Deflecting tip for surgical cannula

• US 6,450,948 B1
• Filed: 11/02/1999
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Allen Newman
• Original Assignee: Vista Medical Technologies Inc (Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gillespie, Walter Dean, Newman, Allen, Matsuura, David G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker, John P.
• Application Number:
  US09/433,603
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: 600/139, 600/143, 600/144, 600/146, 604/95.01, 604/94.04, 606/1
• US Class Current: 600/139
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0055 Constructional details of insertion parts, e.g. vertebral elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0057 Constructional details of force transmission elements, e.g. control wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0009 Making of catheters or other medical or surgical tubes
• 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 25/0141 having flexible regions as a result of using materials with different mechanical properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0144 having flexible regions as a result of inner reinforcement means, e.g. struts or rods
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0147 with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires

Abstract

A steerable probe with a deflectable tip. In one embodiment, the probe may include a cannula having a proximal end and a distal end and extending along a length therebetween, an exterior surface, an interior surface defining a lumen, an elongate flexible section extending along a first portion of the length and having a section proximal end and a section distal end. A pull wire for deflecting the flexible section in a first direction in a preferred bending plane may be substantially embedded in the cannula between the interior surface and the exterior surface and extending from the section proximal end to the section distal end. The pull wire may be secured to the cannula adjacent to the section distal end and freely passing through the section proximal end. Two longitudinal strengthening members may be embedded in and extend along the flexible section generally opposite each other about the preferred bending plane.

Claims

1. A steerable probe comprising:

(a) a cannula having;

(1) a proximal end and a distal end and extending along a length therebetween;

(2) an exterior surface;

(3) an interior surface defining a lumen;

(4) an elongate flexible section extending along a first portion of the length and having a section proximal end and a section distal end;

(b) a pull wire for deflecting said flexible section in a first direction in a preferred bending plane, the pull wire substantially embedded in the cannula between the interior surface and the exterior surface and extending from the section proximal end to the section distal end, the pull wire secured to the cannula adjacent the section distal end and freely passing through the section proximal end; and

(c) at least two longitudinal strengthening members, extending along and embedded in said flexible section generally opposite each other about the preferred bending plane;

wherein the flexible section is precurved in a second direction opposite the first direction.

2. A steerable probe comprising:

(a) a cannula having;

(1) a proximal end and a distal end and extending along a length therebetween;

(2) an exterior surface;

(3) an interior surface defining a lumen;

(4) an elongate flexible section extending along a first portion of the length and having a section proximal end and a section distal end;

(b) a pull wire for deflecting said flexible section in a first direction in a preferred bending plane, the pull wire substantially embedded in the cannula between the interior surface and the exterior surface and extending from the section proximal end to the section distal end, the pull wire secured to the cannula adjacent the section distal end and freely passing through the section proximal end; and

(c) at least two longitudinal strengthening members, extending along and embedded in said flexible section generally opposite each other about the preferred bending plane;

wherein the longitudinal strengthening members each comprise a coiled wire surrounding a core wire.

3. A steerable probe comprising:

(a) a cannula having;

(1) a proximal end and a distal end and extending along a length therebetween;

(2) an exterior surface;

(3) an interior surface defining a lumen;

(4) an elongate flexible section extending along a first portion of the length and having a section proximal end and a section distal end;

(b) a pull wire for deflecting said flexible section in a first direction in a preferred bending plane, the pull wire substantially embedded in the cannula between the interior surface and the exterior surface and extending from the section proximal end to the section distal end, the pull wire secured to the cannula adjacent the section distal end and freely passing through the section proximal end; and

(c) at least two longitudinal strengthening members, extending along and embedded in said flexible section generally opposite each other about the preferred bending plane;

wherein the longitudinal strengthening members each comprise a coiled wire.

4. A steerable probe comprising:

(a) a cannula having;

(1) a proximal end and a distal end and extending along a length therebetween;

(2) an exterior surface;

(3) an interior surface defining a lumen;

(4) an elongate flexible section extending along a first portion of the length and having a section proximal end and a section distal end;

(b) a pull wire for deflecting said flexible section in a first direction in a preferred bending plane, the pull wire substantially embedded in the cannula between the interior surface and the exterior surface and extending from the section proximal end to the section distal end, the pull wire secured to the cannula adjacent the section distal end and freely passing through the section proximal end; and

(c) at least two longitudinal strengthening members, extending along and embedded in said flexible section generally opposite each other about the preferred bending plane;

wherein the longitudinal strengthening members each include;

(a) a backbone; and

(b) one or more ribs extending from the backbone toward the pull wire.

