Remote controlled guide for a catheter

• US 4,732,163 A
• Filed: 11/10/1986
• Issued: 03/22/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sarcem SA
• Original Assignee: Sarcem SA
• Inventors: Jeanmonod, Maurice, Bonello, Philippe
• Primary Examiner(s): HINDENBURG, MAX F
• Application Number:
  US06/929,081
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 128/772, 128/656-658, 604/95, 604/110, 604/164, 604/171, 604/264, 604/280, 604/282, 604/170, 604/283
• US Class Current: 600/585
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09175 having specific characteristics at the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0147 with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09033 with fixed mandrils, e.g. mandrils fixed to tip; Tensionable wires

Abstract

A remote controlled guide for a catheter, characterized by the fact that its end called the head which is formed of a cylindrical coil spring (2) having separated coils is mounted coaxially at the end of a tube (1) and can be bent at will so as to facilitate its introduction and then its passage through the blood vessels. To do that, the user acts axially on the rear end of a flexible pulling member (5) the other end of which is fastened to the upper portion of the head at a point which is eccentric with the axis of said latter, this flexible pulling member (5) passing through the tube (1). Furthermore, and in order to inject at the level of the head a contrast liquid inside the blood vessel, the rear end of the tube (1) is removably fixed in a tight manner onto a frame member (6) provided with a lateral channel (17) communicating with the tube (1), the liquid being able to escape through the coils of the spring (2). When the guide for the catheter is set place, the frame member (6) is disconnected from the tube (1) to be replaced by an extension (15) having a stud (16). Now, the guide for the catheter is in its working state to support and guide a catheter having an inflatable balloon.

Claims

1. A remote controlled guide for a catheter, comprising a tube terminating at one end in a hollow flexible finger formed in part by a coil spring, a flexible pulling element that is secured to the finger eccentrically of the coil spring and that extends through the tube, the other end of the tube being removably secured to a frame element containing a control device for pulling the flexible member thereby to bend the finger relative to the tube, and a cutter carried by the frame element for selectively cutting the flexible pulling member thereby to permit separation of the frame element from the tube.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said finger including an end piece and said coil spring interconnecting said end piece and said one end of the tube.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, the frame member having a lateral channel communicating with the inside of the tube for injecting a liquid through the tube.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and a push button on the frame element for actuating said cutter to cut the flexible pulling member.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and a member insertable in said other end of the tube and constituting a prolongation of the tube for closing the tube when said frame element is disconnected from the tube.