Means for maintaining tension on a steering tendon in a steerable catheter

• US 6,648,875 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2001
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Simpson, John A., Hayzelden, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mendez, Manuel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Han, Mark K
• Application Number:
  US09/849,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20020165485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 604/528, 604/523, 600/433, 600/434, 600/435, 600/585
• US Class Current: 604/528
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0136 Handles therefor

Abstract

A catheter handle includes a steering controller to be used in conjunction with a steerable catheter shaft, and a steering tendon tensioning device. The operator deflects the profile of a distal-end region of the catheter by rotating the steering controller. Spring devices located on the steering tendons maintain the steering tendons in tension during manipulation of the steering controller. A locking device locks the steering controller in place relative to the handle.

Claims

1. A system for applying tension to a steering tendon, the tendon having a distal end attached to the distal-end region of a catheter shaft and a proximal end exiting the proximal end of the shaft, said system comprising:

a rotatable steering controller;

a stop disposed at the controller having the proximal end of the tendon passing therethrough and terminating at a point a distance from the stop; and

a spring device having a distal end at the stop and a proximal end attached to the tendon at a location proximal to the stop;

wherein movement of the controller in a first direction relative a neutral position increases tension on the tendon and movement of the controller in a second direction relative the neutral position and opposite the first direction, maintains tension on the tendon.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the spring device is in a fully compressed state when the steering controller is in the neutral position and when the steering controller is moved in the first direction.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the spring device is in a partially compressed state when the steering controller is in the neutral position; and

the compression increases when the steering controller is moved in the first direction.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the spring device extends in length when the steering controller is moved in the second direction, yet remains in compression.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the spring device comprises a wire coil surrounding the tendon between the stop and the proximal end of the tendon.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the catheter shaft has an inherent bending stiffness and the tension imparted by the spring device when the controller is in the neutral position has a negligible impact on the profile of the catheter shaft.

7. A system for applying tension to a first steering tendon and a second steering tendon, each tendon having a distal end attached to the distal-end region of a catheter shaft and a proximal end exiting the proximal end of the shaft, said system comprising:

a rotatable steering controller;

a first stop disposed at the controller and having the proximal end of the first tendon passing therethrough and terminating at a point distant from the first stop;

a first spring device having a distal end at the first stop and a proximal end attached to the proximal end of the first tendon;

a second stop disposed at the controller and having the proximal end of the second tendon passing therethrough and terminating at a point a distance from the second stop; and

a second spring device having a distal end at the second stop and a proximal end attached to the proximal end of the second tendon;

wherein movement of the controller in a first direction relative a neutral position increases tension on the first tendon while maintaining tension on the second tendon and movement of the controller in a second direction relative the neutral position increases tension on the second tendon while maintaining tension on the first tendon.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the first and second spring devices are in a compressed state when the steering controller is in the neutral position and thereby maintain tension on the first and second tendons respectively.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the catheter shaft has an inherent bending stiffness and the tension imparted by the first and second spring devices when the controller is in the neutral position has negligible impact on the profile of the catheter shaft.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein:

the first spring device is in a fully compressed state and the second spring device has extended, yet remains in a compressed state when the controller is moved in the first direction; and

the second spring device is in a fully compressed state and the first spring device has extended, yet remains in a compressed state when the controller is moved in the second direction.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein:

the first and second spring devices are in a partially compressed state when the steering controller is in the neutral position;

the compression increases on the first spring device when the steering controller is moved in a first direction; and

the compression increases on the second spring device when the steering controller is moved in a second direction.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the catheter shaft has an inherent bending stiffness and the tension imparted by the first and second spring devices when the controller is in the neutral position has negligible impact on the profile of the catheter shaft.

