Active system for deflecting a distal portion of a catheter into a hoop configuration

• US 20050288626A1
• Filed: 06/24/2004
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CryoCor Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: CryoCor Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Koerner, Richard J., Lentz, David J., O'Donnell, Joseph A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,285,108 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/95.04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0212 using an instrument inserted into a body lumen, e.g. catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0231 Characteristics of handpieces or probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0262 using a circulating cryogenic fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0161 wherein the distal tips have two or more deflection regions
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0136 Handles therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0147 with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires

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.

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.

2. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said tube wall has an inner wall and said system further comprises a guiding means for maintaining said deflection wire along said inner wall during a movement of said deflection wire.

3. A system as recited in claim 2 wherein said guiding means comprises a plurality of indentations, with each indentation formed in said tube wall between a pair of axially adjacent slits, and wherein each indentation forms a passageway for threading said deflection wire therethrough.

4. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said tube is made of a metal.

5. A system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a catheter handle having a handle housing and wherein said moving means comprises a reel attached to said housing for rotation relative to said housing about a rotation axis, with said proximal end of said deflection wire attached to said reel at a distance from said rotation axis.

6. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said tube has a distal section for deflection within a first plane to establish a hoop and a proximal section for deflection in a second plane, said second plane being non-coplanar with said first plane.

7. A system as recited in claim 6 wherein said tube defines a tube axis;

said distal tube section is formed with a plurality of first slits cut through the tube wall in respective planes substantially perpendicular to the tube axis, with each first slit extending azimuthally in an arc partway around the tube axis from a first end to a second end and defining a center midway therebetween, said centers of said first slits being aligned along a first centerline substantially parallel to the tube axis; and

said proximal tube section is formed with a plurality of second slits cut through the tube wall in respective planes substantially perpendicular to the tube axis, with each second slit extending azimuthally in an arc partway around the axis from a first end to a second end and defining a center midway therebetween, and wherein the respective centers of the second slits are aligned along a second centerline that is substantially parallel to the tube axis and azimuthally displaced from the first centerline.

8. A system as recited in claim 7 wherein said second centerline is azimuthally displaced from the first line by approximately ninety degrees.

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.

10. A system as recited in claim 9 wherein said elongated catheter body defines a longitudinal axis and is formed with a lumen, and wherein said transforming means comprises:

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 first portion of the catheter body.

11. A system as recited in claim 10 wherein said tube wall has an inner wall surface and said system further comprises a guiding means for maintaining said deflection wire along said inner wall during a movement of said deflection wire.

12. A system as recited in claim 11 further comprising a catheter handle having a handle housing and wherein said moving means comprises a reel attached to said housing for rotation relative to said housing about a rotation axis, with said proximal end of said deflection wire attached to said reel at a distance from said rotation axis.

13. A system as recited in claim 9 wherein said elongated catheter body defines a longitudinal axis and is formed with a lumen, and wherein said deflecting means comprises:

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;

a first deflection wire having an end attached to said tube;

a second deflection wire having an end attached to said tube; and

a means for selectively tensioning said first deflection wire to deflect said second catheter body portion in the first direction and selectively tensioning said second deflection wire to deflect said second catheter body portion in the second direction.

14. A system as recited in claim 13 wherein said tensioning means comprises a means for delaying an application of tension to said first deflection wire until tension in said second deflection wire has been released.

15. A system as recited in claim 14 further comprising a catheter handle having a handle housing and wherein said tensioning means comprises a first reel attached to said housing for rotation relative to said housing about a rotation axis in a first rotation direction to pull said first deflection wire and a second reel attached to said housing for rotation relative to said housing about the rotation axis in a second rotation direction to pull said second deflection wire, with said first rotation direction being opposite said second rotation direction.

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

thereafter

axially moving said deflection wire at an extracorporeal location to deflect the distal catheter body portion into a substantially hooped configuration.

17. A method as recited in claim 16 wherein said tube wall has an inner wall surface and said method further comprises the step of maintaining said deflection wire along said inner wall during said moving step.

18. A method as recited in claim 16 wherein said moving step is accomplished using a reel attached to a catheter handle housing for rotation relative to said housing about a rotation axis, with said deflection wire attached to said reel at a distance from said rotation axis for movement therewith.

19. A method as recited in claim 16 wherein the body conduit is a heart chamber.

20. A method as recited in claim 16 further comprising the step of articulating the hoop shaped distal catheter body portion within a plane.