5. The probe of claim 4, wherein the backbones of the longitudinal strengthening members are connected.

6. The probe of claim 4, wherein the ribs provide radial support to the cannula.

7. The probe of claim 4, wherein the ribs are not all the same length.

8. A steerable probe comprising:

(a) a cannula having;

(1) a proximal end and a distal end and extending along a length therebetween;

(2) an exterior surface;

(3) an interior surface defining a lumen;

(4) an elongate flexible section extending along a first portion of the length and having a section proximal end and a section distal end;

(b) a pull wire for deflecting said flexible section in a first direction in a preferred bending plane, the pull wire substantially embedded in the cannula between the interior surface and the exterior surface and extending from the section proximal end to the section distal end, the pull wire secured to the cannula adjacent the section distal end and freely passing through the section proximal end;

(c) at least two longitudinal strengthening members, extending along and embedded in said flexible section generally opposite each other about the preferred bending plane; and

a second pull wire and wherein the cannula further comprises a second flexible section extending along a second portion of the length of the cannula and having a second section proximal end and a second section distal end, the second pull wire positioned so that pulling on the second pull wire deflects the second flexible section transverse to the first direction.

9. A steerable probe comprising:

(a) a cannula having;

(1) a proximal end and a distal end and extending along a length therebetween;

(2) an exterior surface;

(3) an interior surface defining a lumen;

(4) an elongate flexible section extending along a first portion of the length and having a section proximal end and a section distal end;

(b) a pull wire for deflecting said flexible section in a first direction in a preferred bending plane, the pull wire substantially embedded in the cannula between the interior surface and the exterior surface and extending from the section proximal end to the section distal end, the pull wire secured to the cannula adjacent the section distal end and freely passing through the section proximal end;

(c) at least two longitudinal strengthening members, extending along and embedded in said flexible section generally opposite each other about the preferred bending plane;

wherein the elongate flexible section further includes a distal annular stiffener at the section distal end and a proximal annular stiffener at the section proximal end; and

wherein the first longitudinal strengthening member, second longitudinal strengthening member, distal annular stiffener, and proximal annular stiffener are unitarily formed.

10. A steerable probe comprising:

(a) a cannula having;

(1) a proximal end and a distal end and extending along a length therebetween;

(2) an exterior surface;

(3) an interior surface defining a lumen;

(4) an elongate flexible section extending along a first portion of the length and having a section proximal end and a section distal end;

(b) a pull wire for deflecting said flexible section in a first direction in a preferred bending plane, the pull wire substantially embedded in the cannula between the interior surface and the exterior surface and extending from the section proximal end to the section distal end, the pull wire secured to the cannula adjacent the section distal end and freely passing through the section proximal end; and

(c) at least two longitudinal strengthening members, extending along and embedded in said flexible section generally opposite each other about the preferred bending plane;

wherein the cannula further comprises an inner sleeve and wherein the inner sleeve, first longitudinal strengthening member, and second longitudinal strengthening member are unitarily formed.

11. A method of manufacturing a steerable probe comprising:

(a) forming at least one strengthening member from a first material;

(b) forming a cannula from a second material, wherein the cannula includes a sleeve and a lumen;

(c) embedding each strengthening member longitudinally in the cannula; and

(d) inserting a pull wire into the sleeve, wherein at least a portion of the cannula deflects in response to tension being applied to the pull wire;

wherein each strengthening member is formed by injection molding so that all at least one strengthening members form a unitary piece, and the cannula is formed by overmolding around the unitary piece.

12. A method of manufacturing a steerable probe comprising:

(a) forming at least one strengthening member from a first material;

(b) forming a cannula from a second material, wherein the cannula includes a sleeve and a lumen;

(c) embedding each strengthening member longitudinally in the cannula; and

(d) inserting a pull wire into the sleeve, wherein at least a portion of the cannula deflects in response to tension being applied to the pull wire;

wherein each strengthening member includes a backbone and one or more ribs extending from the backbone toward the pull wire.