Steerable Delivery Sheaths

• US 20120277730A1
• Filed: 05/03/2012
• Published: 11/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shifamed Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Shifamed Holdings, LLC
• Inventors: SALAHIEH, Amr, LEPAK, Jonah, SAUL, Tom, LEUNG, Emma, DUERI, Jean-Pierre, MENARDIERE, Brice Arnault De La, BALDWIN, Clayton
• Granted Patent: US 8,920,369 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/527
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00135 Oversleeves mounted on the endoscope prior to insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00309 Cut-outs or slits
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00314 Separate linked members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/10 for stereotaxic surgery, e.g. frame-based stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0161 wherein the distal tips have two or more deflection regions
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0013 Weakening parts of a catheter tubing, e.g. by making cuts in the tube or reducing thickness of a layer at one point to adjust the flexibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0045 multi-layered, e.g. coated coating materials A61L29/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0053 having a variable stiffness along the longitudinal axis, e.g. by varying the pitch of the coil or braid
• 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 25/0144 having flexible regions as a result of inner reinforcement means, e.g. struts or rods
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0147 with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires

Abstract

Steerable medical delivery devices and their methods of use.

Claims

1. A steerable medical delivery device, comprising:

a steerable portion of the delivery device 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 members 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 adapted to be axially moved 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 first and second tubular members are adapted to be axially moved relative to one another to steer the steerable portion upon the application of one of a compressive force and a tensile force on the first tubular member and the other of the compressive force and a tensile force on the second tubular member.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the first tubular member comprises a tube section with a plurality of slots formed therein in a first pattern.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the first pattern includes a first interlocking element and a second interlocking element each adapted to allow relative movement therebetween when in a first configuration and to prevent relative movement therebetween along at least one of a radial axis and an axial axis when in a second configuration.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein the second tubular member comprises a braided material.

6. The device of claim 3 wherein the second tubular member is disposed within the first tubular member.

7. The device of claim 3 wherein the first tubular member comprises a second tube section with a plurality of slots formed therein in a second pattern different than the first pattern.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the first tube section is secured to the second tube section and is proximal to the second tube section.

9. The device of claim 3 wherein the first tubular member also comprises a polymeric material, and wherein the tube with the plurality of slots formed therein is embedded in the polymeric material.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the first and second tubular members are merged together to form a unitary section at the distal tip of the device, wherein the distal tip is distal to the steerable portion.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the first tubular member comprises a first polymeric material, and second tubular member comprises a second polymeric material, and the polymeric materials are merged together to form a unitary polymeric section at the distal tip of the device.

12. The device of claim 1 further comprising a tensioning element disposed radially between the first and second tubular elements in the steerable portion.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the tensioning element is secured to the inner tubular member proximal to the steerable portion and is secured to a location where the first and second tubular members are axially fixed relative to one another.

15. The device of claim 13 wherein the inner and outer tubular members are adapted to be axially moved relative to one another to steer the steerable portion upon the application of one of a compressive force and a tensile force on one of the inner tubular member and outer tubular member and the other of the compressive force and a tensile force on the other of the inner tubular member and outer tubular member.

16. The device of claim 13 wherein the outer tubular member comprises a tube section with a plurality of slots formed therein in a first pattern.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the first pattern includes a first interlocking element and a second interlocking element each adapted to allow relative movement therebetween when in a first configuration and to prevent relative movement therebetween along at least one of a radial axis and an axial axis when in a second configuration.

18. The device of claim 16 wherein the inner tubular member comprises a braided material.

19. The device of claim 16 wherein the tube section is a first tube section, and wherein the outer tubular member additionally comprises a second tube section with a plurality of slots formed therein in a second pattern different than the first pattern.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein the first tube section is secured to the second tube section and is proximal to the second tube section.

21. The device of claim 19 wherein the first tube section and second tube section are unitarily formed from a single tubular element.

22. The device of claim 16 wherein the outer tubular member also comprises a polymeric material, and wherein the tube with the plurality of slots formed therein is embedded in the polymeric material.

14. 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 inner and outer tubular members are permanently axially fixed relative to one another at a fixation location distal to the steerable portion, and wherein the inner and outer tubular members are adapted to be axially moved relative to one another along the steerable portion to steer the steerable portion in a first direction.

23. The device of claim 14 wherein the inner and outer tubular members are merged together to form a unitary section at the distal tip of the device, wherein the distal tip is distal to the steerable portion.

24. The device of claim 23 wherein the inner tubular member comprises a first polymeric material, and outer tubular member comprises a second polymeric material, and the polymeric materials are merged together to form a unitary polymeric section at the distal tip of the device.

25. The device of claim 14 further comprising a tensioning element disposed radially between the inner and outer tubular members in the steerable portion.

26. The device of claim 25 wherein the tensioning element is secured to the inner tubular member proximal to the steerable portion and is secured to the location where the inner and outer tubular members are axially fixed relative to one another distal to the steerable portion.

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

a steerable medical delivery device comprising a steerable portion, an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member, wherein the inner and outer tubular members are permanently axially fixed relative to one another at a location distal to the steerable portion, and wherein the first and second tubular members are adapted to be axially moved relative to one another along the steerable portion to steer the steerable portion in a first direction;

applying one of a compressive force and a tensile force to one of the inner and outer spines which results in the other of the compressive force and tensile force being applied to the other of the inner and outer spines to move the first and second tubular members axially relative to one another along the steerable portion, to thereby 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 the location distal to the steerable portion where the first and second tubular members are fixed while the steerable portion is being steered.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the applying step comprises applying a compressive force to the inner tubular member, and wherein applying the compressive force to the inner tubular member results in a tensile force to be applied to the outer tubular member, thereby steering the steerable portion.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the applying step comprises applying a compressive force to the outer tubular member, and wherein applying the compressive force to the outer tubular member results in a tensile force to be applied to the inner tubular member, thereby steering the steerable portion.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein the applying step comprises applying a compressive force on the first tubular member or the second tubular member with an external actuator, while maintaining the relative axial position of the proximal end of the other of the first and second tubular members.