Wire reinforced articulation segment
First Claim
1. A device for steering a cardiac cryoablation catheter through the vasculature and heart of a patient which comprises:
- a resilient, cylindrical-shaped articulation segment defining a longitudinal axis, said articulation segment having a distal end and a proximal end and forming a lumen therebetween;
a tip member affixed to the distal end of said articulation segment;
a flexible spine fixedly attached to said articulation segment to extend between the proximal and distal ends thereof, and oriented on said articulation segment off-set from the axis thereof and substantially parallel thereto;
a control wire having a first end attached to said tip member, said control wire being positioned in the lumen of said articulation segment to extend a second end of said control wire from the proximal end of said articulation segment; and
a means engaged with the second end of said control wire for axially moving said control wire to selectively deflect said tip member, said articulation segment and said spine through an arc in a plane to steer the catheter.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device for steering a cardiac cryoablation catheter through the vasculature of a patient includes separate first and second deflection members that connect a tip member to the distal end of a catheter tube. Importantly, the first deflection member has a first flexural modulus, and the second deflection member has a second flexural modulus that is greater than the first flexural modulus. Also included is a control wire for pulling the tip member toward the catheter tube. In response, the first and second deflection members differentially deflect, according to their respective flexural moduli, to move the tip member for steering the catheter through the vasculature.
96 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device for steering a cardiac cryoablation catheter through the vasculature and heart of a patient which comprises:
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a resilient, cylindrical-shaped articulation segment defining a longitudinal axis, said articulation segment having a distal end and a proximal end and forming a lumen therebetween;
a tip member affixed to the distal end of said articulation segment;
a flexible spine fixedly attached to said articulation segment to extend between the proximal and distal ends thereof, and oriented on said articulation segment off-set from the axis thereof and substantially parallel thereto;
a control wire having a first end attached to said tip member, said control wire being positioned in the lumen of said articulation segment to extend a second end of said control wire from the proximal end of said articulation segment; and
a means engaged with the second end of said control wire for axially moving said control wire to selectively deflect said tip member, said articulation segment and said spine through an arc in a plane to steer the catheter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A device for steering a cardiac cryoablation catheter through the vasculature and heart of a patient which comprises:
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a tip member;
a catheter tube having a proximal end and a distal end;
a first deflection member attached to said tip member and to the distal end of said catheter tube to position said first deflection member therebetween, said first deflection member having a first flexural modulus;
a second deflection member attached to said tip member and to the distal end of said catheter tube to position said second deflection member substantially parallel to said first deflection member between said tip member and said catheter tube, said second deflection member having a second flexural modulus with the second flexural modulus being greater than the first flexural modulus; and
a control means for pulling said tip member toward said catheter tube to differentially deflect said first deflection member and said second deflection member according to the respective flexural moduli to move said tip member for steering said catheter through the vasculature. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for manufacturing a device for steering a cardiac cryoablation catheter through the vasculature and heart of a patient which comprises the steps of:
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providing a helical spring having a proximal end and a distal end, the helical spring defining an axis and forming a lumen;
positioning an inner tube in the lumen of the helical spring;
positioning an outer tube against the helical spring opposite the inner tube;
bonding the outer tube to the inner tube to embed the helical spring therebetween to create a resilient, cylindrical-shaped articulation segment, with the articulation segment having a first flexural modulus;
fixedly attaching a flexible spine to said articulation segment to extend between the proximal and distal ends thereof, said spine being oriented on said articulation segment off-set from the axis thereof and substantially parallel thereto, with the spine having a second flexural modulus wherein the second flexural modulus is greater than the first flexural modulus;
affixing a tip member to the distal end of the articulation segment; and
attaching a control wire to the tip member to differentially deflect the articulation segment and the spine according to their respective flexural moduli, whenever the control wire is pulled, to move the tip member for steering the catheter through the vasculature. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification