Spiral wire bearing for rotating wire drive catheter
First Claim
1. A catheter for introduction into a lumen in a living being to effect a procedure therein, said catheter being an elongated tubular flexible member having a distal end at which a working head is located, said catheter having an inner surface defining a passageway extending down said catheter, said working head being arranged for movement with respect to a central axis extending through said passageway, elongated drive means for said working head located within said passageway and extending down said catheter from a point adjacent said working head to a first remote proximal location, and an elongated bearing means for said drive means, said bearing means also located within said passageway and extending down said catheter from a point adjacent said working head to a second remote proximal location, one of said two last mentioned means being formed of at least a first wire and the other of said last two mentioned means being formed of a spiral of at least a second wire wrapped about said first wire, said second wire forming a helical space between its convolutions, whereupon said catheter can be readily bent through any arc up to a minimum radius of curvature while said drive means is rotated freely with respect to said bearing means and to said catheter at a high rotational speed to effect the movement of said working head with respect to said axis, said bearing means and said drive means cooperating with each other to maintain said drive means at a substantially neutral position within said catheter when said catheter is bent through said arc and rotated at said high rotational speed without resulting in undue vibration which could interfere with said procedure, said helical space being in communication with said inner surface and through which a cooling fluid may flow to contact said inner surface of said catheter and said first and second wires to expedite the rotation of said drive means with respect to said bearing means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A recanalizing catheter comprising a very small diameter, elongated, flexible tubular member having a distal end at which a tool is mounted for high speed rotation. A flexible drive assembly is located within the tubular member to power the tool. In one embodiment the drive assembly comprises a spiral bearing formed as an elongated cylindrical helix having a central longitudinal passageway extending therethrough, and a flexible drive shaft extending through the passageway and freely rotatable therein. The tool is mounted at the end of the flexible drive shaft. In another embodiment the drive assembly comprises a spiral drive shaft formed of at least one elongated cylindrical helix having a central longitudinal passageway extending therethrough, and an elongated flexible bearing shaft extending through the passageway and about which the spiral shaft can be freely rotated. The tool is mounted at the end of the spiral shaft. In either embodiment the drive shaft and the bearing cooperate with each other to keep the drive shaft centered even as the device is bent through a sharp radia of curvature, while also preventing the shaft from going into critical whirl as it is rotated at a high rate of speed from a remotely located motor.
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Citations
32 Claims
- 1. A catheter for introduction into a lumen in a living being to effect a procedure therein, said catheter being an elongated tubular flexible member having a distal end at which a working head is located, said catheter having an inner surface defining a passageway extending down said catheter, said working head being arranged for movement with respect to a central axis extending through said passageway, elongated drive means for said working head located within said passageway and extending down said catheter from a point adjacent said working head to a first remote proximal location, and an elongated bearing means for said drive means, said bearing means also located within said passageway and extending down said catheter from a point adjacent said working head to a second remote proximal location, one of said two last mentioned means being formed of at least a first wire and the other of said last two mentioned means being formed of a spiral of at least a second wire wrapped about said first wire, said second wire forming a helical space between its convolutions, whereupon said catheter can be readily bent through any arc up to a minimum radius of curvature while said drive means is rotated freely with respect to said bearing means and to said catheter at a high rotational speed to effect the movement of said working head with respect to said axis, said bearing means and said drive means cooperating with each other to maintain said drive means at a substantially neutral position within said catheter when said catheter is bent through said arc and rotated at said high rotational speed without resulting in undue vibration which could interfere with said procedure, said helical space being in communication with said inner surface and through which a cooling fluid may flow to contact said inner surface of said catheter and said first and second wires to expedite the rotation of said drive means with respect to said bearing means.
- 17. A flexible drive assembly comprising an elongated flexible tubular member including an inner surface defining a central passageway extending down its length and having a rear portion and a front portion, elongated drive means extending through said tubular member from a point adjacent said rear portion to a point adjacent said front portion, and elongated bearing means for said drive means, said bearing means extending within said tubular member from a point adjacent said front portion to a point adjacent said rear portion, one of said two last mentioned means being formed of at least a first wire and the other of said last two mentioned means being formed of a spiral of at least a second wire wrapped about said first wire, said second wire forming a helical space between its convolutions, whereupon said drive assembly can be readily bent through any arc up to a minimum radius of curvature while said drive means is rotated freely with respect to said bearing means at a high rotational speed, said bearing means and said drive means cooperating with each other so that said drive means is maintained at a neutral position within said tubular member as said tubular member is bent through said arc and rotated at said high rotational speed without undue vibration, said helical space being in communication with the inner surface of said tubular member and through which a cooling fluid may flow to contact said inner surface and said first and second wires to expedite the rotation of said drive means with respect to said bearing means.
Specification