Deflection structure

• US 6,585,717 B1
• Filed: 06/15/2000
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic CryoCath LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: CryoCath Technologies Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Thibault, Benoit, Wittenberger, Dan, Petre, Cristian, Carroll, Sean
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROBINSON, DANIEL LEON
• Application Number:
  US09/596,227
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 604/523, 604/524, 604/526, 604/525, 604/527, 604/528, 604/529, 604/536, 604/531, 604/532, 604/535
• US Class Current: 604/523
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0051 with controlled bending of insertion part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00898 Alarms or notifications created in response to an abnormal condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0161 wherein the distal tips have two or more deflection regions
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0163 Looped catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0043 characterised by structural features
• 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 25/0116 self-propelled, e.g. autonomous robots A61M25/0122 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0152 with pre-shaped mechanisms, e.g. pre-shaped stylets or pre-shaped outer tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0662 Guide tubes

Abstract

Deflection mechanisms are disclosed that are positionable to deflecting portions of a flexible body, such as a catheter, in more than one direction in a single plane, as well as in more than one plane. The invention allows a distal portion of a catheter to be deflected more than 360 degrees to provide a loop.

Claims

1. A deflection mechanism for a medical device comprising:

a plurality of rings; and

a connecting structure connecting the plurality of rings, wherein the plurality of rings are aligned with a plane that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the connecting structure when in a non-actuated state.

2. The deflection mechanism of claim 1, wherein the connecting structure includes a plurality of rod segments that connect adjacent rings.

3. The deflection mechanism of claim 2, wherein the plurality of rod segments are axially aligned.

4. The deflection mechanism of claim 2, wherein not all of the rod segments are axially aligned.

5. The deflection mechanism of claim 1, wherein the connecting structure is a unitary element.

6. The deflection mechanism of claim 1, wherein the plurality of rings are of uneven thickness.

7. The deflection mechanism of claim 6, wherein approximately one half of each ring includes a flattened, curved portion.

8. The deflection mechanism of claim 7, further comprising a second connecting structure connecting the plurality of rings, wherein the second connecting structure is radially spaced apart from the first connecting structure.

9. The deflection mechanism of claim 8, wherein the flattened, curved portion of each ring is bounded by the first and second connecting structures.

10. The deflection mechanism of claim 1, further comprising:

a second plurality of rings disposed adjacent the first plurality of rings in axial alignment therewith; and

a second connecting structure connecting the second plurality of rings.

11. The deflection mechanism of claim 10, wherein the first plurality of rings are joined to the second plurality of rings.

12. The deflection mechanism of claim 11, wherein the first connecting structure and the second connecting structure are secured to first plurality of rings and the second plurality of rings, respectively, at different radial locations.

13. The deflection mechanism of claim 10, wherein the first plurality of rings deflects in a first plane and the second plurality of rings deflects in a second plane.

14. A deflection mechanism for a medical device comprising:

a first planar shim defining a first plane;

a second planar shim joined to the first planar shim, the second planar shim defining a second plane; and

a third shim joined to the second planar shim, the third planar shim defining a third plane;

wherein adjacent planar shims are joined so that the planes defined by each respective shim are different.

15. The deflection mechanism of claim 14, further comprising a coil disposed around at least a portion of the joined shims.