COMPOUND CURVE NAVIGATION CATHETER

• US 20170259037A1
• Filed: 03/14/2016
• Published: 09/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: KERN, MICHAEL J., CALCUTT, MICHAEL E.
• Granted Patent: US 10,583,270 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0283 with vacuum aspiration, e.g. caused by retractable plunger or by connected syringe A61B10/025, A61B10/0266 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/06 Biopsy forceps , e.g. with cup-shaped jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0216 Sampling brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/045 Needles pointed biopsy devices with vacuum aspiration A61B10/0283
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0046 Coatings for improving slidability
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0166 Sensors, electrodes or the like for guiding the catheter to a target zone, e.g. image guided or magnetically guided
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09175 having specific characteristics at the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1035 Bronchi
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1039 Lungs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0009 Making of catheters or other medical or surgical tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0021 characterised by the form of the tubing A61M25/0054 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0041 pre-formed, e.g. specially adapted to fit with the anatomy of body channels urethral catheters A61F2/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0054 with regions for increasing flexibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0067 characterised by the distal end, e.g. tips A61M25/0054, A61M25/04 take precedence; balloon catheters A61M25/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0136 Handles therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/56 using mechanical means or mechanical connections, e.g. form-fits
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 23/00 Producing tubular articles B29D24/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7542 : Catheters

Abstract

A catheter assembly for navigation including a flexible catheter having a proximal portion adjacent a proximal end and a distal portion adjacent a distal end and defining a longitudinal axis, the flexible catheter defining a lumen extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis and configured to enable translation of an instrument from the proximal end to the distal end. The flexible catheter defines a compound curve formed on the distal portion, wherein the compound curve includes an elbow bend and a radially curved portion. The elbow bend deflecting the distal portion of the flexible catheter from the longitudinal axis, while the radially curved portion extends from the elbow bend farther deflecting the distal portion about a center point. The catheter guide assembly for navigation includes a control handle disposed at the proximal end of the flexible catheter and is configured to advance and rotate the flexible catheter within a luminal structure.

Claims

1. A catheter assembly for navigation within a luminal structure, comprising:

a flexible catheter including a proximal portion adjacent a proximal end and a distal portion adjacent a distal end, the flexible catheter defining a lumen extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis, the lumen configured to enable translation of an instrument from the proximal end to the distal end;

a control handle disposed at the proximal end of the flexible catheter and configured to advance and rotate the flexible catheter within a luminal structure;

a compound curve formed on the distal portion of the flexible catheter, the compound curve including,

an elbow bend deflecting the distal portion of the flexible catheter from the longitudinal axis; and

a radially curved portion extending from the elbow bend and deflecting the distal portion about a center point, wherein the elbow bend projects the radially curved portion laterally away from the longitudinal axis.

2. The catheter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the flexible catheter is configured for positioning within a bronchoscope.

3. The catheter assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor operatively associated with the flexible catheter and configured to detect the distal end of the flexible catheter within the luminal structure.

4. The catheter assembly of claim 3, wherein the sensor is attached to a locatable guide adapted to be inserted through the lumen of the flexible catheter.

5. The catheter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the elbow bend deflects the distal portion of the flexible catheter from the longitudinal axis from about 15 degrees to about 90 degrees

6. The catheter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the elbow bend deflects the distal portion of the flexible catheter from the longitudinal axis from about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees.

7. The catheter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the elbow bend deflects the distal portion of the flexible catheter from the longitudinal axis about 45 degrees.

8. The catheter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the flexible catheter is configured such that the proximal portion of the flexible catheter comprises a first durometer rating and the distal portion of the flexible catheter comprises a second durometer rating.

9. The catheter assembly according to claim 8, wherein the first durometer rating is greater than the second durometer rating and wherein the first durometer rating ranges from about 30D to about 80D and the second durometer rating ranges from about 30D to about 63D.

10. The catheter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the distal portion comprises a length that ranges from about 5 percent to about 15 percent of an overall length of the flexible catheter.

11. The catheter assembly according to claim 10, wherein the elbow bend is fully developed within approximately the first 5 to approximately the first 25 percent of the distal portion.

12. The catheter assembly according to claim 11, wherein the radially curved portion is fully developed within approximately the first 75 to approximately the first 95 percent of the distal portion

13. A method of manufacturing a flexible catheter with a distal portion including a radially curved portion, the method comprising:

forming a flexible catheter including a proximal portion adjacent a proximal end and a distal portion adjacent a distal end;

forming a lumen extending axially through the flexible catheter, wherein the lumen is configured to enable translation of an instrument from the proximal end to the distal end;

forming a radially curved portion within the distal portion, wherein the radially curved portion curves about a center point; and

mechanically fixing a control handle at the proximal end of the flexible catheter, wherein the control handle is configured to advance and rotate the flexible catheter within a luminal structure.

14. The method of manufacturing according to claim 13, wherein the radially curved portion is formed within a mold.

15. The method of manufacturing according to claim 14, wherein the mold fully develops the radially curved portion within a range from about 2 to about 3 centimeters.

16. The method of manufacturing according to claim 15, wherein the mold forms the radially curved portion with a curvature circumscribing within a range from about 45 to about 180 degrees.

17. The method of manufacturing according to claim 15, wherein the mold forms the radially curved portion with a curvature circumscribing about 180 degrees.