Steerable and aimable catheter
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprisingan elongated tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end for insertion into the body,a temperature-activated memory element in the distal end of the tubular member, the memory element moving in a first direction to assume a first predetermined shape and deflect the distal end of the tubular member in the first direction when heated to a predetermined temperature,resilient means within the distal end of the tubular member providing a predetermined bias for applying a force to move the distal end of the tubular member in a second direction away from the first direction to assume a predetermined curved shape when the temperature of the memory element is less than the predetermined temperature so that the memory element is moved to assume a shape other than the first predetermined shape in response to movement of the distal end of the tubular member to assume the predetermined curved shape, the resilient means being coupled to the temperature-activated memory element so that when the memory element moves in the first direction to assume its first predetermined shape a force is applied to move the resilient means in the first direction and when the resilient means moves in the second direction upon cooling of the memory element to a temperature less than the predetermined temperature a force is applied to move the memory element in the second direction, andcontrol means for selectively heating the memory element so that the memory element is moved in the first direction to overcome the force applied by the resilient means and deflect the distal end of the tubular member in the first direction so that the distal end of the tubular member is moved to assume a selected shape other than its predetermined curved shape.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter or the like is steerable through cavities within a body and aimable toward organ or tissue within the body. The catheter includes an elongated tubular member having a distal end for insertion into the body and a temperature-activated memory element in the distal end of the hollow tubular member. The memory element has an initial shape and moves to assume a predetermined shape when heated to a predetermined temperature. A control system is provided for selectively heating the memory element to the predetermined temperature so that the memory element is moved in a first direction to deflect the distal end of the tubular member and thereby steer or aim the catheter within the body. A spring assembly is provided for yieldably urging the memory element in an opposite second direction to establish the initial shape and also to aid in returning the memory element to its initial shape when the temperature of the memory element is less than the predetermined temperature. The spring assembly includes a core member for supporting the memory element and a resilient member. Both the core member and resilient member are preformed to assume curved shapes and both move to assume a shape other than the preformed curved shapes in response to movements of the memory element in the first direction.
182 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising
an elongated tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end for insertion into the body, a temperature-activated memory element in the distal end of the tubular member, the memory element moving in a first direction to assume a first predetermined shape and deflect the distal end of the tubular member in the first direction when heated to a predetermined temperature, resilient means within the distal end of the tubular member providing a predetermined bias for applying a force to move the distal end of the tubular member in a second direction away from the first direction to assume a predetermined curved shape when the temperature of the memory element is less than the predetermined temperature so that the memory element is moved to assume a shape other than the first predetermined shape in response to movement of the distal end of the tubular member to assume the predetermined curved shape, the resilient means being coupled to the temperature-activated memory element so that when the memory element moves in the first direction to assume its first predetermined shape a force is applied to move the resilient means in the first direction and when the resilient means moves in the second direction upon cooling of the memory element to a temperature less than the predetermined temperature a force is applied to move the memory element in the second direction, and control means for selectively heating the memory element so that the memory element is moved in the first direction to overcome the force applied by the resilient means and deflect the distal end of the tubular member in the first direction so that the distal end of the tubular member is moved to assume a selected shape other than its predetermined curved shape.
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8. An apparatus comprising
an elongated tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end for insertion into the body, a temperature-activated memory element in the distal end of the tubular member, the memory element moving in a first direction to assume a first predetermined shape and deflect the distal end of the tubular member in the first direction when heated to a predetermined temperature, resilient means within the distal end of the tubular member having a predetermined bias for applying a force to move the memory element in a second direction away from the first direction when the temperature of the memory element is less than the predetermined temperature so that the memory element is moved to assume a shape other than the first predetermined shape and deflect the distal end of the tubular member in the second direction, and control means for selectively heating the memory element so that the memory element is moved in the first direction to overcore the force applied by the resilient means and deflect the distal end of the tubular member in the first direction, the resilient means further including a core member within the distal end of the tubular member, and each of the spring means and memory element is attached to the core member.
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12. An apparatus comprising
an elongated tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end for insertion into the body, a temperature-activated memory element in the distal end of the tubular member, the memory element moving in a first direction to assume a first predetermined shape and deflect the distal end of the tubular member in the first direction when heated to a predetermined temperature, resilient means within the distal end of the tubular member having a predetermined bias for applying a force to move the memory element in a second direction away from the first direction when the temperature of the memory element is less than the predetermined temperature so that the memory element is moved to assume a shape other than the first predetermined shape and deflect the distal end of the tubular member in the second direction, and control means for selectively heating the memory element so that the memory element is moved in the first direction to overcome the force applied by the resilient means and deflect the distal end of the tubular member in the first direction, the resilient means including spring means for yieldably biasing the memory element in the second direction and the spring means having a predetermined spring constant causing the spring means to apply a primary return force of a magnitude sufficient to move the memory element to assume a shape other than the first predetermined shape while the temperature of the memory element is less than the predetermined temperature, the resilient means further including a core member within the distal end of the hollow tubular member and sleeve means for slidably coupling the memory element and the spring means to the core member so that each of the memory element and spring means is permitted to slip in relation to the adjacent core member during movement of the memory element to assume the first predetermined shape.
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14. An apparatus comprising
an elongated tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end for insertion into the body, a temperature-activated memory element in the distal end of the tubular member, the memory element having an initial curved shape and moving to assume a predetermined shape when heated to a predetermined temperature, control means for selectively heating the memory element to the predetermined temperature so that the memory element is moved in a first direction to deflect the distal end of the tubular member, and spring means for yieldably urging the memory element in an opposite second direction to establish said initial curved shape and to aid in returning the memory element to its initial curved shape when the temperature of the memory element is less than the predetermined temperature, the spring means being coupled to the memory element so that when the memory element moves in the first direction to assume its predetermined shape a force is applied to move the spring means in the first direction and when the spring means moves in the second direction upon cooling of the memory element to a temperature less than the predetermined temperature a force is applied to move the memory element in the second direction.
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17. An apparatus comprising
an elongated tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end for insertion into the body, a temperature-activated memory element in the distal end of the tubular member, the memory element having an initial shape and moving to assume a predetermined shape when heated to a predetermined temperature, a control means for selectively heating the memory element to the predetermined temperature so that the memory element is moved in a first direction to deflect the distal end of the tubular member, and spring means for yieldably urging the memory element in an opposing second direction to establish said initial shape and to aid in returning the memory element to its initial shape when the temperature of the memory element is less than the predetermined temperature, the spring means being coupled to the memory elemet so that when the memory element moves in the first direction to asume its predetermined shape a force is applied to move the spring means in the first direction and when the spring means moves in the second direction upon cooling of the memory element to a temperature less than the predetermined temperature a force is applied to move the memory element in the second direction, the spring means including a core member within the distal end of the tubular member, the core member being made of a resilient material preformed to define a second predetermined shape, and the core member moving to assume a shape other than the second predetermined shape in response to movement of the memory element in the first direction.
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18. An apparatus comprising
an elongated tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end for insertion into the body, a temperature-activated memory element in the distal end of the tubular member, the memory element having an initial shape and moving to assume a predetermined shape when heated to a predetermined temperature, control means for selectively heating the memory element to the predetermined temperature so that the memory element is moved in a first direction to deflect the distal end of the tubular member, and spring means for yieldably urging the memory element in an opposing second direction to establish said initial shape and to aid in returning the memory element to its initial shape when the temperature of the memory element is less than the predetermined temperature, the spring means being coupled to the memory element so that when the memory element moves in the first direction to assume its predetermined shape a force is applied to move the spring means in the first direction and when the spring means moves in the second direction upon cooling of the memory element to a temperature less than the predetermined temperature a force is applied to mvoe the memory element in the second direction, the proximal end of the elongated tubular member including a central axis, the initial shape established substantially by the spring means being a curved shape bending away from the central axis in the second direction to deflect the distal end of the tubular member in the second direction, and the predetermined shape being another curved shape bending away from the central axis in the first direction to deflect the distal end of the tubular member in the first direction.
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20. An apparatus comprising
an elongated tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end for insertion into the body, a core member within the distal end of the hollow tubular member, first and second memory elements in the distal end of the hollow tubular member, the first memory element being made of a temperature-activated memory material and moving to assume a first predetermined shape and deflect the distal end of the tubular member in one direction when heated to a predetermined temperature, the second memory element being made of a resilient memory material and moving to assume a second predetermined shape and deflect the distal end of the tubular member in another direction when the temperature of the first memory element is less than the predetermined temperature, sleeve means for slidably coupling each memory element to the core member so that each memory element is permitted to slip in relation to the adjacent core member when at least one of the memory elements moves to assume its predetermined shape, and control means for selectively heating the first memory element to move the first memory element to assume the first. predetermined shape, thereby exerting a force on the core member sufficient to overcome force exerted on the core member by the second memory element and causing the second memory element to move to assume a shape other than the second predetermined shape, the core member being made of a resilient material preformed to define a third predetermined shape and the core member moving to assume a shape other than the third predetermined shape in response to movement of the first memory element to assume the first predetermined shape.
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23. An apparatus comprising
an elongated tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end for insertion into the body, a core member within the distal end of the hollow tubular member, first and second memory element in the distal end of the hollow tubular member, the first memory element being made of a temperature-activated memory material and moving to assume a first predetermined shape and deflect the distal end of the tubular member in one direction when heated to a predetermined temperature, the second memory element being made of a resilient memory material and moving to assume a second predetermined shape and deflect the distal end of the tubular member in another direction when the temperature of the first memory element is less than the predetermined temperature, sleeve means for slidably coupling each memory element to the core member so that each memory element is permitted to slip in relation to the adjacent core member when at least one of the memory elements moves to assume its predetermined shape, and control means for selectively heating the first memory element to move the first memory element to assume the first predetermined shape, thereby exerting a force on the core member sufficient to overcome force exerted on the core member by the second memory element and causing the second memory element to move to assume a shape other than the second predetermined shape, the distal end of the tubular member being formed of flexible non-conductive material and the first memory element being formed of a metal having a relatively high electrical resistance.
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29. An apparatus comprising
an elongated tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end for insertion into the body, a core member within the distal end of the hollow tubular member, first and second memory elements in the distal end of the hollow tubular member, the first memory element being made of a temperature-activated memory material and moving to assume a first predetermined shape and deflect the distal end of the tubular member in one direction when heated to a predetermined temperature, the second memory element being made of a resilient memory material and moving to assume a second predetermined shape and deflect the distal end of the tubular member in another direction when the temperature of the first memory element is less than the predetermined temperature, sleeve means for slidably coupling each memory element to the core member so that each memory element is permitted to slip in relation to the adjacent core member when at least one of the memory elements moves to assume its predetermined shape, and control means for selectively heating the first memory element to move the first memory element to assume the first predetermined shape, thereby exerting a force on the core member sufficient to overcome force exerted on the core member by the second memory element and causing the second memory element to move to assume a shape other than the second predetermined shape, the control means including a power supply source, means for coupling the power supply source to the first memory element, and a control device for selectively applying power to heat the first memory element to steer the distal end of the tubular member through cavities in the body.
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30. An apparatus comprising
an elongated tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end for insertion into the body, a core member within the distal end of the hollow tubular member, first and second memory elements in the distal end of the hollow tubular member, the first memory element being made of a temperature-activated memory material and moving to assume a first predetermined shape and deflect the distal end of the tubular member in one direction when heated to a predetermined temperature, the second memory element being made of a resilient memory material and moving to assume a second predetermined shape and deflect the distal end of the tubular member in another direction when the temperature of the first memory element is less than the predetermined temperature, sleeve means for slidably coupling each memory element to the core member so that each memory element is permitted to slip in relation to the adjacent core member when at least one of the memory elements moves to assume its predetermined shape, and control means for selectively heating the first memory element to move the first memory element to assume the first predetermined shape, thereby exerting a force on the core member sufficient to overcome force exerted on the core member by the second memory element and causing the second memory element to move to assume a shape other than the second predetermined shape, the two memory elements being located in diametrically opposed relationship to each other in the distal end of the tubular member.
Specification