Selectively manipulable catheter

• US 5,916,147 A
• Filed: 09/22/1997
• Issued: 06/29/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Harb N. Boury
• Original Assignee: Harb N. Boury
• Inventors: Boury, Harb N.
• Primary Examiner(s): FLANAGAN, BEVERLY MEINDL
• Application Number:
  US08/934,980
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 600/139, 600/140, 600/141, 600/142, 600/143, 600/144, 600/146, 600/149
• US Class Current: 600/146
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00314 Separate linked members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00327 with actuating members moving in opposite directions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/508 with releasable brake mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0161 wherein the distal tips have two or more deflection regions
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0138 having flexible regions as a result of weakened outer material, e.g. slots, slits, cuts, joints or coils
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0147 with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires

Abstract

A remotely steerable catheter having an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, a remotely manipulable length, and a wall defining a lumen and first and second wires slidably retained by the wall and extending proximally beyond the proximal end of the tubular member, the first wire having a distal end thereof in controllable contact with the wall at a first node located along the manipulable length and the second wire having a distal end thereof in controllable contact with the wall at a second node located along the manipulable length, the second node being located distally of the first node along the manipulable length of the tubular member.

Claims

1. A remotely steerable catheter comprising:

a) an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, a remotely manipulable length, and a flexible plastic wall defining a lumen; and

b) first and second wires slidably retained by the wall and extending proximally beyond the proximal end of the tubular member, the first wire having a distal end thereof in controllable contact with the wall at a first node located along the manipulable length and the second wire having a distal end thereof in controllable contact with the wall at a second node located along the manipulable length, the second node being located distally of the first node along the manipulable length of the tubular member.

2. The catheter of claim 1 wherein the first and second control wires are attached adjacent the distal ends thereof to said first and second nodes, respectively.

3. The catheter of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second wires are slidably received within the wall of the tubular member.

4. The catheter of claim 3 further comprising first and second elongate channels extending within the wall, the first wire being slidably received within the first channel and the second wire being received within the second channel.

5. The catheter of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second nodes comprises at least one link formed of a material which is stiffer than said flexible plastic material of the wall.

6. The catheter of claim 1 wherein the remotely manipulable length of the catheter comprises the distal-most length of the catheter.

7. The catheter of claim 1 wherein the remotely manipulable length of the catheter comprises a plurality of relatively rigid links.

8. The catheter of claim 7 wherein each of the links is pivotably attached to at least one adjacent link, with each link having a lumen, the lumen of one link being in fluid communication with the lumen of each adjacent link.

9. The catheter of claim 7 wherein each link is encased in a flexible plastic material.

10. The catheter of claim 9 wherein the wall of the elongate tubular member is formed of said flexible plastic material, each link being imbedded in the wall.

11. The catheter of claim 7 wherein each link comprises a length of a relatively rigid tubular material, the links being spaced from one another along the remotely manipulable length of the catheter.

12. The catheter of claim 11 wherein the remotely manipulable length of the catheter further comprises a plastic material extending between each of said links, the plastic material being more flexible than the links.

13. The catheter of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second nodes comprises a distal link and a proximal link, the proximal and distal segments being moveable between an unlocked position wherein the links are free to pivot with respect to one another and a locked position wherein the links are constrained against relative movement.

14. The catheter of claim 13 wherein the distal and proximal links of each of the nodes are biased toward the unlocked position.

15. The catheter of claim 1 wherein the first and second wires are angularly spaced from one another around the wall.

16. The catheter of claim 15 wherein each of the first and second wires are slidably received within elongate channels within the wall of the tubular member, the elongate channels extending along the tubular member parallel to the tubular member'"'"'s axis.

17. The catheter of claim 16 wherein the elongate channels are parallel to one another and spaced at least about 45 degrees from one another along the circumference of the wall.

18. The catheter of claim 15 wherein each of the first and second wires are slidably received within elongate channels within the wall of the tubular member, at least one of the elongate channels defining a helically oriented path along at least a distal portion of its length.

19. The catheter of claim 1 wherein the catheter extends proximally of the proximal end of the elongate tubular member.

20. A selectively formable catheter comprising:

a) an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, a selectively formable length and a wall defining a lumen; and

b) a distal locking segment and a proximal locking segment carried by the wall of the elongate tubular member and located along the selectively formable length thereof, the proximal and distal segments being selectively moveable between an unlocked position wherein the locking segments are free to pivot with respect to one another and a locked position wherein the locking segments are constrained against relative movement.

21. The catheter of claim 20 further comprising at least one control wire retained by the wall of the elongate tubular member, the control wire extending proximally from the distal locking segment to a location proximal of the proximal locking segment.

22. The catheter of claim 21 wherein the control wire extends proximally beyond the proximal end of the elongate tubular member.

23. The catheter of claim 20 wherein the distal and proximal locking segments may be releasably locked to one another, permitting them to be selectively returned to the unlocked position after reaching the locked position.

24. The catheter of claim 23 wherein the locking segments are biased toward their unlocked position.

25. The catheter of claim 24 further comprising a spring positioned between adjacent surfaces of the distal and proximal locking segments, the spring serving to so bias the locking segments.