Catheter having articulation system
First Claim
1. A system for articulating a catheter in the vasculature of a patient, said system comprising:
- an articulation segment having an elongated, cylindrically shaped wall extending from a distal end to a proximal end and surrounding a lumen therebetween, said wall defining a longitudinal axis and formed with a first section made of a first material having flexural modulus, M1, and a second section made of a second material having flexural modulus, M2, wherein M2, is larger than M1 (M2>
M1), said second section of said articulation segment being elongated in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis;
a tip member affixed to the distal end of said articulation segment;
a control wire having a portion disposed in said lumen of said articulation segment, said control wire having a first end and a second end with said first end attached to said tip member at an attachment point, said attachment point being distanced radially from said longitudinal axis; and
a means engaged with the second end of said control wire for axially moving said control wire to selectively bend said articulation segment and deflect said tip member through an arc in a plane to articulate the catheter.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An articulation system for catheter steering and selective positioning of the catheter distal tip includes an articulation segment having a cylindrically shaped wall that is attached between a tip member and a catheter tube. The cylindrically shaped wall defines a longitudinal axis and surrounds a central lumen. The wall of the articulation segment is formed with a first section made of a first material having flexural modulus, M1, and a second section made of a second material having flexural modulus, M2, with M2 being larger than M1 (M2>M1). One end of a control wire is attached to the tip member, while the control wire itself extends from the tip member, through the lumen of the articulation segment and through the catheter tube. The sections are arranged to cause the tip member to deflect in a pre-selected plane in response to axial movements of the control wire.
305 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A system for articulating a catheter in the vasculature of a patient, said system comprising:
-
an articulation segment having an elongated, cylindrically shaped wall extending from a distal end to a proximal end and surrounding a lumen therebetween, said wall defining a longitudinal axis and formed with a first section made of a first material having flexural modulus, M1, and a second section made of a second material having flexural modulus, M2, wherein M2, is larger than M1 (M2>
M1), said second section of said articulation segment being elongated in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis;
a tip member affixed to the distal end of said articulation segment;
a control wire having a portion disposed in said lumen of said articulation segment, said control wire having a first end and a second end with said first end attached to said tip member at an attachment point, said attachment point being distanced radially from said longitudinal axis; and
a means engaged with the second end of said control wire for axially moving said control wire to selectively bend said articulation segment and deflect said tip member through an arc in a plane to articulate the catheter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A catheter for cryoablating target tissue, said catheter comprising:
-
a proximal tube having a proximal end and a distal end and forming a proximal tube lumen therebetween;
an articulation segment affixed to said distal end of said proximal tube, said articulation segment having a distal end, a proximal end and forming an articulation segment lumen therebetween, said articulation segment having an elongated, tubular shape defining a longitudinal axis and formed with a first section made of a first material having flexural modulus, M1, and a second section made of a second material having flexural modulus, M2, wherein M2, is larger than M1 (M2>
M1), said second section of said articulation segment being elongated in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis;
a tip member affixed to the distal end of said articulation segment for contacting and cryoablating the target tissue;
a control wire extending through said proximal tube lumen and said articulation segment lumen from a first end to a second end with said first end attached to the tip member at an attachment point, said attachment point being distanced radially from said longitudinal axis; and
a means engaged with said second end of said control wire for axially moving said control wire to selectively bend said articulation segment and deflect said tip member through an arc in a plane to articulate the catheter. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method for manufacturing a catheter having an articulation system, said method comprising the steps of:
-
co-extruding a wall having a first section made of a first material having flexural modulus, M1, and a second section made of a second material having flexural modulus, M2, wherein M2, is larger than M1 (M2>
M1);
affixing a tip member to said wall;
connecting a catheter tube to said wall;
attaching a control wire to said tip member at an attachment point with the control wire extending proximally through said catheter tube; and
engaging said control wire with a control means for pulling said control wire in a proximal direction to bend said wall and deflect said tip member through an arc in a plane defined by said second section of said wall and said attachment point. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
-
Specification