Devices and methods for operating and controlling interventional apparatus

• US 20060282150A1
• Filed: 06/08/2005
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JW Medical Systems Ltd
• Original Assignee: XTENT, Inc.
• Inventors: Olson, Stephen Lee, McGarry, Michael C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,938,851 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.110
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9517 handle assemblies therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/966 with relative longitudinal movement between outer sleeve and prosthesis, e.g. using a push rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/826 more than one stent being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0136 Handles therefor

Abstract

Devices and methods are provided for operating and controlling an interventional element on an interventional catheter. The interventional element may be a stent or series of stents, a balloon, or any other interventional element for which length control is necessary or desirable. A handle member includes an elongated body and an actuator knob that rotates around the longitudinal axis of the body. Rotational movement of the actuator knob is translated to rotational movement of one or more lead screws by a system of gears, rollers, or combinations of gears and rollers. Each of one or more axially moveable members is positioned on a lead screw and attached to a portion of the catheter shaft in order to provide the ability to advance or retract the portion of the cathether shaft.

Claims

1. A catheter comprising:

an elongated catheter shaft having a distal end and a proximal end;

an interventional element at the distal end of the catheter shaft, the interventional element having an adjustable length;

an actuator attached to the proximal end of the catheter shaft for adjusting the length of the interventional element, said actuator having a longitudinal axis and including a rotatable member operatively coupled to the catheter shaft, said rotatable member being rotatable around the longitudinal axis of the actuator.

2. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising at least one lead screw configured to operatively couple said rotatable member to said catheter shaft.

3. The catheter of claim 2, further comprising at least one threaded member configured to operatively couple said at least one lead screw and said catheter shaft, said at least one threaded member configured to travel axially along said at least one lead screw as the at least one lead screw rotates.

4. The catheter of claim 2, further comprising at least one gear member configured to operatively couple said rotatable member and said at least one lead screw such that rotation of said rotatable member causes rotation of said at least one lead screw.

5. The catheter of claim 3, further comprising at least one gear member configured to operatively couple said rotatable member and said at least one lead screw such that rotation of said rotatable member causes rotation of said at least one lead screw.

6. The catheter of claim 2, further comprising at least one roller member configured to operatively couple said rotatable member and said at least one lead screw such that rotation of said rotatable member causes rotation of said at least one lead screw.

7. The catheter of claim 3, further comprising at least one roller member configured to operatively couple said rotatable member and said at least one lead screw such that rotation of said rotatable member causes rotation of said at least one lead screw.

8. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising

at least two lead screws configured to operatively couple said rotatable member to said catheter shaft, and

a selector having a first setting in which a first of said at least two lead screws operatively couples said rotatable member to said catheter shaft, and a second setting in which a second of said at least two lead screws operatively couples said rotatable member to said catheter shaft.

9. The catheter of claim 8, wherein said selector is rotatably coupled to said actuator, said selector being rotatable around the longitudinal axis of the actuator.

10. The catheter of claim 9, wherein said first of said at least two lead screw operatively couples said rotatable member to said catheter shaft when the selector is at its second setting.

11. The catheter of claim 8, further comprising a first gear member configured to operatively couple said rotatable member and said first lead screw such that rotation of said rotatable member causes rotation of said first lead screw.

12. The catheter of claim 3, wherein said catheter shaft comprises an inner shaft and an outer shaft, said outer shaft being slidably disposed over said inner shaft.

13. The catheter of claim 12, further comprising:

a first threaded member configured to operatively couple a first lead screw to said outer shaft, said first threaded member configured to travel axially along said first lead screw as the first lead screw rotates, and

a second threaded member configured to operatively couple a second lead screw to said inner shaft, said second threaded member configured to travel axially along said second lead screw as the at second lead screw rotates.

14. A method of using an interventional catheter at a target site in a patient'"'"'s body, the method comprising:

positioning an interventional element of the interventional catheter near the target site, a proximal portion of the interventional catheter being disposed outside the patient'"'"'s body;

rotating a rotatable member located on an actuator attached to the proximal portion of the interventional catheter thereby causing retraction of a sheath to expose at least a portion of said interventional element, said actuator having a longitudinal axis and said rotatable member being rotatable around said longitudinal axis;

deploying the interventional element; and

rotating said rotatable member to cause advancement of said sheath.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

positioning a selector at a first setting corresponding with a first mode of operation.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said first mode of operation includes retracting said sheath.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

positioning said selector at a second setting corresponding with a second mode of operation.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said second mode of operation includes advancing said sheath.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein positioning said selector comprises rotating said selector around the longitudinal axis of the actuator.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the rotatable member is rotated in the same direction to withdraw the sheath as it is to advance the sheath.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the rotatable member is rotated in the opposite direction to withdraw the sheath from the direction of rotation used to advance the sheath.