Steerable support system with external ribs/slots that taper

• US 6,746,422 B1
• Filed: 08/22/2001
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Norborn Medical, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Sudaria, Rudolfo, Noriega, Gerardo
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh, LoAn H.
• Application Number:
  US09/935,534
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 604/93.01, 604/95.01, 604/95.04, 604/95.05, 604/523-536, 600/585, 600/433-435
• US Class Current: 604/95.05
• 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 25/0147 with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires

Abstract

A steerable coil working channel system for accessing stenosis, partial occlusions, or complete occlusions within a body lumen. The working channel system generally includes an coiled elongate member such as a hollow guidewire that can be advanced through tortuous regions in the vasculature. A deflectable distal tip is coupled to a distal end of the elongate body to facilitate directionality and positioning of the distal end of the working channel at the target site and steering the elongate body through the tortuous regions in the vasculature.

Claims

1. A steerable support system comprising:

an elongate body having a lumen extending from a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;

a deflectable distal tip coupled to the distal portion of the elongate body, wherein the deflectable distal tip comprises ribs that are tapered toward a distal end of the deflectable distal tip;

a pull wire that extends from the proximal end portion of the elongate body to couple to the deflectable distal tip.

2. The steerable support system of claim 1 wherein the elongate body comprises a hollow guidewire.

3. The steerable support system of claim 1 further comprising a radiopaque marker positioned at a distal end of the deflectable distal tip.

4. The steerable support system of claim 1 wherein a distal end of the pull wire is flattened, wherein the flattened end of the pull wire is attached to the distal tip.

5. The steerable support system of claim 1 further comprising a tubing that covers at least a portion of the elongate body and deflectable tip.

6. The steerable support system of claim 1 wherein the pull wire is moveable and can withstand a tensile force of more than 400 kpsi.

7. The steerable support system of claim 1 wherein the distal tip comprises an open distal end, an open proximal end, and a lumen therebetween, wherein the open proximal end of the distal tip is in communication with the lumen of the elongate body.

8. The steerable support system of claim 1 wherein the distal tip comprises a coil disposed between an inner tube and an outer tube.

9. The steerable support system of claim 1 wherein the elongate body comprises a helically wound coil.

10. A steerable guidewire system comprising:

an elongate body comprising a lumen, a proximal end, and a distal end;

a flexible distal tip coupled to the distal end, wherein the deflectable distal tip comprises ribs that are tapered toward a distal end of the deflectable distal tip; and

a deflection wire that extends from the proximal end of the elongate body to the flexible distal tip, wherein the deflection wire controls the deflection of the distal tip.

11. The steerable guidewire of claim 10 herein the deflection wire is deflectable in at least one direction.

12. The steerable guidewire of claim 10 wherein the flexible distal tip is at least partially opaque.

13. The steerable guidewire of claim 10 wherein the flexible distal tip comprises an open distal end.

14. The steerable guidewire of claim 10 wherein the flexible distal tip comprises a coil disposed between an inner tube and an outer tube, wherein the deflection wire is positioned between the coil and the inner tube.

15. A steerable support system comprising:

an elongate coil body comprising a lumen;

a steerable distal tip coupled to a distal end of the elongate coil body, wherein the distal tip comprises a plurality of ribs that are tapered toward a distal end of the distal tip on at least one side of the distal tip; and

one or more steering elements that are configured to steer the distal tip in one or more directions.

16. The steerable support system of claim 15 wherein the ribs are comprised of partial circumferential slots in the distal tip.

17. The steerable support system of claim 15 wherein the one or more steering elements comprise an elongate pull wire that is attached to the distal tip at one or more points and extends proximally down a length of the distal tip and elongate coil body.

18. The steerable support system of claim 15 wherein the steerable distal tip is threadedly engaged with the elongate coil body.

19. The steerable support system of claim 15 wherein the distal tip comprises a radiopaque marker.

20. The steerable support system of claim 15 further comprising a port assembly that is in communication with the lumen of the elongate coil body.