Method and apparatus for imparting curves in elongated implantable medical instruments
First Claim
1. An elongated medical instrument to be advanced through the body comprising:
- an instrument body extending between an instrument body proximal end and an instrument body distal end and having an instrument body proximal segment and an instrument body distal segment, the instrument body having an instrument body axis extending axially in the instrument body distal segment and further comprising an elongated pull wire lumen extending through the instrument body proximal segment and instrument body distal segment, the pull wire lumen extending in parallel with and radially offset in a first radial direction from the instrument body distal axis in the instrument body distal segment;
an inelastic pull wire extending through the pull wire lumen from a pull wire proximal attachment with the elongated medical instrument to a pull wire distal attachment with the instrument body distal segment; and
the instrument body proximal segment is formed of an elastic material capable of being stretched axially under axially applied tension, whereby the inelastic pull wire bends in the first radial direction and thereby imparts a curve to the instrument body in the instrument body distal segment.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A medical instrument including a body extending between proximal and distal ends and enclosing an elongated, inelastic, pull wire extending between a pull wire proximal end affixed at a point at or near the proximal end and a pull wire distal end affixed at or near the distal end. The wire extends through a lumen off-set from the instrument axis and through a distal segment of the body that is to be curved for deflection at the distal end. A proximal segment of the instrument axially stretches when tension is applied to increase the length of the proximal segment from a relaxed length. A hand-held tool engages the proximal and distal ends of the proximal segment and manually applies a selective amount of tension that stretches the proximal segment from its relaxed length.
30 Citations
54 Claims
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1. An elongated medical instrument to be advanced through the body comprising:
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an instrument body extending between an instrument body proximal end and an instrument body distal end and having an instrument body proximal segment and an instrument body distal segment, the instrument body having an instrument body axis extending axially in the instrument body distal segment and further comprising an elongated pull wire lumen extending through the instrument body proximal segment and instrument body distal segment, the pull wire lumen extending in parallel with and radially offset in a first radial direction from the instrument body distal axis in the instrument body distal segment;
an inelastic pull wire extending through the pull wire lumen from a pull wire proximal attachment with the elongated medical instrument to a pull wire distal attachment with the instrument body distal segment; and
the instrument body proximal segment is formed of an elastic material capable of being stretched axially under axially applied tension, whereby the inelastic pull wire bends in the first radial direction and thereby imparts a curve to the instrument body in the instrument body distal segment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An elongated electrical medical lead to be advanced through the body comprising:
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a lead body extending between a lead body proximal end and a lead body distal end and having a lead body proximal segment and a lead body distal segment, the lead body having a lead body axis extending axially in the lead body distal segment and further comprising an elongated pull wire lumen extending through the lead body proximal segment and lead body distal segment, the pull wire lumen extending in parallel with and radially offset in a first radial direction from the lead body distal axis in the lead body distal segment;
a proximal connector element at the lead body proximal end;
an electrode at the lead body distal end;
an elongated electrical conductor extending between the proximal connector element and the electrode through and enclosed within the lead body;
an inelastic pull wire extending through the pull wire lumen from a pull wire proximal attachment with the elongated medical lead to a pull wire distal attachment with the lead body distal segment; and
the lead body proximal segment is formed of an elastic material capable of being stretched axially under axially applied tension, whereby the inelastic pull wire bends in the first radial direction and thereby imparts a curve to the lead body in the lead body distal segment to orient the electrode at a desired site in the body. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for advancing an elongated medical instrument through the body comprising:
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an elongated medical instrument comprising;
an instrument body extending between an instrument body proximal end and an instrument body distal end and having an instrument body proximal segment and an instrument body distal segment, the instrument body having an instrument body axis extending axially in the instrument body distal segment and further comprising an elongated pull wire lumen extending through the instrument body proximal segment and instrument body distal segment, the pull wire lumen extending in parallel with and radially offset in a first radial direction from the instrument body distal axis in the instrument body distal segment; and
an inelastic pull wire extending through the pull wire lumen from a pull wire proximal attachment with the elongated medical instrument to a pull wire distal attachment with the instrument body distal segment;
the instrument body proximal segment is formed of an elastic material capable of being stretched axially under axially applied tension, whereby the inelastic pull wire bends in the first radial direction and thereby imparts a curve to the instrument body in the instrument body distal segment; and
