• Filed: 04/30/2001
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biosense Webster Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Biosense Webster Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Kortelling, Bart-Jan
• Granted Patent: US 6,837,867 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/528
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0063 having means, e.g. stylets, mandrils, rods or wires to reinforce or adjust temporarily the stiffness, column strength or pushability of catheters which are already inserted into the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/015 Details of the distal fixation of the movable mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0054 with regions for increasing flexibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0069 Tip not integral with tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/008 Strength or flexibility characteristics of the catheter tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0141 having flexible regions as a result of using materials with different mechanical properties
• 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

Abstract

A steerable catheter having a reinforced distal end for improved deflection is provided. The catheter comprises an elongated, flexible tubular catheter body having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therethrough. A tip section is provided at the distal end of the catheter body. The tip section comprises a flexible plastic tubing having at least one off-axis lumen extending therethrough. A control handle is provided at the proximal end of the catheter body. At least one puller wire extends through the off-axis lumen of the tip section and lumen of the catheter body. The puller wire has a proximal end anchored to the control handle and a distal end anchored to the tip section. The puller wire is longitudinally moveable relative to the catheter body to cause deflection of the tip section in a plane in a first direction. The catheter further comprises one or more stabilizing features extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the length of the tip section and positioned generally symmetrically about a diameter of the tip section corresponding to the plane in which the tip section is deflectable. The one or more stabilizing features comprise a material that has a higher modulus of elasticity than the plastic of the tip section.

Claims

1. A steerable catheter comprising:

an elongated, flexible tubular catheter body having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therethrough;

a tip section at the distal end of the catheter body, the tip section comprising a flexible plastic tubing having at least one off-axis lumen extending therethrough;

a control handle at the proximal end of the catheter body;

a puller wire extending through the off-axis lumen of the tip section and lumen of the catheter body, and having a proximal end anchored to the control handle and a distal end anchored to the tip section, whereby the puller wire is longitudinally moveable relative to the catheter body to cause deflection of the tip section in a plane in a first direction; and

one or more stabilizing features extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the length of the tip section and positioned generally symmetrically about a diameter of the tip section corresponding to the plane in which the tip section is deflectable, the one or more stabilizing features comprising a material that has a higher modulus of elasticity than the plastic of the tip section.

2. A catheter according to claim 1, wherein the tip section is more flexible than the catheter body.

3. A catheter according to claim 1, wherein the one or more stabilizing features are generally rigidly in place relative to the tip section.

4. A catheter according to claim 1, wherein the tip section tubing comprises a core and an outer layer surrounding the core.

5. A catheter according to claim 4, wherein two stabilizing features are provided in the outer layer on opposite sides of the core.

6. A catheter according to claim 5, wherein each stabilizing feature comprises a metal rod.

7. A catheter according to claim 6, wherein the metal rods are coextruded with the outer layer.

8. A catheter according to claim 5, wherein each stabilizing feature comprises a plastic strip.

9. A catheter according to claim 8, wherein the plastic strips are coextruded with the outer layer.

10. A catheter according to claim 5, wherein the tip section further comprises a braided mesh between the outer layer and the core.

11. A catheter according to claim 10, wherein the tip section further comprises an inner layer between the braided mesh and the core.

12. A catheter according to claim 6, wherein the tip section further comprises a braided mesh between the outer layer and the core.

13. A catheter according to claim 4, wherein a single stabilizing feature is provided in the core.

14. A catheter according to claim 4, wherein two stabilizing features are provided in the core.

15. A catheter according to claim 1, having a second off-axis lumen in the tip section and further comprising a second puller wire extending through the second off-axis lumen, the second puller wire having a proximal end anchored to the control handle and a distal end anchored to the tip section, whereby the puller wire is longitudinally moveable relative to the catheter body to cause deflection of the tip section in the plane in a second direction opposite the first direction.

16. A catheter according to claim 15, wherein the tip section is more flexible than the catheter body.

17. A catheter according to claim 15, wherein the one or more stabilizing features are generally rigidly in place relative to the tip section.

18. A catheter according to claim 15, wherein the tip section tubing comprises a core and an outer layer surrounding the core.

19. A catheter according to claim 18, wherein two stabilizing features are provided in the outer layer on opposite sides of the core.

20. A catheter according to claim 19, wherein each stabilizing feature comprises a metal rod.

21. A catheter according to claim 20, wherein the metal rods are coextruded with the outer layer.

22. A catheter according to claim 19, wherein each stabilizing feature comprises a plastic strip.

23. A catheter according to claim 22, wherein the plastic strips are coextruded with the outer layer.

24. A catheter according to claim 19, wherein the tip section further comprises a braided mesh between the outer layer and the core.

25. A catheter according to claim 24, wherein the tip section further comprises an inner layer between the braided mesh and the core.

26. A catheter according to claim 20, wherein the tip section further comprises a braided mesh between the outer layer and the core.