STEERING SYSTEM WITH LOCKING MECHANISM

• US 20090287188A1
• Filed: 05/12/2009
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Monroe, Mark, Golden, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,641,604 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/528
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0052 Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0147 with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires

Abstract

A steerable device, such as a steerable catheter, may include a control handle and an insertion shaft extending outwardly therefrom. In use, the insertion shaft is navigated to an area of interest for examination and/or treatment thereof. The steerable device may include a steering system that controls the deflection angle of the distal end of the insertion shaft in two or more non-planar directions for navigating the insertion shaft to the area of interest. The steering system may also include a locking mechanism for arresting or partially arresting the movement of the distal end of the insertion shaft in a first direction independent of arresting or partially arresting the movement of the distal end in a second non-planar direction.

Claims

1. A steering system for a steerable device having a deflectable insertion shaft through which at least first and second steering wires are routed, the steering system comprising:

first and second drive members adapted to be coupled to the first and second steering wires for effecting movement of the first and second steering wires, respectively;

a first lock member associated with the first drive member, the first lock member movable between an unlocked position, wherein the first drive member is freely movable to effect movement on the first steering wire, and a locked position, wherein the first drive member is prohibited from effecting movement on the first steering wire; and

a second lock member associated with the second drive member and movable independently of the first lock member, the second lock member movable between an unlocked position, wherein the second drive member is movable to effect movement on the second steering wire, and a locked position, wherein the second drive member is prohibited from effecting movement on the second steering wire.

2. The steering system of claim 1, further comprising first and second levers coupled for co-action with the first and second drive members, respectively.

3. The steering system of claim 2, wherein the first and second levers are control knobs.

4. The steering system of claim 1, further comprising first and second brake members for prohibiting the first and second drive members from effecting movement of the first and second steering wires.

5. The steering system of claim 4, further including first and second cam members connected for co-action with the first and second lock members, respectively, the first and second cam members interacting with the first and second brake members, respectively, for prohibiting the first and second drive members from effecting movement of the first and second steering wires.

6. The steering system of claim 5, wherein the first and second brake members each include at least one brake arm that moves into engagement with the first and second drive members when interacting with the first and second cam members, respectively.

7. The steering system of claim 6, wherein the first and second drive members include at least one brake surface against which the brake arms engage when interacting with the first and second cam members.

8. The steering system of claim 1, wherein the first and/or second lock members are lock levers or a portion of a brake member.

9. The steering system of claim 1, wherein movement of the first and second lock members cause contact against the first and second drive members in a manner sufficient to arrest movement thereof.

10. The steering system of claim 6, wherein each brake arm of the first and second brake members defines a cam surface, and wherein the first and second cam members include a cam that corresponds with each brake arm and interfaces with the cam surfaces of the brake arms.

11. The steering system of claim 10, wherein movement of the first and second cam members cause the cams to follow the cam surfaces, thereby forcing the brake arms into contact with the first and second drive members.

12. The steering system of claim 11, wherein the cam surfaces include a notch located at the ends of the cam surfaces, the notches being associated with an unlocked and a locked position of the drive members.

13. The steering system of claim 12, wherein the cam surfaces include one or more notches between the ends of the cam surfaces, the one or more notches being associated with one or more partially locked positions of the drive members.

14. A steering system for a steerable device, comprising:

first and second steering wires;

first and second drive members coupled to the first and second steering wires for selectively tensioning the first and second steering wires, respectively;

first and second lock members independently movable between unlocked positions, wherein the first and second steering wires are freely movable, and one or more positions that either restrict or resist movement of the first and second steering wires.

15. The steering system of claim 14, wherein the movement of the first or second lock members is indexed.

16. The steering system of claim 14, wherein one of the one or more positions is selected from a group consisting of a locked position, wherein movement of the associated steering wire is restricted, and a partially locked position, wherein movement of the associated steering wire is resisted.

17. A control handle of a steering device, the control handle comprising:

a handle housing adapted for connection to a deflectable insertion shaft;

a steering system carried by the handle housing, the steering system comprising;

first and second drive members adapted for connection to the ends of first and second steering wires;

a locking mechanism that locks the movement of the first drive member independently of the second drive member and locks the movement of the second drive member independently of the first drive member.

18. The control handle of claim 17, wherein the locking mechanism includes first and second locking members that engage with the first and second drive members, respectively.

19. A steerable device, comprising:

an elongated shaft having proximal and distal ends, and a deflectable distal region;

a control handle functionally coupled to the proximal end of the elongated shaft;

a steering system carried by the control handle and coupled to the distal end of the insertion shaft for deflecting the distal end about the deflectable distal region in at least first and second non-planar directions; and

a locking mechanism that locks the distal end of the insertion shaft against movement in the first direction independently of locking the distal end against movement in the second direction.

20. The steerable device of claim 19, wherein the steering system includes first and second drive members movably mounted to the control handle, and first and second steering wires routed through the elongated shaft and coupled between the first and second drive members and the distal end of the elongated shaft.

21. The steerable device of claim 20, wherein the first and second drive members are rotationally mounted, and wherein the steering system further includes first and second control knobs connected to the first and second drive members, respectively, for co-rotation.

22. The steerable device of claim 20, wherein the locking mechanism includes a first lever movable between an unlocked position and a locked position, a first brake member, and a first cam member cooperatively associated with the first brake member such that movement of the first lever from the unlocked position to the locked position causes the first cam member to force the first brake member into abutment against the first drive member.

23. The steerable device of claim 22, wherein the locking mechanism further includes a second lever movable between an unlocked position and a locked position, a second brake member, and a second cam member cooperatively associated with the second brake member such that movement of the second lever from the unlocked position to the locked position causes the second cam member to force the second brake member into abutment against the second drive member.

24. The steerable device of claim 19, further including first and second pairs of steering wires routed through the elongated shaft, the ends of which terminate at the distal end of the elongated shaft in a manner as to effect 4-way steering of the distal end of the elongated shaft;

wherein the steering system comprises first and second drive members rotatably supported by the control handle and coupled to the proximal ends of first and second pairs of the steering wires, respectively, and first and second control knobs coupled for co-rotation with the first and second drive members, respectively, wherein rotation of the control knobs effect 4-way steering of the distal end of the elongated shaft.

25. A steerable device, comprising:

an elongated shaft having proximal and distal ends, and a deflectable distal region;

a control handle functionally coupled to the proximal end of the elongated shaft;

a steering system carried by the control handle and coupled to the distal end of the insertion shaft for deflecting the distal end about the deflectable distal region in at least first and second non planar directions; and

means for resisting or prohibiting movement of the distal end of the insertion shaft in the first direction while allowing continued deflection of the distal end of the insertion shaft in the second direction.