Catheter tip assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A catheter steering mechanism, comprising:
- a guide tube having a distal end;
a tip assembly carried by the distal end of the guide tube and including a variable stiffness spring being bendable in response to external forces, the variable stiffness spring having a proximal region attached to the guide tube at a point proximal to the distal end of the guide tube and a distal region that extends free of and beyond the distal end of the guide tube, the variable stiffness spring having a variable stiffness between its proximal and distal regions so that the proximal region is more resistant to bending than the distal region;
at least one steering wire attached to the variable stiffness spring beyond the distal end of the guide tube; and
a controller attached to the steering wire for applying force to the steering wire to bend the spring beyond the distal end of the guide tube.
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Abstract
An electrode tip assembly for a catheter is bendable under the control of the user. The distal tip portion of the assembly is progressively less resistant to bending than the remaining portions. The variable stiffness is provided by tapering the width or thickness of a bendable spring component or otherwise providing a progressive change in bending characteristics by notching, dimpling or stepping the thickness of the spring.
100 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A catheter steering mechanism, comprising:
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a guide tube having a distal end; a tip assembly carried by the distal end of the guide tube and including a variable stiffness spring being bendable in response to external forces, the variable stiffness spring having a proximal region attached to the guide tube at a point proximal to the distal end of the guide tube and a distal region that extends free of and beyond the distal end of the guide tube, the variable stiffness spring having a variable stiffness between its proximal and distal regions so that the proximal region is more resistant to bending than the distal region; at least one steering wire attached to the variable stiffness spring beyond the distal end of the guide tube; and a controller attached to the steering wire for applying force to the steering wire to bend the spring beyond the distal end of the guide tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11)
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10. A catheter steering mechanism, comprising:
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a guide tube having a distal end; a tip assembly carried by the distal end of the guide tube including a variable stiffness spring having a central plane and a stiffness and being bendable in response to external forces, the variable stiffness spring having a proximal region attached to of the guide tube at a point proximal to the distal end of the guide tube and a distal region that extends free of and beyond the distal end of the guide tube, the variable stiffness spring having a variable stiffness between its proximal and distal regions ends so that the proximal region end is more resistant to bending than the distal region, the proximal region further having a reduced width adapted to make a friction fit within the guide tube at a point proximal to the distal end of the guide tube, whereby the variable stiffness spring flexes perpendicularly to the central plane of the variable stiffness spring, at least one steering wire attached to the variable stiffness spring beyond the distal end of the guide tube, and a controller attached to the steering wire for applying a force to the steering wire to bend the variable stiffness spring beyond the distal end of the guide tube.
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Specification