Catheter for controlling the advancement of a guide wire

• US 6,394,976 B1
• Filed: 01/31/2000
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Spectranetics Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: IntraLuminal Therapeutics, Inc. (DSM-Firmenich AG)
• Inventors: Cueto, Diego D., White, Jeffery, Wardle, John, Winston, Thomas R., Neet, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sykes, Angela D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thanh, LoAn H.
• Application Number:
  US09/495,203
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 604/95.01,95.04-95.05,523,264,528-529
• US Class Current: 604/95.04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0147 with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09041 Mechanisms for insertion of guide wires

Abstract

A catheter for controlling the advancement of a guide wire includes a catheter body having a central lumen, a first side lumen and a second side lumen. A pair of opposing control wires extend the length of the catheter body through the side lumens. The catheter body includes a proximal portion coupled to a less rigid distal portion. A control handle coupled to the proximal ends of the control wires produces opposing motion of the control wires along the length of the catheter body, causing the distal portion of the catheter body to deflect relative to the proximal portion of the catheter body, thus directing the guide wire. In one embodiment, the control handle includes a guide wire advancement mechanism for controlling the advancement of the guide wire through the catheter.

Claims

1. A catheter for controlling the advancement of a guide wire extending therethrough, said catheter comprising:

a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end, said catheter body comprising a distal portion coupled to a proximal portion, said distal portion more flexible than said proximal portion, said catheter body further having at least one central lumen therethrough configured to receive said guide wire, and a first side lumen and said second side lumen extending from the catheter body proximal end to the catheter body distal end and positioned on opposite sides of said catheter body; and

said second side lumen extending from the catheter body proximal end to the catheter body distal end and positioned on opposite sides of said catheter body;

a first control wire extending from said catheter body proximal end to said catheter body distal end through said first side lumen, said first control wire coupled to said catheter body distal end; and

a second control wire extending from said catheter body proximal end to said catheter body distal end through said second side lumen, said second control wire coupled to said catheter body distal end.

2. A catheter in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a control handle coupled to said catheter body proximal end, said control handle comprising a deflection mechanism coupled to said first control wire and said second control wire.

3. A catheter in accordance with claim 2 wherein said first control wire has a proximal end, said second control wire has a proximal end, said first control wire proximal end and said second control wire proximal end coupled to said deflection mechanism.

4. A catheter in accordance with claim 3 wherein said control handle further comprises a knob rotatably coupled to said deflection mechanism, said deflection mechanism configured to translate rotation of said knob to opposing movement of said first control wire and said second control wire.

5. A catheter in accordance with claim 4 wherein said deflection mechanism comprises a yoked mechanism for translating rotation of said knob to opposing movement of said first control wire and said second control wire.

6. A catheter in accordance with claim 5 wherein said deflection mechanism comprises:

a control cylinder coupled to said knob, said control cylinder having a central bore therethrough, a first side slot therethrough and a second side slot therethrough, said first side slot and said second side slot on opposing sides of said first cylindrical member and oriented at opposing angles relative to the long axis of said handle;

a chassis having a cylindrical portion, said cylindrical portion slidably engaged within the central bore of said control cylinder, said chassis cylindrical portion having a first side slot and a second side slot on opposing sides of said cylindrical portion, said first side slot and said second side slot extending substantially parallel to the long axis of said control handle, said cylindrical portion inserted into said control cylinder central bore so that said control cylinder first side slot and said cylindrical portion first side slot are in partial alignment so that a first movable opening is formed, and said control cylinder second side slot and said cylindrical portion second side slot are in partial alignment so that a second movable opening is formed.

7. A catheter in accordance with claim 6 said deflection mechanism further comprises:

a first dowel pin, said first dowel pin inserted through said first movable opening and coupled to said first guide pin; and

a second dowel pin, said second dowel pin inserted through said second movable opening and coupled to said second guide pin.

8. A catheter in accordance with claim 5 wherein said deflection mechanism comprises:

a first guide pin coupled to said first control wire; and

a second guide pin coupled to said second control wire, wherein said yoked mechanism is configured to produce opposing movement of said first guide pin and said second guide pin along a long axis of the control handle.

9. A catheter in accordance with claim 1 further comprising hypodermic tubing coupled to said catheter distal end, said hypodermic tubing having a central lumen in alignment with said catheter central lumen.

