One-handed angioplasty steering device and method
First Claim
1. A steering device for directing passage of a remote portion of an elongated member, said steering device comprising releasable gripping means for releasably gripping a proximate portion of the elongated member when said gripping means in manipulated by the exertion of a force upon a gripping member of said gripping means so that the gripping member is moved into a gripping position, said steering device including releasable locking means for locking said gripping member in a gripping position in opposition to an opposing gripping face of said gripping means, said locking means including first and second engaging portions interconnected with said gripping member and said opposing gripping face, respectively, such that when said respective engaging portions are engaged with one another, and the gripping member is in the gripping position, the gripping member is retained in the gripping position by said engaged engaging portions.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A steering device (2) for directing passage of a remote portion of an elongated member (4) such as a catheter guidewire, fiber optic bundle or the like, preferably a guidewire for use in percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. The steering device (2) includes a releasable gripping mechanism for releasably gripping a proximate portion of the elongated member (4). The gripping mechanism includes opposing gripping surfaces (30a) and (30b) which cooperate to grip the proximate portion of the elongated member (4) therebetween when said gripping mechanism is manipulated by the exertion of force so that the device (2) is in a gripping position and the device (2) grips the elongated member (4). The elongated member (4) can be inserted laterally into the device (2). A preferred embodiment (2") includes a living hinge (68) which biases the preferred steering device (2") to a partially open position wherein the wire (4") can be laterally inserted or removed from the device (2"). Methods of using the same are also claimed.
165 Citations
28 Claims
- 1. A steering device for directing passage of a remote portion of an elongated member, said steering device comprising releasable gripping means for releasably gripping a proximate portion of the elongated member when said gripping means in manipulated by the exertion of a force upon a gripping member of said gripping means so that the gripping member is moved into a gripping position, said steering device including releasable locking means for locking said gripping member in a gripping position in opposition to an opposing gripping face of said gripping means, said locking means including first and second engaging portions interconnected with said gripping member and said opposing gripping face, respectively, such that when said respective engaging portions are engaged with one another, and the gripping member is in the gripping position, the gripping member is retained in the gripping position by said engaged engaging portions.
-
6. A steering device for directing passage of a remote portion of a elongated member, said steering device comprising releasable gripping means for releasably gripping a proximate portion of the elongated member, said gripping means including a gripping member and an opposing gripping face which cooperate to grip the proximate portion of the elongated member when said gripping means is manipulated by the exertion of a force so that said gripping member is in a gripping position, said steering device including integral releasable locking means for locking said gripping member in the gripping position, said locking means including a latch member interconnected with said gripping member and an engaging portion interconnected with said opposing gripping face, said gripping member being retained in a gripping position when said latch member is engaged with said engaging portion.
- 7. A steering device for directing passage of a remote portion of an elongated member, said steering device comprising releasable gripping means for releasably gripping a proximate portion of the elongated member, said gripping means including opposing gripping surfaces which cooperate to grip the proximate portion of the elongated member when said gripping means is manipulated so that said opposing gripping surfaces are in a gripping position, said steering device further including releasable locking means for locking said gripping surfaces in said gripping position, said locking means being interconnected with said gripping means, wherein said steering device has a single housing structure such that said steering device can be readily manipulated with one hand.
- 12. A percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) steering device for directing passage of a remote portion of an elongated member, said steering device comprising releasable gripping means for releasably gripping a proximate portion of the elongated member, said gripping means including opposing gripping faces which cooperate to grip the proximate portion of the elongated member when said gripping faces are manipulated so that they are in a gripping position, said steering device including integral manipulation means interconnected with said gripping means for manipulating said faces into said gripping position, said steering device further including integral releasable locking means interconnected with said gripping means for locking said gripping faces in said gripping position, wherein said steering device has a single housing structure such that said steering device can be readily manipulated with one hand.
-
14. A method for releasably engaging an elongated member so as to direct passage of a remote portion of the elongated member during percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and related medical procedures, the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) slidably positioning a steering device having a single housing structure onto the elongated member by insertion of the elongated member into a bore of the housing structure; and (b) simultaneously gripping the elongated member with said steering device and locking the steering device in a gripping state by manually applying a first force to an external surface of the steering device, wherein internal gripping faces of the steering device engage the elongated member. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) steering device for directing passage of a remote portion of an elongated member, the device comprising opposing gripping members, each gripping member having a main body portion and a gripping flange, each of said gripping flanges having faces, the gripping faces of opposing gripping members cooperating to releasably grip a proximate portion of the elongated member when said opposing gripping members are manipulated so that said opposing gripping faces are in a gripping position, said gripping members including releasable locking means for locking said opposing gripping faces in said gripping position when opposing portions of said locking means are engaged, said opposing gripping faces being in a non-gripping position when said opposing portions of said locking means are disengaged, the elongated member sliding freely within said steering device when said opposing portions of said locking means are disengaged, and the elongated member being substantially bound in an engaged position with respect to said device when said opposing surfaces are in said gripping position and said locking means are engaged.
-
19. A method for releasably engaging an elongated member so as to direct passage of a remote portion of the elongated member during percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and related medical procedures, the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) slidably positioning a steering device including releasable gripping means for releasably gripping a proximate portion of the elongated member by insertion of the elongated member into the device, said gripping means including opposing gripping surfaces which cooperate to grip the proximate portion of the elongated member therebetween when said gripping means in manipulated by the exertion of a translational force upon said gripping means so that gripping surfaces are moved into a gripping position; and (b) simultaneously gripping the elongated member with said steering device and locking the steering device in a gripping state by applying a translational force to said gripping means, whereby gripping surfaces engage the elongated member. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
-
- 22. A steering device for manipulating a remote portion of an elongated member, said steering device comprising releasable gripping means for releasably gripping a proximate portion of the elongated member, said gripping means including opposing gripping surfaces which cooperate to grip the proximate portion of the elongated member therebetween when said gripping means are manipulated by the exertion of force upon said steering device so that said steering device is manipulated into a gripping position, said device further comprising living hinge means, said living hinge means including a resilient portion interconnected with said opposing gripping surfaces, wherein said hinge means bias said steering device toward a non-gripping position.
Specification