Multi-lumen steerable catheter
First Claim
1. A steerable catheter for therapeutically treating a patient, comprising:
- a flexible catheter shaft defining a centerline, and extending between proximal and distal ends;
the shaft defining a central lumen extending a proximal and distal port at the proximal and distal ends, and at least one steering lumen extending between positions near the catheter shaft proximal and distal ends;
a hub affixed to the catheter shaft proximal end;
the hub having at least one actuator;
wherein the number of steering lumens equals the number of actuators, and each actuator is coupled with a corresponding steering lumen;
wherein each steering lumen follows a path that is off the centerline;
a distal end of each steering lumen is closed; and
each steering lumen contains a fluid;
such that activation of each actuator causes a corresponding change in pressure of the fluid in the corresponding steering lumen;
such that when the fluid pressure in each steering lumen is not equal, the pressure differential tends to cause the catheter shaft to bend.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A steerable catheter may have a flexible shaft extending between a proximal and distal end, with a hub affixed to the proximal end, and at least one actuator for causing the catheter distal end to move or bend in a desired direction. The catheter shaft defines at least one passage or steering lumen, at least one of which has a closed distal end. The hub may have a number of actuators, such that each actuator may affect the pressure of a pressure medium in a steering lumen. When specific actuators are activated, the pressures in each of the steering lumens may be disparately raised and/or lowered, so as to cause a portion of the catheter shaft to tend to bend in a specific direction. For example, one or some of the actuators may be used to change the pressure of the associated steering lumens, causing the catheter shaft to bend. Also, in the case of a steerable catheter having more than one actuator, all of the actuators may be activated to raise the pressure of all of the steering lumens, tending to temporarily increase the column stiffness and pushability of the catheter shaft.
63 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A steerable catheter for therapeutically treating a patient, comprising:
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a flexible catheter shaft defining a centerline, and extending between proximal and distal ends;
the shaft defining a central lumen extending a proximal and distal port at the proximal and distal ends, and at least one steering lumen extending between positions near the catheter shaft proximal and distal ends;
a hub affixed to the catheter shaft proximal end;
the hub having at least one actuator;
wherein the number of steering lumens equals the number of actuators, and each actuator is coupled with a corresponding steering lumen;
wherein each steering lumen follows a path that is off the centerline;
a distal end of each steering lumen is closed; and
each steering lumen contains a fluid;
such that activation of each actuator causes a corresponding change in pressure of the fluid in the corresponding steering lumen;
such that when the fluid pressure in each steering lumen is not equal, the pressure differential tends to cause the catheter shaft to bend. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A steerable balloon catheter for therapeutically treating a patient, comprising:
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a flexible catheter shaft defining a centerline, and extending between proximal and distal ends;
the shaft defining a central lumen extending a proximal and distal port at the proximal and distal ends, and at least one steering lumen extending between positions near the catheter shaft proximal and distal ends;
a hub affixed to the catheter shaft proximal end;
the hub having at least one actuator;
wherein the number of steering lumens equals the number of actuators, and each actuator is coupled with a corresponding steering lumen;
a balloon affixed to the catheter shaft near its distal end;
the catheter shaft defining an inflation lumen extending between an interior of the balloon to an inflation port defined by the hub;
wherein each steering lumen follows a path that is off the centerline;
a distal end of each steering lumen is closed; and
each steering lumen contains a fluid;
such that activation of each actuator causes a corresponding change in pressure of the fluid in the corresponding steering lumen;
such that when the fluid pressure in each steering lumen is not equal, the pressure differential tends to cause the catheter shaft to bend. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification