Device for guiding medical catheters and scopes
First Claim
1. An assembly positionable within a flexible cannula to cause bending thereof, said assembly comprising:
- a contractile member operative to undergo axial shortening upon application of an electrical current thereto;
a bendable support means positioned adjacent to and in spaced relation to said contractile membera connecting member connecting said contractile member to said bendable support member; and
said contractile member, said bendable support member, and said connecting member being sized, configured, and assembled in such manner as to be positionable within said flexible cannula such that the axial shortening of the contractile member will result in bending of the bendable support member with concomitant bending of the flexible cannula in conformance therewith.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a "bending assembly" which, when positioned with a flexible catheter, cannula, scope, or the like, is operative to cause periodic bending of the catheter, cannula, scope, or the like so as to assist in guiding the catheter, cannula, scope, or the like through curved or branched anatomical structures. The bending assembly comprises (a) a contractile wire or member, (b) a bendable support means, and (c) a connecting member linking the contractile wire to the bendable support means. When electrical current is passed through the contractile wire, it will undergo axial shortening, thereby causing the bendable support means to bend in the direction of the contractile wire with resultant movement or bending of the catheter, cannula, scope, or the like in which the bending assembly is disposed.
168 Citations
47 Claims
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1. An assembly positionable within a flexible cannula to cause bending thereof, said assembly comprising:
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a contractile member operative to undergo axial shortening upon application of an electrical current thereto; a bendable support means positioned adjacent to and in spaced relation to said contractile member a connecting member connecting said contractile member to said bendable support member; and said contractile member, said bendable support member, and said connecting member being sized, configured, and assembled in such manner as to be positionable within said flexible cannula such that the axial shortening of the contractile member will result in bending of the bendable support member with concomitant bending of the flexible cannula in conformance therewith. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A guidable catheter for insertion into anatomical structures of the body, said catheter comprising:
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a flexible sheath having first and second longitudinal ends and a hollow lumen extending axially therethrough; a bending assembly formed within said flexible sheath, near the distal end thereof, said bending assembly comprising; a contractile member operative to undergo axial shortening upon application of an electrical current thereto; a bendable support member positioned adjacent to and in spaced relation to said contractile wire; a connecting member connecting said contractile wire to said bendable support member; said contractile member, said bendable support member, and said connecting member being sized, configured, and assembled in such manner as to be positionable within said flexible cannula such that the axial shortening of the contractile member will result in bending of the bendable support member with concomitant bending of the flexible cannula in conformance therewith; and a means for providing an electrical current to said contractile wire so as to cause said axial shortening of said contractile wire with resultant bending of said bendable support member and the distal portion of said oatheter. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 46, 47)
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23. An endoscope having a bendable distal portion, said endoscope comprising:
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a flexible elongate body having proximal and distal longitudinal ends; at least one image transmitting fiber extending longitudinally through said elongate body so as to effect transmission of a visual image from the distal end of said elongate body to the proximal end of said elongate body; at least one light transmitting fiber extending longitudinally through said elongate body so as to carry illuminating light from the proximal end of said elongate body to the distal end of said elongate body; at least one means for providing light energy to said light transmitting fiber; an imaging means positioned on the proximal end of said elongate body for receiving and viewing visual images transmitted through said at least one image transmitting fiber; a bending assembly positioned near the distal end of said elongate body, said bending assembly comprising; a contractile member operative to undergo axial shortening upon application of an electrical current thereto; a bendable support means positioned adjacent to and in spaced relation to said contractile wire; a connecting member connecting said contractile wire to said bendable support member; said contractile wire, said bendable support member, and said connecting member being sized, configured, and assembled in such manner as to be positionable within said flexible cannula such that the axial shortening of the contractile wire will result in bending of the bendable support member with concomitant bending of the flexible cannula in conformance therewith; and a means for providing an electrical current to said contractile wire so as to cause said axial shortening of said contractile wire with resultant bending of said bendable support member and the distal portion of said catheter. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification