Controllable intralumen medical device

• US 6,514,237 B1
• Filed: 11/06/2000
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardinal Health Switzerland 515 GmbH (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cordis Corporation (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Maseda, Luis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAHBOUR, HENRY
• Application Number:
  US09/706,680
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 604/533, 604/158, 604/171, 604/177, 604/264, 604/265, 604/266, 604/523, 604/104, 604/8, 604/531, 604/20, 623/24, 623/25, 623/64, 414/1, 414/7
• US Class Current: 604/533
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00871 polymeric
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/013 Distal protection devices, i.e. devices placed distally in combination with another endovascular procedure, e.g. angioplasty or stenting
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0058 having an electroactive polymer material, e.g. for steering purposes, for control of flexibility, for locking, for opening or closing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0043 characterised by structural features
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/01 Introducing, guiding, advancing, emplacing or holding catheters A61M25/10 takes precedence
• 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 25/0133 Tip steering devices

Abstract

An intralumen medical device which incorporates electroactive polymer actuators into various sections of flexible medical probes results in a device capable of precisely navigating through tortuous passageways. Electroactive polymer actuators can be attached to or replace various sections of flexible medical probes and selectively activated via a controller to produce various coordinated movements or states of rigidity in the flexible medical probe.

Claims

1. A controllable intralumen medical device comprising:

a flexible medical probe having one or more integral electroactive polymer actuators, the one or more integral electroactive polymer actuators are attached to the flexible medical probe at predetermined locations; and

a control module coupled to the flexible medical probe for selectively controlling the one or more electroactive polymer actuators.

2. The controllable intralumen medical device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible medical probe comprises a catheter.

3. The controllable intralumen medical device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible medical probe comprises an endoscopic probe.

4. The controllable intralumen medical device according to claim 1, wherein the one or more integral electroactive polymer actuators are electrically coupled to the control module.

5. The controllable intralumen medical device according to claim 4, wherein the one or more integral electroactive polymer actuators comprise ion-exchange polymer-noble metal composites.

6. A method for controlling the movement of an intralumen medical device, comprising:

integrating one or more electroactive polymer actuators into the intralumen medical device at one or more predetermined locations; and

selectively controlling the one or more electroactive polymer actuators to cause specific movements and states of rigidity in the intralumen medical device.

7. A controllable intralumen medical device comprising:

a flexible medical probe having one or more integral electroactive polymer actuators, the one or more integral electroactive polymer actuators replace one or more predetermined sections of the flexible medical probe; and

a control module coupled to the flexible medical probe for selectively controlling the one or more electroactive polymer actuators.