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Steerable catheter having disposable module and sterilizable handle and method of connecting same

  • US 6,007,531 A
  • Filed: 01/05/1999
  • Issued: 12/28/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A catheter for inserting at least portions thereof into a vessel, cavity, or tissue of a human body to thereby provide manipulation of a distal portion of the catheter when positioned within a vessel, cavity, or tissue, the catheter comprising:

  • a module including an elongate tube having at least one lumen extending from a distal end portion to a proximal end portion of said tube and a module interface connected to the proximal end of said tube;

    a handle detachably connected to said module and configured to be readily held in the hand of a user, said handle comprising a body including a wall positioned in and transversely extending across distal portions of said body, said wall having an outer surface thereof defining an exterior portion of said body, and a first cavity formed within said body, said body being detachably and coextensively connected to said module interface through the outer surface of said wall, and an imaging interface located in the proximal portion of said body, said imaging interface extending from within said first cavity through said wall; and

    a fiber optic scope detachably connected to said imaging interface of said handle for receiving images within a human body and providing light into the vessel, cavity, or tissue of a human body, said fiber optic scope positioned within said at least one lumen of said tube and extending from the proximal end portion of said tube to the distal end portion thereof.

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