Steerable catheter

• US 6,030,360 A
• Filed: 12/30/1996
• Issued: 02/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Myelotec Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Myelotec Incorporated
• Inventors: Biggs, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coggins, Wynn Wood
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Cris L.
• Application Number:
  US08/777,548
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• Field of Search: 604/95, 600/139, 600/146, 600/147, 600/149
• US Class Current: 604/95.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/015 Details of the distal fixation of the movable mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0054 with regions for increasing flexibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0136 Handles therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0147 with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires

Abstract

A steerable catheter (310) having a handle, a manifold strain relief (314) securely mounted at a front distal end of the handle, a steering dial (316) rotatably mounted within the handle, the steering dial (316) comprises a steering dial left fastener (316L) and a steering dial right fastener (316R). A lumen extrusion shaft (318) is securely fastened at a rear distal end to the manifold strain relief(314). The lumen extrusion shaft (318) has at least one lumen extrusion shaft large lumen opening (318B) and at least one lumen extrusion shaft small lumen opening (318C) contained therein. A lumen extrusion tip (320) is securely fastened at a front distal end of the lumen extrusion shaft (318) by a lumen extrusion shaft connection (318A). A manifold (334) is securely fastened at a rear end of the manifold strain relief (314). At least one luer lock (324) is securely mounted at a rear distal end of the handle. A steering wire (328) securely fastened at a rear distal end to the steering dial (316). The steering wire (328) is slidably mounted within the manifold (334) and the manifold strain relief (314) and the lumen extrusion shaft (318). The steering wire (328) has a left steering wire (328L) securely fastened at a rear distal end to the steering dial left fastener (316L) and a right steering wire (328R) securely fastened at a rear distal end to the steering dial right fastener (316R). The steering wire (328) is slidably positioned within the at least one lumen extrusion shaft small lumen opening (318C). The steering wire (328) is securely affixed at a front end to the lumen extrusion shaft (318) by a lumen extrusion shaft small lumen attachment (318CA). The steering wire (328) terminates at a front distal end wire flat lumen extrusion tip which is securely mounted within the lumen extrusion tip (320). A catheter body lumen tubing (330) securely fastened at a rear distal end to the least one luer lock (324) and is securely fastened at a front distal end to the at least one lumen extrusion shaft large lumen opening (318B). A front end of the catheter body lumen tubing (330) is securely mounted within the manifold (334).

Claims

1. A steerable catheter assembly comprising:

a.) a handle having first and second ends and containing a steering dial mounted for rotative movement therebetween, a manifold having a first pair of openings and a second pair of openings disposed at said first end, and a pair of first and second luer locks disposed at said second end;

b.) a lumen extension shaft having a proximal and distal ends, said lumen extension shaft proximal end securely fastened to said handle first end in communication with said manifold, said shaft including a pair of first tubing members passing respectively through said first openings, and a second pair of tubing members passing respectively through said second openings, where said lumen extension shaft is made of a material having a first degree of rigidity;

c.) a lumen extrusion tip having a proximal end securely fastened to the distal end of said lumen extension shaft, where said lumen extrusion tip is made of a material having less rigidity than said lumen extension shaft;

d.) means accessible through said first and second luer locks for inserting an imagining instrument through said manifold and at least one of said first tubing members for remote viewing of the region around said lumen extrusion tip; and

e.) a pair of steering wires securely fastened at first ends therof to first and second sides, respectively, of said steering dial, said steering wires being slidably mounted within said manifold, through said second openings and said second tubing members, and secured at a second end thereof to said lumen extrusion tip, whereby movement of said lumer extrusion tip to plural positions may be made within a fixed plane.

2. The steerable catheter assembly according to claim 1, wherein a strain relief member is provided adjacent said manifold, and through which said lumen extrusion shaft extends.

3. The steerable catheter assembly according to claim 1, wherein said lumen extrusion tip is an element selected from the group of a looped wire, a formed hook wire, a ballized wire, and a plastic wire.

4. The steerable catheter assembly according to claim 3, wherein said lumen extrusion tip is a looped wire comprising a looped wire having a reverse bend radius.

5. The steerable catheter assembly according to claim 4, wherein said looped wire comprises a 0.010" diameter wire formed by coining a center of the looped wire between two 0.040" diameter rods on a forming tool where the looped wire includes an end heated to weld and form the loop.

6. The steerable catheter assembly according to claim 3, wherein said lumen extrusion tip is a continuous looped wire.

7. The steerable catheter assembly according to claim 4, wherein said lumen extrusion tip is a formed hook wire comprising a pair of wires, each having a formed hook at a front distal end.

8. The steerable catheter assembly according to claim 3, wherein said lumen extrusion tip is a ballized wire comprising a pair of wires, each terminating at a steel ball, where the diameter of each said ball is twice the diameter of its respective said wire.

9. The steerable catheter assembly according to claim 8, wherein each of said wires has a diameter of 0.010", and each said steel balls has a diameter of 0.020".

10. The steerable catheter assembly according to claim 8, wherein said each ballized wire further includes a jacket securely fixed thereabout.

11. The steerable catheter assembly according to claim 10, wherein said jacket is manufactured from U.V curable epoxy glue injected around each of said wires.

12. The steerable catheter assembly according to claim 8, wherein said ballized wire further includes a washer securely fixed about said wire adjacent to said steel ball.

13. The steerable catheter assembly according to claim 12, wherein said washer has an outside diameter of 0.024" and an inside diameter of 0.012", where said washer is slid over said ballized wire and positioned adjacent to said steel ball, and that said washer and said steel ball are pulled into said lumen extrusion shaft through said minor opening.

14. The steerable catheter assembly according to claim 8, wherein said ballized wire further includes a wire eyelet securely fixed thereabout adjacent said steel ball.

15. The steerable catheter assembly according to claim 14, wherein said wire eyelet has an outside diameter of 0.024" and an inside diameter of 0.012", where said wire eyelet is slid over said ballized wire and positioned adjacent to said steel ball.

16. The steerable catheter assembly according to claim 8, wherein said ballized wire further includes a wire spring securely fixed thereabout adjacent to said steel ball.

17. The steerable catheter assembly according to claim 1 wherein a first said luer lock comprises a fastening means removably attached to said second end.

18. The steerable catheter assembly according to claim 1, wherein said major tubing members extend between said luer locks and said manifold.