Defined deflection structure

• US 6,890,329 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2001
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic CryoCath LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: CryoCath Technologies Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Wittenberger, Dan, Carroll, Sean, Santoianni, Domenic, Aubert, Mathieu-Philippe, Marcotte, Marc-André, Thibault, Benoit
• Primary Examiner(s): ROBINSON, DANIEL LEON
• Application Number:
  US10/002,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20020082585A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 604/528, 604/523, 604/524, 604/525, 604/526, 604/527, 604/536, 604/531, 604/532, 604/535, 604/534, 604/533, 604/174, 606/41
• US Class Current: 604/528
• 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 2025/09141 made of shape memory alloys which take a particular shape at a certain temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0041 pre-formed, e.g. specially adapted to fit with the anatomy of body channels urethral catheters A61F2/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0043 characterised by structural features
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/005 with embedded materials for reinforcement, e.g. wires, coils, braids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0054 with regions for increasing flexibility
• 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 25/0155 with hydraulic or pneumatic means, e.g. balloons or inflatable compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0662 Guide tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10 Balloon catheters A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02; inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 ; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00

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 catheter system comprising:

a deflection region having a longitudinal axis and a length, the deflection region having a wall, the wall having at least two sections, each section having a specific density which is different from each other section, the wall sections configured to define a predefined deflection pattern when a force is applied to the deflection region.

2. The catheter system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one longitudinal element provided within the wall of the deflection region, the longitudinal element being substantially axially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the deflection region and providing a directional bias to the deflection region.

3. The catheter system of claim 2, wherein the longitudinal element is made from a shape memory material.

4. The catheter system of claim 2, wherein the longitudinal element is a wire.

5. The catheter system of claim 2, wherein the longitudinal element is a flat shim.

6. The catheter system of claim 1, further comprising an actuator member provided to apply an actuation force to the deflection region.

7. The catheter system of claim 1, further comprising a rib along the wall.

8. The catheter system of claim 7, wherein the longitudinal member is provided within the rib.

9. The catheter system of claim 1, further comprising a body region having a body wall, the body region being attached to the deflection region.

10. The catheter system of claim 9, wherein the body wall defines a lumen and a conduit is provided within the lumen.

11. The catheter system of claim 10, wherein the conduit is located in the center of the lumen.

12. The catheter system of claim 11, further comprising a torqueable member provided within the lumen.

13. The catheter system of claim 12, wherein the torqueable member is located adjacent the conduit.

14. The catheter system of claim 12, wherein the torqueable member is located adjacent the body wall.

15. The catheter system of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of vanes adjacent the torqueable member.

16. The catheter system of claim 1, further comprising a distal region.

17. The catheter system of claim 16, wherein the distal region includes a treatment tip.

18. The catheter system of claim 1, further comprising a non-compressible element.

19. The catheter system of claim 9, further comprising a non-compressible element.

20. The catheter system of claim 18, wherein the non-compressible element is provided adjacent the wall.

21. The catheter system of claim 18, wherein the non-compressible element is provided within the wall.

22. The catheter system of claim 19, wherein the non-compressible element is provided adjacent the body wall.

23. The catheter system of claim 19, wherein the non-compressible element is provided within the body wall.

24. The catheter system of claim 19, wherein the non-compressible element is provided adjacent the wall and the body wall.

25. The catheter system of claim 19, wherein the non-compressible element is provided within the wall and the body wall.

26. The catheter system of claim 18, wherein the non-compressible element is a braided sleeve.

27. The catheter system of claim 18, wherein the non-compressible element is a coil.

28. A catheter system comprising:

a deflection region having a longitudinal axis and a length, the deflection region having a wall, the wall having at least two sections, each section having a specific density which is different from each other section,

at least one longitudinal element disposed within the wall of the deflection region, the longitudinal element being substantially axially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the deflection region and providing a directional bias to the deflection region, the different wall sections and the longitudinal element being configured to define a predefined deflection pattern when a force is applied to the deflection region.