Active system for deflecting a distal portion of a catheter into a hoop configuration
First Claim
1. A system for deflecting a distal portion of a catheter into a substantially hooped configuration, said system comprising:
- an elongated catheter body defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal portion and a distal portion, with the distal portion being formed with a lumen;
a tube disposed in said lumen and having a wall formed with a plurality of slits, said tube being transformable between a first, relaxed configuration wherein said tube is substantially cylindrical shaped and a second, deflected configuration wherein said tube is substantially hoop shaped;
a deflection wire having a distal end attached to said tube and a proximal end; and
a means operable on the proximal end of said deflection wire for moving said deflection wire axially to transform said tube from the first configuration to the second configuration and reshape the distal portion of the catheter.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An active system for deflecting a distal portion of a catheter into a hoop configuration includes an elongated catheter body having a proximal portion and a distal portion that is formed with a lumen. A thin-walled tube, which is typically made of a metallic material, is positioned in the lumen. The tube includes a cylindrical wall and includes a plurality of lateral slits that are typically formed in the tube wall and arranged such that the tube can be transformed between a relaxed, cylindrical configuration and a deflected configuration wherein the tube is substantially hoop shaped. One end of a deflection wire is attached to the tube and the other wire end is attached to a reel that is rotationally mounted onto a catheter handle housing. In use, the reel is rotated to axially retract the wire and transform the tube into a hoop configuration.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A system for deflecting a distal portion of a catheter into a substantially hooped configuration, said system comprising:
-
an elongated catheter body defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal portion and a distal portion, with the distal portion being formed with a lumen;
a tube disposed in said lumen and having a wall formed with a plurality of slits, said tube being transformable between a first, relaxed configuration wherein said tube is substantially cylindrical shaped and a second, deflected configuration wherein said tube is substantially hoop shaped;
a deflection wire having a distal end attached to said tube and a proximal end; and
a means operable on the proximal end of said deflection wire for moving said deflection wire axially to transform said tube from the first configuration to the second configuration and reshape the distal portion of the catheter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A system for reconfiguring and articulating a catheter while a portion of the catheter is positioned in a body conduit of a patient, said system comprising:
-
an elongated catheter body having a first portion and a second portion, with the second portion positioned distal to the first portion;
a means for transforming said first portion between a first, relaxed configuration wherein said first portion is substantially cylindrical shaped and a second, deflected configuration wherein said first portion is substantially hoop shaped; and
a means for deflecting said second portion in a first direction and in a second direction, wherein said first direction is coplanar and opposite to said second direction. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method for deflecting a distal portion of a catheter into a substantially hooped configuration, said method comprising the steps of:
-
providing an elongated catheter body defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal portion and a distal portion, with said distal portion being formed with a lumen;
disposing a tube in said lumen, said tube having a wall formed with a plurality of slits, said tube being transformable between a first, relaxed configuration wherein said tube is substantially cylindrical shaped and a second, deflected configuration wherein said tube is substantially hoop shaped;
attaching the distal end of a deflection wire to said tube;
inserting said distal catheter body portion into a body conduit of a patient; and
thereafteraxially moving said deflection wire at an extracorporeal location to deflect the distal catheter body portion into a substantially hooped configuration. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification