Catheter steering assembly providing asymmetric left and right curve configurations

• US 6,485,455 B1
• Filed: 03/19/1999
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EP Technology (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Thompson, Russell B., Kelley, Robert A., Pumares, Fernando
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Anhtuan T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thompson, Michael M.
• Application Number:
  US09/273,044
• Time in Patent Office: 1,348 Days
• Field of Search: 604/95, 604/282, 604/159, 604/170, 604/528, 600/585, 600/433-5, 600/108, 600/114
• US Class Current: 604/95.04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00916 with means for switching or controlling the main function of the instrument or device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00952 rotatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/015 Details of the distal fixation of the movable mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0105 Steering means as part of the catheter or advancing means; Markers for positioning systems for detection of markers A61B
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0136 Handles therefor
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0565 Electrode heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/06 for high-frequency therapy

Abstract

A catheter has an electrode tip assembly that is bendable at the selection of the user in two different directions. The electrode tip assembly assumes different asymmetric predetermined curve configurations when bent in the two directions and is manipulated by means of steering wires adjustably connected tangentially to the lateral edges of a rotatable cam located in the catheter handle.

Claims

1. A steering assembly for applying bending forces to a flexible body, comprising:

a handle;

a moveable component moveably connected to said handle;

first and second steering wires each having a proximal end attached to said moveable component and a distal end attached to the flexible body, wherein movement of said moveable component in a first direction applies tension to said first steering wire causing the flexible body to bend in a first multitude of selected curved shapes, and movement of said moveable component in a second direction applies tension to said second steering wire causing said flexible body to bend in a second multitude of selected curved shapes, said first multitude of curved shapes being different from said second multitude of curve shapes.

2. The steering assembly of claim 1, comprising a guide tube having a distal end attached to the flexible body and a proximal end attached to said handle.

3. The steering assembly of claim 2, wherein said guide tube comprises a length of wire coiled into a flexible spring, said coiled flexible spring defining an internal bore which encloses said first and said second steering wires.

4. The steering assembly of claim 1, wherein the flexible body comprises a flexible wire member having a left face and a right face, said left face being attached to the distal end of a first one of said first and second steering wires, said right face being attached to the distal end of second one of said first and second steering wires.

5. The steering assembly of claim 1, wherein the respective proximal ends of said first and second steering wires are attached to said moveable component by respective adjustable connections.

6. The steering assembly of claim 1, wherein said moveable component comprises a rotatable cam, a first face of said cam having a different radius of curve that a second face of said cam.

7. The steering assembly of claim 6, wherein

said proximal end of said first steering wire is tangentially attached to a lateral edge of said first face of said cam; and,

said proximal end of said second steering wire is tangentially attached to a lateral edge of said second face of said cam.

8. A steering assembly for applying bending forces to a flexible body, comprising:

a handle;

a moveable component moveably coupled to said handle;

first and second steering wires each having a proximal end attached to said moveable component and a distal end attachable to the flexible body,

wherein the steering assembly is adapted to cause an attached flexible body to bend in a first multitude of selected curved shapes in response to tension in said first steering wire caused by movement of said moveable component in a first direction, and is further adapted to cause an attached flexible body to bend in a second multitude of selected curved shapes in response to tension in said second steering wire caused by movement of said moveable component in a second direction, said first multitude of curved shapes being different from said second multitude of curve shapes.

9. The steering assembly of claim 8, further comprising a guide tube having a distal end attachable to the flexible body and a proximal end attached to said handle.

10. The steering assembly of claim 9, wherein said guide tube comprises a length of wire coiled into a flexible spring, said coiled flexible spring defining an internal bore which encloses said first and said second steering wires.

11. The steering assembly of claim 8, wherein the flexible body comprises a flexible wire member having a left face and a right face, said left face being attached to the distal end of a first one of said first and second steering wires, said right face being attached to the distal end of a second one of said first and second steering wires.

12. The steering assembly of claim 8, wherein the respective proximal ends of said first and second steering wires are attached to said moveable component by respective adjustable connections.

13. The steering assembly of claim 8, wherein said moveable component comprises a rotatable cam, a first face of said cam having a different radius of curvature than a second face of said rotatable cam.

14. The steering assembly of claim 13, wherein

said proximal end of said first steering wire is tangentially attached to a lateral edge of said first face of said cam, and

said proximal end of said second steering wire is tangentially attached to a lateral edge of said second face of said cam.