Steerable distal support system

• US 20050020974A1
• Filed: 06/08/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Norborn Medical, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Sudaria, Rudolfo, Noriega, Gerardo
• Granted Patent: US 7,381,198 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/95.40
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0054 with regions for increasing flexibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0108 using radio-opaque or ultrasound markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0138 having flexible regions as a result of weakened outer material, e.g. slots, slits, cuts, joints or coils
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0147 with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/04 in the body, e.g. expansible A61M25/10, A61M16/0488 take precedence

Abstract

A steerable distal support system for accessing stenosis, partial occlusions, or complete occlusions within a body lumen. The steerable distal support system generally includes an elongate member that comprises a proximal portion, a more flexible intermediate portion and a deflectable distal tip. The deflectable distal tip is at a distal end of the elongate body to facilitate directionality and positioning of the steerable distal support system to the target site. Optionally, an expandable centering assembly may be disposed on the steerable support assembly to center and anchor the steerable support assembly within the body lumen.

Claims

1. A steerable distal support system comprising:

a hollow unibody elongate body comprising an integral proximal portion, intermediate portion, and a deflectable distal tip, wherein the proximal portion is stiffer than the intermediate portion;

a proximal housing coupled to the proximal portion of the elongate body; and

a pull wire that extends through an axial lumen of the elongate body from the proximal housing to the deflectable distal tip, wherein proximal actuation of the pull wire deflects the deflectable distal tip.

2. The steerable distal support system of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the intermediate portion comprises spiral laser etchings so that at least a portion of the intermediate portion comprise a spiral coil.

3. The steerable distal support system of claim 2 wherein the spiral coil in the intermediate portion comprises a decreasing pitch distally along the intermediate portion, wherein the decreasing pitch creates an increased flexibility in the intermediate portion of the elongate body.

4. The steerable distal support system of claim 1 wherein the unibody elongate body is comprised of a single laser etched hypotube.

5. The steerable distal support system of claim 1 wherein the steerable distal tip comprises a radiopaque marker disposed on a distal end.

6. The steerable distal support system of claim 1 wherein the deflectable distal tip comprises ribs to facilitate deflection of the deflectable distal tip.

7. The steerable distal support system of claim 6 wherein the ribs are tapered toward a distal end of the deflectable distal tip.

8. The steerable distal support system of claim 1 further comprising an expandable centering assembly positioned between the intermediate portion and the steerable distal tip.

9. The steerable distal support system of claim 8 wherein the proximal portion, intermediate portion, expandable centering assembly, and steerable distal tip are comprised of a single hypotube.

10. The steerable distal support system of claim 8 wherein the expandable centering assembly comprises a plurality of struts separated by slots.

11. The steerable distal support system of claim 10 wherein the expandable centering assembly in an expanded configuration is configured to engage an inner surface of a body lumen wall, wherein in the expanded configuration the struts are separated by the slots so as to allow fluids to flow around the struts and through the slots.

12. The steerable distal support system of claim 1 further comprising at least one of an inner liner and an outer liner coupled to at least a portion of at least one of an inner surface and outer surface of the intermediate portion and the deflectable distal tip.

13. A steerable distal support system comprising:

an elongate body comprising a proximal portion, an intermediate portion, and a deflectable distal tip;

at least one of an inner liner and an outer liner coupled to at least a portion of at least one of an inner surface and outer surface of the intermediate portion; and

an expandable basket disposed on the elongate body proximal of the steerable distal tip.

14. The steerable distal support system of claim 13 wherein the expandable basket is integrally formed with the deflectable distal tip, intermediate portion and proximal portion.

15. The steerable distal support system of claim 13 wherein the expandable basket comprises a plurality of expandable struts, wherein in an expanded configuration a portion of the struts expand radially outward from the elongate body and contact an inner surface of a body lumen and to create a slot between the struts.

16. The steerable distal support system of claim 15 wherein the slots between the struts are substantially S-shaped.

17. The steerable distal support system of claim 13 wherein the elongate body comprises a laser etched hypotube.

18. The steerable distal support system of claim 13 wherein at least a portion of the intermediate portion comprises spiral etchings so that at least a portion of the intermediate portion comprise a spiral coil.

19. The steerable distal support system of claim 17 wherein the spiral coil in the intermediate portion comprises a decreasing pitch distally along the intermediate portion, wherein the decreasing pitch creates an increased flexibility in the intermediate portion of the elongate body.

20. The steerable distal support system of claim 13 further comprising a radiopaque marker positioned at a distal end of the deflectable distal tip.

21. The steerable distal support system of claim 13 wherein the deflectable distal tip comprises ribs.

22. The steerable distal support system of claim 20 wherein the ribs are tapered toward a distal end of the deflectable distal tip.

23. The steerable distal support system of claim 13 wherein the proximal portion, intermediate portion, expandable cage, and steerable distal tip are comprised of a single hypotube.

24. The steerable distal support system of claim 13 comprising the outer liner, wherein the outer liner over the deflectable distal tip comprises one or more elbows.

25. The steerable distal support system of claim 13 further comprising a first pull wire coupled to the deflectable distal tip and a second pull wire coupled to the expandable basket, wherein proximal actuation of the first pull wire deflects the distal tip and actuation of the second pull wire expands the expandable basket.