Complex Shaped Steerable Catheters and Methods for Making and Using Them
First Claim
1. An apparatus for accessing a body lumen within a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:
- a tubular member comprising a proximal end, a distal end sized for introduction into a body lumen, and a distal portion comprising material formed to bias the distal portion to assume a first relaxed configuration;
a steering element extending from the proximal end to the distal portion; and
an actuator for applying an axial force to the steering element, thereby causing the distal portion to assume a complex curved configuration.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are provided for accessing a body lumen within a patient'"'"'s body. Generally, the apparatus includes a tubular member including proximal and distal ends, a steering element extending between the proximal and distal ends, and an actuator for directing the distal end between a relaxed configuration and a complex curved configuration. In the relaxed configuration, the distal end may assume a straight or curved shape. In the complex curved configuration, the distal end may assume a curvilinear shape. In one embodiment, the complex curved configuration may include a first curved portion defining an arc within a plane, and a second portion that extends out of the plane. An embodiment with a left hand rule configuration may be introduced into the right atrium of a heart from a superior approach, and the complex curved configuration may facilitate accessing the coronary sinus.
275 Citations
35 Claims
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1. An apparatus for accessing a body lumen within a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:
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a tubular member comprising a proximal end, a distal end sized for introduction into a body lumen, and a distal portion comprising material formed to bias the distal portion to assume a first relaxed configuration;
a steering element extending from the proximal end to the distal portion; and
an actuator for applying an axial force to the steering element, thereby causing the distal portion to assume a complex curved configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for accessing a body lumen within a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:
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a tubular member comprising a proximal end, a distal end sized for introduction into a body lumen, the distal end comprising flexible material formed to bias the distal end to assume a first substantially straight configuration;
a steering element extending from the proximal end to the distal end; and
an actuator for applying an axial force to the steering element, thereby causing the distal end to assume a complex shaped configuration, the distal end comprising a first curved portion comprising an arc defining a first plane and radius of curvature, and a second portion distal to the first curved portion and extending out of the first plane in the complex shaped configuration. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for making a steerable portion of a tubular member sized for introduction into a body lumen of a patient, comprising:
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providing an elongate tubular body comprising a first end and a second end sized for introduction into a body lumen;
setting a predetermined shape in the tubular body comprising at least one of a twist about a longitudinal axis of the tubular body and a curve;
disposing a steering mechanism through the tubular body such that; and
fixing one end of the steering mechanism adjacent the first end of the tubular body, such that an axial force applied to the other end of the steering mechanism causes the tubular body to move from a relaxed configuration to a complex shaped configuration. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An apparatus for accessing a body lumen within a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:
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a tubular member comprising a proximal end, a distal end sized for introduction into a body lumen, a distal portion capable of assuming a first relaxed configuration and a second complex shaped configuration, and a distal tip beyond the distal portion;
a steering element extending from the proximal end to the distal portion; and
an actuator for applying an axial force to the steering element, thereby causing the distal portion to move between the relaxed and complex shaped configurations, the distal portion configured such that the distal tip travels along a substantially straight path as the distal portion moves between the relaxed and complex shaped configurations.
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31. A method for accessing a coronary sinus of a heart including a superior vena cava and a right atrium, comprising:
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directing a distal portion of a tubular member into the right atrium via the superior vena cava;
directing the distal portion to a complex shaped configuration within the right atrium, thereby disposing a distal tip of the tubular member in proximity to the coronary sinus. manipulating the tubular member to direct the distal tip towards the coronary sinus. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification