System and methods for advancing a catheter

• US 20020177789A1
• Filed: 05/03/2002
• Published: 11/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stereotaxis, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Stereotaxis, Inc.
• Inventors: Pikus, Michael J., Hall, Andrew F., Ferry, Steven J., Habeger, Cam, Klimek, Scott G., Houge, Reed A., Finney, Jennifer R., Hackenmueller, Vincent
• Granted Patent: US 7,276,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/585
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00147 Holding or positioning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/01 Guiding arrangements therefore
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3409 including needle or instrument drives
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/301 for introducing or steering flexible instruments inserted into the body, e.g. catheters or endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/25 User interfaces for surgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/70 Manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/71 Manipulators operated by drive cable mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/73 Manipulators for magnetic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/11 with guides for needles or instruments, e.g. arcuate slides or ball joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0113 Mechanical advancing means, e.g. catheter dispensers

Abstract

An advancer system is described for moving an elongate medical device within a body. The system includes a drive unit having a motor. The drive unit is configured to translate movement of the motor to the device so as to alternately advance and retract the device relative to the body. The advancer system also includes a user-operable control system configured to control the drive unit. The control system can interface with a magnetic navigation system. The above-described system allows an operating physician to control catheter advancement and retraction while remaining outside an x-ray imaging field. Thus the physician is freed from repeated x-ray exposure.

Claims

1. An advancer system for moving an elongate medical device within a body, the system comprising:

a drive unit having a motor, the drive unit configured to translate movement of the motor to the device so as to alternately advance and retract the device relative to the body; and

a user-operable control system configured to control the drive unit.

2. The advancer system of claim 1 further configured to cause the medical device to stutter while in the body.

3. The advancer system of claim 1 wherein the control system is operable by a user remote from a procedure site in which the body is positioned.

4. The advancer system of claim 1 further configured to move a plurality of elongate medical devices relative to the body and relative to one another.

5. The advancer system of claim 4 wherein the drive unit comprises a mover for a sheath and a mover for a device to be moved within the sheath, each of the movers driven by a corresponding motor, the drive unit configured to alternately advance and retract the sheath relative to the body and/or relative to the device, the drive unit further configured to alternately advance and retract the device relative to the body and/or relative to the sheath.

6. The advancer system of claim 5 wherein the drive unit further comprises a motor configured to rotate one of the sheath and the device.

7. The advancer system of claim 1 wherein the motor is remote from a procedural site in which the body is positioned, the advancer system further comprising a flexible drive shaft by which the drive unit is driven by the motor.

8. The advancer system of claim 7 wherein the drive shaft is nonmagnetic.

9. The advancer system of claim 1 wherein the elongate medical device is steered using at least one magnet and wherein the advancer control system is controlled by a magnetic navigation system.

10. The advancer system of claim 1 further comprising a slide unit and a control cable between the drive unit and the slide unit, wherein the slide unit supports the medical device and comprises a slider that holds the device, the control cable configured to translate movement of the motor from the drive unit to the device through the slider.

11. An advancer system for moving an elongate medical device such as a catheter within a body, the system comprising:

a drive unit comprising a motor, the drive unit configured to translate movement of the motor to the device so as to move the device relative to the body; and

a control system configured to control the drive unit;

wherein the control system is operable by a user remote from a procedure site in which the body is positioned.

12. The advancer system of claim 11 wherein the drive unit is configured to alternately advance and retract the medical device relative to the body.

13. The advancer system of claim 12 wherein the drive unit is further configured to cause the medical device to stutter while in the body.

14. The advancer system of claim 11 wherein the drive unit comprises non-magnetic components for use in the procedure site.

15. The advancer system of claim 11 wherein the drive unit is controlled by the control system interfacing with a magnetic navigation system.

16. The advancer system of claim 11 wherein the drive unit comprises a slot extending across a top of the drive unit, the slot having a length into which a length of the device is laid and pressed.

17. The advancer system of claim 16 wherein the drive unit further comprises a pair of opposed wheels between which the device is driven along the slot.

18. The advancer system of claim 11 wherein the motor is remote from the procedural site, the advancer system further comprising a flexible drive shaft by which the drive unit is driven by the motor.

19. The advancer system of claim 11 further configured to move a plurality of elongate medical devices relative to the body and relative to one another.

20. The advancer system of claim 19 wherein the drive unit comprises a mover for a first device and a mover for a second device to be moved within the first device, each of the movers driven by a corresponding motor, the drive unit configured to alternately advance and retract the first device relative to the body and/or relative to the second device, the drive unit further configured to alternately advance and retract the second device relative to the body and/or relative to the first device.

21. An advancer system for moving an elongate, magnetically steerable medical device such as a catheter within a body, the system comprising:

a drive unit configured to move the device relative to the body; and

a user-operable control system configured to control the drive unit, the control system further configured to interface with a magnetic navigation system for controlling the device.

22. The advancer system of claim 21 wherein the drive unit comprises non-magnetic components for use in a procedure site in which the body is positioned.

23. The advancer system of claim 21 further comprising a plurality of drive units, each drive unit configured to advance and retract a corresponding elongate device under control of the control system.

25. The advancer according to claim 24 further comprising a pivotally mounted lever fore selectively moving the cover.

26. The advancer according to claim 24 wherein one of the pair of opposed wheels moves with the movement of the top.

27. The advancer according to claim 24 wherein the drive mechanism drives one of the opposed wheels.

28. The advancer according to claim 24 wherein the advancer is made primarily of a non-magnet material.

29. The advancer according to claim 24 wherein the advancer is made primarily of a non-metallic material.

24. An advancer for moving an elongate medical device, the advancer comprising a base having a slot with an open top and opposed sides therein;

a pair of opposed wheels on opposite sides of the slot to engage an elongate medical device, a drive mechanism adapted to be connected to a motor, for turning at least one of the pair of opposed wheels; and

a cover movably mounted on the base for movement between a loading position in which the top of the slot is open to allow a portion of the elongate medical device intermediate the ends to be inserted into the slot between the wheels, and a drive position in which the cover at least partially blocks the top of the slot to retain the medical device therein.

30. An advancer for moving an elongate medical device, the advancer comprising a base having a slot with an open top and opposed sides therein;

a pair of opposed wheels on opposite sides of the slot to engage an elongate medical device, a drive mechanism adapted to be connected to a motor, for turning at least one of the pair of opposed wheels; and

a cover movably mounted on the base for movement between a loading position in which the top of the slot is open to allow a portion of the elongate medical device intermediate the ends to be inserted into the slot between the wheels, and a drive position in which the cover at least partially blocks the top of the slot to retain the medical device therein;

at least one of the wheels moving with the cover; and

a pivotally mounted lever for selectively moving the cover.

31. The advancer according to claim 30 wherein the drive mechanism drives one of the opposed wheels.

32. The advancer according to claim 30 wherein the advancer is made primarily of a non-magnet material.

33. The advancer according to claim 30 wherein the advancer is made primarily of a non-metallic material.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the step of moving the cover includes moving at least one of the pair of opposed wheels to bring the wheels closer together to engage an elongate medical device between them.

34. A method of moving an elongate medical device having proximal and distal ends, the method comprising inserting a portion of the elongate medical device between the proximal and distal ends between an opposed pair of wheels on opposite sides of a slot in the base of an advancer, moving a cover to at least partially close the slot to retain the device in the slot, and turning at least of the pair of wheels to move the device.