Steerable Medical Device Having Means For Imparting Multiple Curves in the Device

• US 20110270170A1
• Filed: 04/30/2010
• Published: 11/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Drake, Ronald Alan, Gardeski, Kenneth C.
• Application Number:
  US12/771,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20110270170A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/95.04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0133 Tip steering devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0136 Handles therefor

Abstract

A steerable elongated medical device that is capable of forming as “s” shaped bend. The devices include an outer tube extending between an outer tube proximal segment and an outer tube distal segment, having an outer tube wall forming an outer tube lumen and first and second elongated outer tube slots through the outer tube wall to the outer tube lumen. The first elongated outer tube slot has a first portion and a second portion and formed between a first outer tube slot proximal end and a first outer tube slot distal end and extending axially along the outer tube distal segment through a first outer tube slot length to define a first cutaway portion of the outer tube. The second elongated outer tube slot has a first portion and a second portion and formed between a second outer tube slot proximal end and a second outer tube slot distal end and extending axially along the outer tube distal segment through a second outer tube slot length to define a second cutaway portion of the outer tube and offset about 180 degrees from the first elongated outer tube slot. Each of the first and second outer tube slots have reinforcing sleeves, each of the reinforcing sleeves having reinforcing sleeve slot portions and reinforcing sleeve overlap portions.

Claims

1. A steerable elongated medical device, comprising:

an outer tube extending between an outer tube proximal segment and an outer tube distal segment, having an outer tube wall forming an outer tube lumen and first and second elongated outer tube slots through the outer tube wall to the outer tube lumen,

the first elongated outer tube slot having a first portion and a second portion and formed between a first outer tube slot proximal end and a first outer tube slot distal end and extending axially along the outer tube distal segment through a first outer tube slot length to define a first cutaway portion of the outer tube,

the second elongated outer tube slot having a first portion and a second portion and formed between a second outer tube slot proximal end and a second outer tube slot distal end and extending axially along the outer tube distal segment through a second outer tube slot length to define a second cutaway portion of the outer tube and offset about 180 degrees from the first elongated outer tube slot;

a first reinforcing sleeve positioned within the outer tube lumen and extending between a first reinforcing sleeve proximal end and a first reinforcing sleeve distal end, wherein the first reinforcing sleeve forms a reinforcing sleeve slot portion aligned with and extending along the first portion of the first elongated outer tube slot and includes a reinforcing sleeve overlap portion extending over the second portion of the first outer tube slot; and

a second reinforcing sleeve positioned within the outer tube lumen and extending between a second reinforcing sleeve proximal end and a second reinforcing sleeve distal end, wherein the second reinforcing sleeve forms a reinforcing sleeve slot portion aligned with and extending along the first portion of the second elongated outer tube slot and includes a reinforcing sleeve overlap portion extending over the second portion of the first outer tube slot.

2. The steerable medical device of claim 1 further comprising a polymeric outer sleeve fitted over the outer tube and extending over the first and second outer tube slots and the first and second reinforcement sleeve slots.

3. The steerable medical device of claim 1 wherein the first and second reinforcing sleeve overlap portions have a length that is a fraction of the first and second elongated outer tube slot lengths.

4. The steerable medical device of claim 1 wherein the first and second reinforcing sleeve overlap portions have a length that is approximately fifty percent of the first and second elongated outer tube slot lengths.

5. The steerable medical device of claim 1 wherein the second elongated tube slot has a length greater than the first elongated tube slot length.

6. A steerable elongated medical device, comprising:

an outer tube extending between an outer tube proximal segment and an outer tube distal segment, having an outer tube wall forming an outer tube lumen and first and second elongated outer tube slots through the outer tube wall to the outer tube lumen,

the first elongated outer tube slot having a first portion and a second portion and formed between a first outer tube slot proximal end and a first outer tube slot distal end and extending axially along the outer tube distal segment through a first outer tube slot length to define a first cutaway portion of the outer tube,

the second elongated outer tube slot having a first portion and a second portion and formed between a second outer tube slot proximal end and a second outer tube slot distal end and extending axially along the outer tube distal segment through a second outer tube slot length to define a second cutaway portion of the outer tube and offset about 180 degrees from the first elongated outer tube slot;

a first reinforcing sleeve positioned within the outer tube lumen and extending between a first reinforcing sleeve proximal end and a first reinforcing sleeve distal end, wherein the first reinforcing sleeve forms a reinforcing sleeve slot portion aligned with and extending along the first portion of the first outer tube slot and includes a reinforcing sleeve overlap portion extending over the second portion of the first outer tube slot;

a second reinforcing sleeve positioned within the outer tube lumen and extending between a second reinforcing sleeve proximal end and a second reinforcing sleeve distal end, wherein the second reinforcing sleeve forms a reinforcing sleeve slot portion aligned with and extending along the first portion of the second outer tube slot and includes a reinforcing sleeve overlap portion extending over the second portion of the first outer tube slot;

a handle coupled to the outer tube proximal end; and

a pull wire positioned within the outer tube lumen and extending between a pull wire proximal end coupled to the handle and a pull wire distal end coupled to a pull wire stop, the pull wire extending through the first and second reinforcing sleeve lumens and the outer tube lumen, wherein the pull wire proximal end is adapted to be manipulated to separate the pull wire proximal end from the outer tube proximal end to induce a bend in each of the first and second cutaway portions.

9. The device of claim 6 further comprising a polymeric outer sleeve fitted over the outer tube and extending over the first and second outer tube slots and the first and second reinforcement sleeve slots.

10. The device of claim 6 wherein the pull wire stop is bonded to the outer tube lumen.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein the polymeric outer sleeve is bonded to the outer tube.

12. A method of anchoring a steerable elongated medical device comprising:

guiding a distal portion of the steerable elongated medical device according to claim 6 to a site within a vasculature; and

inducing a bend in each of the first and second cutaway portions of the medical device, an outer tube wall opposite each of the cutaway portions being pressed against a vessel wall by opposing forces.

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)