Steerable distal support system

• US 7,381,198 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2004
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Revascular Therapeutics Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Noriega, Gerardo, Sudaria, Rudolfo
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi; Nicholas D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stigell; Theodore J
• Application Number:
  US10/864,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20050020974A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 604/95.04, 604/104, 604/525, 604/526, 604/96.01, 604/95.01, 604/95.03, 604523-528, 606/191, 606/192, 606/194
• US Class Current: 604/95.04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0054 with regions for increasing flexibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0108 using radio-opaque or ultrasound markers
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/04 in the body, e.g. expansible A61M25/10, A61M16/0488 take precedence

Abstract

A steerable distal support system for accessing stenosis, partial occlusions, or complete occlusions within a body lumen. The steerable distal support system generally includes an elongate member that comprises a proximal portion, a more flexible intermediate portion and a deflectable distal tip. The deflectable distal tip is at a distal end of the elongate body to facilitate directionality and positioning of the steerable distal support system to the target site. Optionally, an expandable centering assembly may be disposed on the steerable support assembly to center and anchor the steerable support assembly within the body lumen.

Claims

1. A steerable distal support system comprising:

an elongate body comprising a proximal portion, an intermediate portion, and a deflectable distal tip integrally formed by slots on the body;

an expandable centering element integrally formed by slots in the elongate body proximal of the deflectable distal tip, and which is configured for centering the portion of the elongate body when the centering element is in an expanded configuration;

a first pull wire fixedly attached to the distal tip of the elongate body, wherein pulling of the first pull wire deflects the distal tip; and

a second pull wire attached to the expandable centering element, wherein pulling of the second pull wire expands the expandable centering element.

2. The steerable distal support system of claim 1, wherein the slots of the expandable centering element define a plurality of expandable struts, wherein in an expanded configuration a portion of the struts expand radially outward from the elongate body and contact an inner surface of a body lumen and to open said slots between the struts.

3. The steerable distal support system of claim 2 wherein the slots between the struts are substantially S-shaped.

4. The steerable distal support system of claim 1 wherein the elongate body comprises a laser etched hypotube.

5. The steerable distal support system of claim 1, wherein slots of the expandable centering element comprise a spiral coil.

6. The steerable distal support system of claim 5, wherein the spiral coil comprises a decreasing pitch distally along an intermediate portion of the expandable centering element, wherein the decreasing pitch creates an increased flexibility in the intermediate portion of the expandable centering element.

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

8. The steerable distal support system of claim 1 wherein the proximal portion, intermediate portion, expandable centering element, and deflectable distal tip are comprised of a single hypotube.

9. The steerable distal support system of claim 1, further comprising

at least either or both an inner liner and an outer liner coupled to at least a portion of at least one of an inner surface and an outer surface of the intermediate portion.

10. The steerable distal support system of claim 9, wherein the inner liner is connected to at least a portion of the intermediate member.

11. The steerable distal support system of claim 1, wherein the expandable centering element is configured for further stabilizing the elongate tubular member within a body lumen.

12. The steerable distal support system of claim 1, wherein the expandable centering element and the deflectable distal tip are formed from separate interconnected sections.