Steerable loop tip wire-guide

• US 20060100544A1
• Filed: 09/26/2005
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cook Medical Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cook Medical Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ayala, Juan Carlos, Foushee, Jason D., Hardin, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,702,625 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/585
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32056 Surgical snare instruments for removing or smashing calculi A61B2017/2212; tonsillotomes A61B17/26
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0163 Looped catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09116 Design of handles or shafts or gripping surfaces thereof for manipulating guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09175 having specific characteristics at the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0136 Handles therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0147 with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09025 with sliding mandrils

Abstract

A steerable wire-guide comprises an elongate member having a longitudinal axis. The elongate member comprises a leading portion and a body portion. The leading portion comprises a loop and the body portion comprises a first wire and a second wire. The first and second wires are movable relative to each other such that relative movement of the first wire with respect to the second wire directs the leading portion in a first direction, which is at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis, and relative movement of the second wire with respect to the first wire directs the leading portion in a second direction different from the first direction.

Claims

1. A steerable wire-guide comprising:

an elongate member having a longitudinal axis, the elongate member comprising a leading portion and a body portion, the body portion comprising a first wire and a second wire, the first and second wires being movable relative to each other such that relative distal movement of the first wire with respect to the second wire directs the leading portion in a first direction at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis, and relative distal movement of the second wire with respect to the first wire directs the leading portion in a second direction different from the first direction.

2. The steerable wire-guide of claim 1, wherein the leading portion comprises a loop.

3. The steerable wire-guide of claim 1, wherein the first direction is disposed on a first side of the longitudinal axis and the second direction is disposed on a second side of the longitudinal axis, the first side, generally being opposite, the second side.

4. The steerable wire-guide of claim 1, wherein the leading portion further comprises a third wire, the third wire being movable relative to the first and second wires such that movement of the third wire with respect to the first and the second wires causes the third wire to move in a predetermined third direction, the predetermined third direction being different from the first and second directions.

5. The steerable wire-guide of claim 1, wherein relative proximal movement of the second wire with respect to the first wire directs the leading portion in the first direction and relative proximal movement of the first wire with respect to the second wire directs the leading portion in the second direction.

6. The steerable wire-guide of claim 1, wherein concurrent distal movement of the first and second wires moves the leading portion in a third direction and concurent proximal movement of the first and second wires moves the leading portion in a fourth direction opposite to the third direction.

7. The steerable wire-guide of claim 2, further comprising a closure member closing the loop.

8. The steerable wire-guide of claim 7, wherein the closure member comprises a cannula.

9. The steerable wire-guide of claim 7, wherein the closure member comprises a bond.

10. The steerable wire-guide of claim 2, wherein a distal portion of the first wire and the second wire are connected together to form the loop.

11. The steerable wire-guide of claim 1, wherein the first wire is connected to the second wire at the leading portion.

12. A steerable wire-guide comprising:

a tubular member comprising a tubular member proximal end and a tubular member distal end; and

an elongate member comprising a longitudinal axis, a leading portion and a body portion, the elongate member slidably disposed and oriented within the tubular member such that the leading portion extends from the tubular member distal end, the leading portion comprising a loop and the body portion comprising a first wire and a second wire, the first and second wires being movable such that;

relative distal movement of the first wire with respect to the second wire directs the leading portion in a first direction at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis;

relative distal movement of the second wire with respect to the first wire directs the leading portion in a second direction different from the first direction;

concurrent distal movement of the first and second wires advances the leading portion distally; and

concurrent proximal movement of the first and second wires retracts the leading portion proximally.

13. The steerable wire-guide of claim 12, wherein the leading portion comprises a loop, and further wherein a distal portion of the first wire and the second wire are connected together to form the loop.

14. The steerable wire-guide of claim 12, wherein the first wire is connected to the second wire at the leading portion.

15. The steerable wire-guide of claim 12, wherein a first wire proximal end-portion and a second wire proximal end-portion extend through the tubular member proximal end and are mounted for movement on a removable handle.

16. The steerable wire-guide of claim 12, wherein relative proximal movement of the second wire with respect to the first wire directs the leading portion in the first direction and relative proximal movement of the first wire with respect to the second wire directs the leading portion in the second direction.

17. The steerable wire-guide of claim 12 further comprising a closure member closing the loop.

18. A steerable wire-guide comprising:

a tubular member comprising a tubular member proximal end and a tubular member distal end;

an elongate member comprising a longitudinal axis, a leading portion and a body portion, the leading portion comprising a loop and the body portion comprising a first wire and a second wire, the first wire comprising a first wire proximal end-portion and the second wire comprising a second wire proximal end-portion, the elongate member slidably disposed and oriented within the tubular member such that the leading portion extends from the tubular member distal end and the first wire proximal end-portion and the second wire proximal end-portion extends from the tubular member proximal end, the first and second wires being movable such that;

relative distal movement of the first wire with respect to the second wire directs the leading portion in a first direction at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis;

relative distal movement of the second wire with respect to the first wire directss the leading portion in a second direction different from the first direction;

concurrent distal movement of the first and second wires advances the leading portion distally; and

concurrent proximal movement of the first and second wires retracts the leading portion proximally; and

a removable handle attached to the tubular member proximal end, the removable handle comprising the first wire proximal end-portion and the second wire proximal end-portion mounted for movement thereon and a releasable locking mechanism for selectively affixing the first wire proximal end-portion and the second wire proximal end-portion relative to each other.

19. The steerable wire-guide of claim 18, wherein relative proximal movement of the second wire with respect to the first wire directs the leading portion in the first direction and relative proximal movement of the first wire with respect to the second wire directs the leading portion in the second direction.

20. The steerable wire-guide of claim 18, wherein the leading portion comprises a loop, further wherein a distal portion of the first wire and the second wire are connected together to form the loop.

21. The steerable wire-guide of claim 18, wherein the first and second wires are connected to each other at the leading portion.

22. The steerable wire-guide of claim 18 further comprising a closure member for closing the loop.