Steerable Medical Delivery Devices and Methods of Use

• US 20100331776A1
• Filed: 06/24/2010
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shifamed Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Shifamed Holdings, LLC
• Inventors: Salahieh, Amr, Dueri, Jean-Pierre, Saul, Tom, Lepak, Jonah, Leung, Emma
• Granted Patent: US 8,323,241 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/95.04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0161 wherein the distal tips have two or more deflection regions
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0136 Handles therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0138 having flexible regions as a result of weakened outer material, e.g. slots, slits, cuts, joints or coils
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0147 with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0152 with pre-shaped mechanisms, e.g. pre-shaped stylets or pre-shaped outer tubes

Abstract

Steerable medical delivery devices and their methods of use.

Claims

1. A steerable medical delivery device, comprising:

a steerable portion comprising a first tubular member and a second tubular member, wherein one of the first and second tubular members is disposed within the other,

wherein the first and second tubular elements are axially fixed relative to one another at a fixation location distal to the steerable portion, and wherein the first and second tubular members are axially movable relative to one another along the steerable portion to steer the steerable portion in a first direction, and

wherein the first tubular member is adapted to preferentially bend in a first direction.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the second tubular member is substantially uniform and is not adapted to preferentially bend.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the first tubular member comprises at least one slot therein to define a first spine.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the second tubular member comprises at least one slot therein to define a second spine.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the first tubular member comprises a braided material.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the first tubular member is disposed within the second elongate tubular member.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the first tubular member is adapted to be moved axially relative to the second tubular member to apply one of a compressive force and a tensile force to the first tubular member and the other of the compressive force and the tensile force to the second tubular member to steer the steerable portion in a first direction.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the second tubular member is adapted to preferentially bend in a second direction.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the first direction is substantially opposite the second direction.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the second elongate tubular element is a floating tubular member.

11. A steerable medical delivery device, comprising:

a steerable portion comprising an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member, wherein the inner tubular member is disposed radially within the outer tubular member,

wherein the outer tubular member includes at least one outer slot therein to define an outer spine,

wherein the inner tubular member includes at least one inner slot therein to define an inner spine, the inner and outer spines being offset relative to one another, and

wherein the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member are axially movable relative to one another along the steerable portion and are axially fixed relative to one another at a location distal to the steerable portion.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the outer tubular member comprises a plurality of discontinuous slots to define the outer spine.

13. The device of claim 11 wherein the inner tubular member comprises a plurality of discontinuous slots to define the inner spine.

14. The device of claim 11 wherein the inner and outer spines are offset substantially 180 degrees from one another.

15. The device of claim 11 wherein the inner and outer spines are adapted to receive one of a compressive force and a tensile force to steer the steerable portion of the delivery device.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the inner spine is adapted to receive a compressive force thereto and the outer spine is adapted to receive a tensile force thereto to steer the steerable portion of the delivery device in a first direction.

17. The device of claim 15 wherein the inner spine is adapted to receive a tensile force thereto and the inner spine is adapted to receive a compressive force thereto to steer the steerable portion of the delivery device in a first direction.

18. The device of claim 11 wherein the inner and outer slots are in substantial alignment relative to a longitudinal axis of the steerable portion when the steerable portion is in a straightened configuration.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein the inner and outer slots are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the steerable portion when the steerable portion is in a straightened configuration.

20. The device of claim 11 wherein the inner and outer slots are not in alignment relative to a longitudinal axis of the steerable portion when the steerable portion is in a straightened configuration.

21. The device of claim 11 wherein at least one of the outer slot and the inner slot includes a first interlocking element and a second interlocking element each adapted to allow relative movement therebetween when in a first configuration and each further adapted to prevent movement therebetween when in a second configuration.

22. The device of claim 11 wherein the delivery device further comprises a fixation element distal to the steerable portion adapted to prevent axial movement between the outer tubular element and the inner tubular element.

23. The device of claim 11 wherein the inner tubular member has an inner surface, and wherein the inner surface is sized to allow a medical device to be advanced therethrough.

24. A method of steering a medical delivery device, comprising:

a steerable medical delivery device comprising a steerable portion with an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member, wherein the outer tubular member includes at least one outer slot therein to define an outer spine, and wherein the inner tubular members includes at least one inner slot therein to define an inner spine, the inner and outer spines being offset relative to one another;

applying a compressive force to one of the inner and outer spines and a tensile force to the other of the inner and outer spines to steer the steerable portion from a first configuration to a second configuration; and

preventing relative axial movement of the inner tubular member and outer tubular member at a location distal to the steerable portion while the steerable portion is being steered.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the applying step comprises applying the compressive force to the inner spine, and wherein applying the compressive force to the inner spine causes the tensile force to be applied to the outer spine to steer the steerable portion.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein applying the compressive force to inner spine comprises moving the inner tubular member distally relative to the outer tubular member.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the applying step comprises applying the tensile force to the inner spine, and wherein applying the tensile force to the inner spine causes the compressive force to be applied to the outer spine to steer the steerable portion.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein applying the tensile force to the inner spine comprises moving the inner tubular member proximally relative to the outer tubular member.

29. The method of claim 24 wherein the applying step comprises applying the compressive force to the outer spine, and wherein applying the compressive force to the outer spine causes the tensile force to be applied to the inner spine to steer the steerable portion.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein applying the compressive force to the outer spine comprises moving the outer spine distally relative to the inner tubular member.

31. The method of claim 24 wherein the applying step comprises applying the tensile force to the outer spine, and wherein applying the tensile force to the outer spine causes the compressive force to be applied to the inner spine to steer the steerable portion.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein applying the tensile force to the outer spine comprises moving the outer tubular element proximally relative to the inner tubular member.

33. A steerable medical delivery device, comprising:

an elongate member comprising a steerable portion adapted to be steered in a first direction; and

a floating element disposed within the steerable portion,

wherein the floating element is axially fixed relative to the elongate member at a location proximal to the steerable portion, and is not axially fixed relative to the elongate member along the steerable portion.

34. The device of claim 33 wherein the elongate member is a catheter.

35. The device of claim 33 wherein the elongate member comprises an inner tubular member with an inner slot therein to define a first spine, and an outer tubular member with an outer slot therein to define an outer spine, wherein the spines are offset from one another.

36. A lockable medical delivery guide, comprising:

a first bead and a second bead, each of which comprises a control wire bore therethrough;

a control wire passing through the control wire bores, wherein the control wire is secured to the second bead and is not secured to the first bead,

wherein the first bead and the second bead are movable relative to one another in a delivery configuration, and are adapted to be locked together in a locked configuration upon the application of an actuation force to at least one of the first bead and the control wire.

37. A method of positioning a lockable medical delivery device, comprising:

advancing a guiding element to a desired location within a subject;

providing a lockable guiding device having a locking portion, wherein the lockable portion comprises first and second beads, and a control wire passing through the first bead and secured to the second bead;

tracking the lockable device over the guiding element with the first and second beads movable relative to one another;

locking the lockable portion in a configuration that mimics an anatomical region of the patient by applying an actuation force to one of the control wire and first bead;

maintaining the lockable portion in the locked configuration;

delivering a medical instrument through the lockable portion to a target location within the subject.