13. A system for applying tension to a steering tendon, the tendon having a distal end attached to the distal-end region of a catheter shaft and a proximal end exiting the proximal end of the shaft, said system comprising:

a rotatable steering controller having the proximal end of the tendon passing therethrough and terminating at a point a distance from the steering controller; and

a spring device having a distal end positioned proximate the tendon exit paint of the steering controller and a proximal end attached to the tendon at a location proximal to the steering controller;

wherein movement of the steering controller in a first direction relative a neutral position increases tension on the tendon and movement of the steering controller in a second direction relative the neutral position and opposite the first direction, maintains tension on the tendon.

14. A system for applying tension to a steering tendon, the tendon having a distal end attached to the distal-end region of a catheter shaft and a proximal end exiting the proximal end of the shaft, said system comprising:

a rotatable steering controller having a cavity;

a stop disposed at the controller having the proximal end of the tendon passing therethrough and terminating at a point a distance from the stop; and

a spring device having a distal end at the stop and a proximal end attached to the tendon at a location proximal to the stop;

wherein the proximal end of the spring and the proximal end of the tendon are positioned within the cavity of the controller; and

wherein movement of the controller in a first direction relative a neutral position increases tension on the tendon and movement of the controller in a second direction relative the neutral position and opposite the first direction, maintains tension on the tendon, the proximal end of the spring and the proximal end of the tendon remaining in the cavity of the controller during movement of the controller.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the spring device is in a fully compressed state when the steering controller is in the neutral position and when the steering controller is moved in the first direction.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein:

the spring device is in a partially compressed state when the steering controller is in the neutral position; and

the compression increases when the steering controller is moved in the first direction.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the spring device extends in length when the steering controller is moved in the second direction, yet remains in compression.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the spring device comprises a wire coil surrounding the tendon between the stop and the proximal end of the tendon.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the catheter shaft has an inherent bending stiffness and the tension imparted by the spring device when the controller is in the neutral position has a negligible impact on the profile of the catheter shaft.

20. A system for applying tension to a first steering tendon and a second steering tendon, each tendon having a distal end attached to the distal-end region of a catheter shaft and a proximal end exiting the proximal end of the shaft, said system comprising:

a rotatable steering controller having a cavity;

a first stop disposed at the controller and having the proximal end of the first tendon passing therethrough and terminating at a point a distance from the first stop;

a first spring device having a distal end at the first stop and a proximal end attached to the proximal end of the first tendon;

a second stop disposed at the controller and having the proximal end of the second tendon passing therethrough and terminating at a point a distance from the second stop; and

a second spring device having a distal end at the second stop and a proximal end attached to the proximal end of the second tendon;

wherein the proximal end of the first spring device and the proximal end of the first tendon are positioned within the cavity of the controller;

wherein the proximal end of the second spring device and the proximal end of the second tendon are positioned within the cavity of the controller; and

wherein movement of the controller in a first direction relative a neutral position increases tension on the first tendon while maintaining tension on the second tendon and movement of the controller in a second direction relative the neutral position increases tension on the second tendon while maintaining tension on the first tendon the proximal end of the first and second spring device and the proximal end of the first and second tendon remaining in the cavity of the controller during movement of the controller.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the first and second spring devices are in a compressed state when the steering controller is in the neutral position and thereby maintain tension on the first and second tendons respectively.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the catheter shaft has an inherent bending stiffness and the tension imparted by the first and second spring devices when the controller is in the neutral position has negligible impact on the profile of the catheter shaft.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein:

the first spring device is in a fully compressed state and the second spring device has extended, yet remains in a compressed state when the controller is moved in the first direction; and

the second spring device is in a fully compressed state and the first spring device has extended, yet remains in a compressed state when the controller is moved in the second direction.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein:

the first and second spring devices are in a partially compressed state when the steering controller is in the neutral position;

the compression increases on the first spring device when the steering controller is moved in a first direction; and

the compression increases on the second spring device when the steering controller is moved in a second direction.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the catheter shaft has an inherent bending stiffness and the tension imparted by the first and second spring devices when the controller is in the neutral position has negligible impact on the profile of the catheter shaft.