Method for using a steerable catheter device

• US 6,679,873 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2003
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• 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): Van, Quang T.
• Application Number:
  US10/462,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20030216711A1
• Time in Patent Office: 218 Days
• Field of Search: 604/528, 604/529, 604/95.02, 604/95.03, 604/95.04, 604/531, 604/22, 604/174, 604/164.12, 604/99.01, 604/95.01, 604/165.02, 604/170.02, 600/585, 600/374, 607/119, 607/122
• 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 method of guiding a medical device in a vasculature of a body comprising:

inserting a steerable catheter device having a handle including a body portion, an elongated sheath supported by the handle and an elongated catheter disposed within the elongated sheath into the vasculature;

advancing the steerable catheter device within the vasculature;

rotating the body portion of the handle to compress a resilient compressible lock member of a first lock to control an amount of frictional resistance to lengthwise movement of the elongated catheter relative to the elongated sheath;

moving the elongated catheter within the elongated sheath;

rotating the body portion of the handle to further compress the resilient compressible lock member of the first lock to lock the elongated catheter within the sheath;

inserting the medical device through a proximal end of the steerable catheter device and advancing the medical device within the elongated catheter; and

rotating an end cap of the handle to engage a resilient compressible lock member of a second lock device to lock the medical device in a position lengthwise of the elongated catheter.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing the medical device is an ultrasonic probe.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing the steerable catheter device with a channel between the elongated sheath and the elongated catheter.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising extending a shape memory tip of the elongated catheter beyond a distal end of the elongated sheath at an angle to the elongated sheath.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising forming the elongated sheath of a flexible material.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising forming the elongated catheter of a flexible material.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising engaging the handle to the elongated sheath with a fitting.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing the elongated catheter is disposable.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising rotating the elongated catheter relative to the elongated sheath.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing the handle having a pencil shape.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing the handle having a pistol shape.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising engaging the end cap to the handle by threadable mounting.

13. A method of delivering an ultrasonic probe capable of operating in a transverse mode into a vasculature of a body comprising:

inserting a steerable catheter device having a handle, a sheath supported by the handle and a catheter disposed within the sheath movable relative to the sheath;

advancing a steerable catheter device within the vasculature;

rotating a body portion of the handle to compress a resilient compressible lock member of a first lock to control an amount of frictional resistance to lengthwise movement of the catheter relative to the sheath;

moving the catheter within the sheath until a shape memory tip of the catheter extends beyond a distal end of the sheath;

locking the catheter with the resilient compressible lock member of the first lock to restrict longitudinal movement of the catheter within the sheath;

moving the ultrasonic probe through an opening at a proximal end of the steerable catheter device and navigating the ultrasonic probe through the catheter; and

rotating an end cap of the handle to engage a resilient compressible lock member of a second lock of the steerable catheter device to lock the ultrasonic probe in the catheter.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising providing the handle having a pencil shape.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising providing the handle having a pistol shape.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising squeezing a trigger portion of the handle to advance the catheter within the sheath.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising engaging the handle to the sheath with a fitting.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising forming the sheath of a flexible material.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising forming the catheter of a flexible material.

20. The method of claim 13 further comprising engaging the end cap to the handle by threadable mounting.