proximal tension applying means coupled to the instrument body proximal segment at a proximal site of the instrument body proximal segment and distal tension applying means coupled to the instrument body proximal segment at a distal site of the instrument body proximal segment, the proximal and distal tension applying means separated apart by a relaxed length of the instrument body proximal segment, tool means for engaging and applying tension axially between the proximal and distal tension applying means to stretch the instrument body proximal section to a tensioned length exceeding the relaxed length. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A system for advancing an elongated medical instrument through the body comprising:
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an elongated medical instrument comprising;
an instrument body extending between an instrument body proximal end and an instrument body distal end and having an instrument body proximal segment and an instrument body distal segment, the instrument body having an instrument body axis extending axially in the instrument body distal segment and further comprising an elongated pull wire lumen extending through the instrument body proximal segment and instrument body distal segment, the pull wire lumen extending in parallel with and radially offset in a first radial direction from the instrument body distal axis in the instrument body distal segment; and
an inelastic pull wire extending through the pull wire lumen from a pull wire proximal attachment with the elongated medical instrument to a pull wire distal attachment with the instrument body distal segment;
the instrument body proximal segment is tubular having a predetermined segment diameter and is formed of an elastic material capable of being stretched axially under axially applied tension, whereby the inelastic pull wire bends in the first radial direction and thereby imparts a curve to the instrument body in the instrument body distal segment;
an enlarged diameter proximal tension applying ring coupled to the instrument body proximal segment at a proximal site of the instrument body proximal segment; and
an enlarged diameter distal tension applying ring coupled to the instrument body proximal segment at a distal site of the instrument body proximal segment and separated from the proximal tension applying ring by a relaxed length of the instrument body proximal segment; and
a hand-held tool having a first surface that engages the proximal tension applying ring and a second surface spaced from the first surface that engages the distal tension applying ring and a spanner extending between the first and second surfaces that can be manually adjusted to increase the spacing between the first and second surfaces to axially apply tension to and increase the length of the instrument body proximal segment. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method of advancing an elongated medical instrument through the body comprising:
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inserting the elongated medical instrument into a pathway of the body, the elongated medical instrument comprising;
an instrument body extending between an instrument body proximal end and an instrument body distal end and having an instrument body proximal segment and an instrument body distal segment, the instrument body having an instrument body axis extending axially in the instrument body distal segment and further comprising an elongated pull wire lumen extending through the instrument body proximal segment and instrument body distal segment, the pull wire lumen extending in parallel with and radially offset in a first radial direction from the instrument body distal axis in the instrument body distal segment;
an inelastic pull wire extending through the pull wire lumen from a pull wire proximal attachment with the elongated medical instrument to a pull wire distal attachment with the instrument body distal segment; and
the instrument body proximal segment is formed of an elastic material capable of being stretched axially under axially applied tension; and
as the distal end is advanced, selectively applying tension axially to stretch the instrument body proximal segment whereby the inelastic pull wire bends in the first radial direction and thereby imparts a curve to the instrument body in the instrument body distal segment so as to deflect the distal end to the extent found expedient to advance the distal tip and to position the distal end at a remote site in the body. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A system for advancing an elongated medical instrument through the body comprising:
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an the elongated medical instrument adapted to be inserted into a pathway of the body, the elongated medical instrument comprising;
an instrument body extending between an instrument body proximal end and an instrument body distal end and having an instrument body proximal segment and an instrument body distal segment, the instrument body having an instrument body axis extending axially in the instrument body distal segment and further comprising an elongated pull wire lumen extending through the instrument body proximal segment and instrument body distal segment, the pull wire lumen extending in parallel with and radially offset in a first radial direction from the instrument body distal axis in the instrument body distal segment;
an inelastic pull wire extending through the pull wire lumen from a pull wire proximal attachment with the elongated medical instrument to a pull wire distal attachment with the instrument body distal segment; and
the instrument body proximal segment is formed of an elastic material capable of being stretched axially under axially applied tension; and
tension applying means operable as the distal end is advanced, for selectively applying tension axially to stretch the instrument body proximal segment whereby the inelastic pull wire bends in the first radial direction and thereby imparts a curve to the instrument body in the instrument body distal segment so as to deflect the distal end to the extent found expedient to advance the distal tip and to position the distal end at a remote site in the body. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification