Steerable catheter device

• US 6,579,279 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2000
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cybersonics, Inc
• Original Assignee: OmniSonics Medical Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Rabiner, Robert A., Rabiner, Daniel E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Van, Quang T
• Application Number:
  US09/665,328
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 604/528, 604/95.02, 604/95.03, 604/95.04, 604/531, 604/527, 604/22, 604/174, 604/164.12
• US Class Current: 604/528
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/018 Catheters having a lateral opening for guiding elongated means lateral to the catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0681 Systems with catheter and outer tubing, e.g. sheath, sleeve or guide tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0067 characterised by the distal end, e.g. tips A61M25/0054, A61M25/04 take precedence; balloon catheters A61M25/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0069 Tip not integral with tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0074 Dynamic characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. openable, closable, expandable or deformable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0136 Handles therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0152 with pre-shaped mechanisms, e.g. pre-shaped stylets or pre-shaped outer tubes

Abstract

A handle includes a body portion and a handle portion which is slidably and rotatably mounted on the body portion. Shoulders on the body portion and the handle portion limit relative sliding movement of the body portion and handle portion. A catheter open at both ends has one end fixed to the handle portion for movement therewith, the opposite end of the catheter having a shape memory tip. A fitting is threadedly connected to an enlarged part of the body portion. A sheath is threadedly connected to the fitting and the catheter is slidable and rotatable within the sheath. An annular channel is provided between the sheath and the catheter, this channel being in fluid communication with a bore in the fitting. The outer end of the sheath has holes therethrough in fluid communication with the channel. An irrigation inflow and aspiration outflow tube is also in fluid communication with the bore in the fitting. A first lock is provided adjacent the fitting for controlling the amount of frictional resistance to lengthwise movement of the catheter relative to the sheath and to lock the catheter in position. A medical device such as an endoscope may be received within the catheter for movement relative thereto. A second lock is supported by the handle portion for locking a medical device in position relative to the catheter.

Claims

1. A steerable catheter device comprising:

a handle means;

an elongated sheath supported by said handle means;

a fitting connected to said sheath;

an elongated catheter, said elongated catheter being more flexible than said elongated sheath, said catheter having a shape memory tip, said catheter being disposed within said sheath and being movable relative to said sheath, said catheter having opposite open ends for receiving an elongated medical device therethrough;

a medical device slidably disposed within said catheter;

limit means for limiting movement in opposite directions of said catheter relative to said sheath between two spaced limits of relative movement;

first lock means supported by said handle means for controlling movement of said catheter relative to said sheath and for locking said catheter relative to said sheath in an infinite number of positions between said two spaced limits of relative movement wherein said first lock means includes a portion of said handle means which is threadedly connected to said fitting; and

second lock means supported by said handle means for locking a medical device in position within said catheter wherein said second lock means includes an end cap which is threadedly mounted on said handle means;

wherein said first lock means and said second lock means include a resilient compressible lock member.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said handle means includes separate portions, and said limit means comprise cooperating surfaces on said separate portions.

3. A device as defined in claim 1:

wherein channel means is defined between said sheath and said catheter and further comprising;

a fitting supported by said handle means, said fitting being in fluid communication with said channel means; and

an irrigation inflow and aspiration outflow tube also being in communication with said fitting to allow interchange of fluids through said channel.

4. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said handle means has a pencil-shaped configuration.

5. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said handle means has a pistol-grip shaped configuration.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

a trigger connected to said handle means, so that when said trigger is squeezed, the trigger causes the advancement of said catheter within the elongated sheath.

8. The steerable catheter device of claim 1 wherein the shape memory tip of the elongated catheter does not cut a tissue.

12. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein said handle means includes a trigger portion, said trigger portion advancing said catheter when activated.

7. The steerable catheter device of claim I wherein the shape memory tip of the elongated catheter is non-puncturing.

9. A steerable catheter device comprising:

handle means including a body portion and a handle portion movable relative to one another;

an elongated sheath connected to said body portion;

an elongated catheter, said elongated catheter being more flexible than said elongated sheath, connected to said handle portion and including a shape memory tip, said catheter being disposed within said sheath and being movable lengthwise of and rotatable relative to said sheath, said catheter having opposite open ends for receiving an elongated medical device therethrough;

a medical device slidably disposed within said catheter;

first lock means supported by said body portion for controlling the amount of frictional resistance to lengthwise movement of said catheter relative to said sheath and to lock said catheter in position lengthwise of said sheath; and

second lock means supported by said handle portion for locking a medical device in lengthwise position within said catheter wherein the second lock means includes an end cap threadedly mounted on said handle portion and a resilient compressible lock member engageable with said medical device so that upon rotation of said end cap relative to said handle means, said resilient compressible member can clamp said medical device in position lengthwise of said catheter.

10. A device as defined in claim 9 wherein said handle means is pencil shaped.

11. A device as defined in claim 10 wherein said handle means is pistol shaped.

13. A device as defined in claim 9 wherein said sheath has an outer end having a plurality of holes formed therethrough, channel means being defined between said sheath and said catheter, said holes opening into said channel means.

14. A device as defined in claim 9 wherein said handle portion is slidably mounted on said body portion, and cooperating shoulder means are formed on said handle portion and said body portion for limiting sliding movement of said handle portion relative to said body portion in opposite directions.

15. A device as defined in claim 9 wherein said body means has slot means formed at an intermediate part thereof to provide a resilient portion which can be deformed inwardly to permit assembly of the body means relative to the handle means.

16. A device as defined in claim 9 wherein said body means has an end with a slot formed therein to provide a resilient end which can be deformed to permit assembly of the body means relative to the handle means.

17. A device as defined in claim 9 further comprising:

a fitting connected to said sheath, said body portion being threadedly connected to said fitting.

18. A device as defined in claim 9 further comprising:

attaching means, said sheath including an inner end connected to said attaching means; and

a fitting threadedly connected to said attaching means, said body portion including an enlarged part threadedly connected to said fitting,

wherein said first lock means includes a resilient compressible member surrounding said catheter, and said enlarged part is engageable with said resilient compressible member to compress said resilient compressible and to clamp it around said catheter for controlling movement of said catheter relative to said sheath and for locking said catheter relative to said sheath.

19. A device as defined in claim 18 wherein

channel means is defined between said sheath and said catheter,

said fitting has a bore therein in fluid communication with said channel, and further comprising

an irrigation inflow and aspiration outflow tube connected to said fitting and being in fluid communication with said bore.

20. A device as defined in claim 19 wherein

said body portion has a first outwardly extending shoulder means engageable with an inwardly extending shoulder means on said handle portion for limiting movement of said handle portion relative to said body portion in one direction, and

said body portion has a second outwardly extending shoulder means engageable with one end of said handle portion for limiting movement of said handle portion relative to the body portion in the opposite direction.

21. The steerable catheter device of claim 9 wherein the shape memory tip of the elongated catheter is non-puncturing.

22. The steerable catheter device of claim 9 wherein the shape memory tip of the elongated catheter does not cut a tissue.

23. A steerable catheter device comprising:

handle means;

an elongated sheath supported by said handle means and having an outer end and an inner end;

an elongated catheter, said elongated catheter being more flexible than said elongated sheath, including a shape memory tip, said catheter being disposed within said sheath and being movable relative to said sheath, said catheter having opposite open ends for receiving an elongated medical device therethrough, channel means being defined between said sheath and said catheter;

a fitting supported by said handle means adjacent said inner end of the sheath, said fitting being in fluid communication with said channel means;

an irrigation inflow and aspiration outflow tube in fluid communication with said fitting to allow interchange of fluids through said channel;

a first lock means supported by said handle means for controlling the amount of frictional resistance to lengthwise movement of said catheter relative to said sheath and to lock said catheter in position lengthwise of said sheath; and

a second lock means supported by said handle means for locking the medical device in lengthwise position within said catheter wherein the second lock means includes an end cap threadedly mounted on said handle portion.

24. A device as defined in claim 23, wherein said handle means is pencil shaped.

25. A device as defined in claim 23, wherein said handle means is pistol shaped.

26. The steerable catheter device of claim 23 wherein the shape memory tip of the elongated catheter is non-puncturing.

27. The steerable catheter device of claim 23 wherein the shape memory tip of the elongated catheter does not cut a tissue.

28. A steerable catheter device comprising:

an elongated sheath supported by a handle wherein said handle includes a first portion and a separate second portion;

a flexible elongated catheter disposed within said sheath and being movable relative to said sheath, said flexible elongated catheter having a first open end and a second open end for receiving an elongated medical device therethrough;

a first limit and a second limit for limiting movement in opposite directions of said flexible elongated catheter relative to said sheath wherein said first limit is located on said first portion of said handle and said second limit is located on said second portion of said handle;

a fitting connected to said sheath;

a first lock supported by said handle for controlling movement of said flexible elongated catheter relative to said sheath and for locking said flexible elongated catheter relative to said sheath in a position between said first limit and said second limit wherein said first lock includes a portion of said handle which is threadedly connected to said fitting and said first lock further includes a resilient compressible lock member engageable with said portion of said handle so that upon rotation of said portion of said handle relative to said fitting the resilient compressible member can clamp said catheter in a position between the first limit and the second limit; and

a second lock supported by said handle for locking a medical device in position within said flexible elongated catheter wherein said second lock includes an end cap threadedly mounted on said handle.

29. The steerable catheter device of claim 28 further comprising:

a channel between said sheath and said catheter;

a fitting supported by said handle, said fitting being in fluid communication with said channel; and

an irrigation inflow and an aspiration outflow tube also being in communication with said fitting to allow interchange of fluids through said channel.

30. The steerable catheter device of claim 28 wherein said catheter is more flexible than said sheath.

31. The steerable catheter device of claim 28, wherein said handle has a pencil-shaped configuration.

32. The steerable catheter device of claim 28, wherein said handle has a pistol-grip shaped configuration.

33. The steerable catheter device of claim 32, further comprising:

a trigger connected to said handle, so that when said trigger is squeezed, the trigger causes the advancement of said catheter within the elongated sheath.

34. The steerable catheter device of claim 28 wherein the shape memory tip of the elongated catheter is non-puncturing.

35. The steerable catheter device of claim 28 wherein the shape memory tip of the elongated catheter does not cut a tissue.

36. A steerable catheter device comprising:

an elongated sheath having an inner end and an outer end, said elongated sheath supported by a handle;

a flexible elongated catheter disposed within said sheath and being movable relative to said sheath, said flexible elongated catheter having a first open end and a second open end for receiving a medical device therethrough;

a channel between said sheath and said flexible elongated catheter;

a fitting adjacent said inner end of the sheath and supported by said handle, said fitting being in fluid communication with said channel;

an irrigation inflow and an aspiration outflow tube in fluid communication with said fitting to allow interchange of fluids through said channel;

a first lock which includes a resilient compressible member wherein said first lock is supported by said handle for controlling the amount of frictional resistance to lengthwise movement of said catheter relative to said sheath and to lock said catheter in a position lengthwise of said sheath; and

a second lock supported by said handle for locking the medical device in a lengthwise position within said catheter wherein said second lock includes an end cap which is mounted on said handle.

37. The steerable catheter device of claim 36, wherein said handle is pencil shaped.

38. The steerable catheter device of claim 36, wherein said handle is pistol shaped.

39. The steerable catheter device of claim 36 wherein the shape memory tip of the elongated catheter is non-puncturing.

40. The steerable catheter device of claim 36 wherein the shape memory tip of the elongated catheter does not cut a tissue.