10. A catheter in accordance with claim 9 further comprising a vibration mechanism for vibrating said hypodermic tubing.

11. A catheter in accordance with claim 10 wherein said vibration mechanism comprises a PZT crystal coupled to said hypodermic tubing, said PZT crystal further coupled to an RF generator for exciting said PZT crystal.

12. A catheter in accordance with claim 10 wherein said catheter body has a first and a second central lumen therethrough, said vibration mechanism comprising a rotating cam inserted through said second central lumen and positioned to impinge on said hypodermic tubing.

13. A catheter in accordance with claim 9 wherein said catheter body has a first and a second central lumen therethrough, said catheter further comprising a speedometer type cable coupled to a gear, said cable and gear inserted through said second central lumen, said cable coupled to said hypodermic tubing and configured to rotate said hypodermic tubing.

14. A catheter in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a guide wire advancement mechanism coupled to said catheter body, said guide wire advancement mechanism configured to incrementally advance a guide wire through said catheter central lumen.

15. A catheter in accordance with claim 14, said guide wire advancement mechanism comprising:

a spring assembly block having a guide wire guiding channel therethrough;

a friction wheel positioned to contact a guide wire inserted through said guide wire guiding channel; and

at least one geared drive wheel coupled to said friction wheel.

16. A catheter in accordance with claim 15, said guide wire advancement mechanism further comprising:

a first spring element coupled to a housing portion;

a first ratchet element coupled to said first spring element and in reversible engagement with said at least one geared drive wheel;

a second spring element extending from said housing and contacting said spring block assembly; and

a second ratchet element coupled to said housing and in reversible engagement with said at least one geared drive wheel.

17. A catheter in accordance with claim 15, said guide wire advancement mechanism further comprising a roller bearing, said roller bearing positioned to contact the guide wire inserted through said guide wire guiding channel, said roller bearing further positioned so that the guide wire moves between said roller bearing and said friction wheel.

18. A catheter in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first control wire and said second control wire are continuous at said catheter body distal end, said first control wire and said second control wire forming a loop at said catheter distal end, said loop coupled to said catheter distal end.

19. A catheter in accordance with claim 18 further comprising a cap coupled to said catheter distal end, said cap having a central opening therethrough, said central opening aligned with said catheter central lumen, wherein said cap covers said loop.

20. A catheter in accordance with claim 1 wherein said distal portion is adjustable to a plurality of positions relative to said proximal portion.

21. A catheter in accordance with claim 19 wherein said cap comprises a radio-opaque material.

22. A catheter in accordance with claim 1 wherein said distal portion comprises a radio-opaque material.

23. A catheter in accordance with claim 1 further comprising hypodermic tubing extending through said catheter body proximal portion, through said first side lumen and said second side lumen.

24. A catheter in accordance with claim 1 wherein said catheter body has one central lumen therethrough.

25. A catheter for steering a guide wire extending therethrough, said catheter comprising:

a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end, said catheter body comprising a distal portion and a proximal portion, said distal portion more flexible than said proximal portion, said catheter body having at least one central lumen extending from said catheter body proximal end to said catheter body distal end, said central lumen configured to receive said guide wire, and a first side lumen and a second side lumen extending from said catheter body proximal end to said catheter body distal end, said first side lumen and said second side lumen positioned on opposing sides of said catheter body;

a control wire comprising a first portion, a second portion and a loop portion disposed between said first portion and said second portion, said first portion extending through said first side lumen from said catheter body proximal end to said catheter body distal end, said second portion extending through said second side lumen from said catheter body proximal end to said catheter body distal end, said loop portion coupled to said catheter body distal end.

26. A catheter in accordance with claim 25 wherein said catheter body distal portion is adjustable to a plurality of positions relative to said proximal portion by selectively applying tension to said control wire first portion and said control wire second portion so that said control wire first portion and said control wire second portion move in opposing directions along the length of said catheter body.

27. A catheter in accordance with claim 26 further comprising a deflection mechanism coupled to said catheter body proximal end for selectively applying tension to said control wire first portion and said control wire second portion.

28. A catheter in accordance with claim 27 wherein said deflection mechanism comprises a yoked assembly coupled to said control wire, said yoked assembly configured to translate rotation of a control knob to opposing motion of said control wire first portion and said control wire second portion along the length of said catheter body.