Actuation handle for a catheter

• US 20070016164A1
• Filed: 06/28/2005
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: St. Jude Medical (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: St. Jude Medical (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Butler, William, Goblish, Donald, Dudney, Joshua
• Granted Patent: US 7,465,288 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/523
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0136 Handles therefor

Abstract

The present invention is a catheter actuation handle for deflecting a distal end of a tubular catheter body including first, second and third actuation wires extending from a proximal end of the body. The handle comprises a grip portion, a first actuator, first and second stationary gear racks, first and second moveable gear racks, first and second pinion gears, and a second actuator. The grip portion is coupled to the proximal end of the body. The first actuator is pivotally coupled to the grip portion. The first and second stationary gear racks are fixed relative to the grip portion. The first and second moveable gear racks are moveable relative to the grip portion and couple to the first and second actuation wires, respectively. The first pinion gear is coupled to the first actuator and located between, and engaged with, the first stationary gear rack and the first moveable gear rack. Similarly, the second pinion gear is coupled to the first actuator and located between, and engaged with, the second stationary gear rack and the second moveable gear rack. The second actuator is slideably coupled to the grip portion and adapted to displace the third actuation wire.

Claims

1. A catheter actuation handle for deflecting a distal end of a tubular catheter body including a first actuation wire extending from a proximal end of the body, the handle comprising:

a grip portion for coupling to the proximal end of the body;

a first actuator moveably coupled to the grip portion;

a first stationary gear rack fixed relative to the grip portion;

a first moveable gear rack moveable relative to the grip portion and for coupling to the first actuation wire; and

a first pinion gear coupled to the first actuator and located between, and engaged with, the first stationary gear rack and the first moveable gear rack.

2. The handle of claim 1, wherein the first actuator is pivotal relative to the grip portion.

3. The handle of claim 2, wherein the first actuator pivots laterally relative to a longitudinal axis of the grip portion.

4. The handle of claim 1, further comprising a linkage extending between a hole in the first actuator and a hole in the first pinion gear.

5. The handle of claim 4, wherein the hole in the first actuator is an arcuate slot.

6. The handle of claim 4, wherein the hole in the first pinion gear is aligned with an axial center of the first pinion gear.

7. The handle of claim 4, wherein the hole in the first pinion gear is offset from an axial center of the first pinion gear.

8. The handle of claim 1, further comprising a second actuator moveably coupled to the grip portion and adapted to displace a second actuation wire extending from the proximal end of the body.

9. The handle of claim 8, wherein a portion of the first actuator is displaceable through a portion of the second actuator.

10. The handle of claim 8, wherein the second actuator is longitudinally slideably displaceable relative to the grip portion.

11. The handle of claim 8, further comprising a lever pivotally coupled to the grip portion and coupled at a first end to the second actuator and at second end to the second actuation wire.

12. The handle of claim 11, further comprising a cable coupled to the second actuator and extending around an arcuate side of the lever beginning at the first end of the lever.

13. The handle of claim 12, further comprising a linkage coupling the second actuation wire to the second end of the lever.

14. The handle of claim 13, wherein the linkage includes a slide block slideably received in the grip portion and coupled to the second actuation wire.

15. The handle of claim 14, wherein the linkage further includes a link extending between the slide block and the second end.

16. The handle of claim 15, wherein the link includes a clevis.

17. The handle of claim 1, further comprising:

a second stationary gear rack fixed relative to the grip portion;

a second moveable gear rack moveable relative to the grip portion and for coupling to a second actuation wire extending from the proximal end of the body; and

a second pinion gear coupled to the first actuator and located between, and engaged with, the second stationary gear rack and the second moveable gear rack.

18. The handle of claim 17, wherein the first actuator is pivotal relative to the grip portion.

19. The handle of claim 18, further comprising a first linkage and a second linkage, wherein the first linkage extends between a first hole in the first actuator and a hole in the first pinion gear, and wherein the second linkage extends between a second hole in the first actuator and a hole in the second pinion gear.

20. The handle of claim 19, wherein the first and second holes in the first actuator are arcuate slots.

21. The handle of claim 19, wherein when the actuator is in a neutral pivotal position, the first pinion gear is positioned at a distal end of the first stationary gear rack, and the second pinion gear is positioned at a distal end of the second stationary gear rack.

22. The handle of claim 21, wherein when the actuator is in said neutral pivotal position, the first pinion gear is engaged with a proximal portion of the first moveable gear rack, and the second pinion gear is engaged with a proximal portion of the second gear rack.

23. The handle of claim 19, wherein when the actuator is in a neutral pivotal position, the first pinion gear is positioned near a midpoint of the first stationary gear rack, and the second pinion gear is positioned near a midpoint of the second stationary gear rack.

24. The handle of claim 23, wherein when the actuator is in said neutral pivotal position, the first pinion gear is engaged with a midpoint of the first moveable gear rack, and the second pinion gear is engage with a midpoint of the second moveable gear rack.

25. The handle of claim 17, further comprising a second actuator moveably coupled to the grip portion and adapted to displace a third actuation wire extending from the proximal end of the body.

26. The handle of claim 25, wherein a portion of the first actuator is displaceable through a portion of the second actuator.

27. The handle of claim 25, wherein the second actuator is longitudinally slideably displaceable relative to the grip portion.

28. The handle of claim 25, further comprising a lever pivotally coupled to the grip portion and coupled at a first end to the second actuator and at second end to the third actuation wire.

29. The handle of claim 28, further comprising a cable coupled to the second actuator and extending around an arcuate side of the lever beginning at the first end of the lever.

30. The handle of claim 29, further comprising a linkage coupling the third actuation wire to the second end of the lever.