Handle thumb wheel mechanism which maintains holding forces when sterilized and when engaged
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A thumb wheel mechanism for use with a deflectable tip catheter with reduced stress in neutral position, the thumb wheel mechanism comprising:
- a thumb wheel having a first upper surface opposing a first lower surface, the first lower surface including a bore and a ball connected to the bore, the ball having a diameter greater than the depth of the bore;
a handle half having a second upper surface opposing a second lower surface, the second upper surface including a divot, the first lower surface being positioned over the second upper surface and the divot being aligned with the bore so that when the thumb wheel is in a neutral position, a portion of the ball extending beyond the first lower surface rests in the divot; and
the thumb wheel further comprising a friction disk, whereby when the thumb wheel is in the neutral position, a minimal compression load is applied to the friction disk due to the location of the ball in the divot and conversely when the thumb wheel is in an engaged position and the ball rests along the second upper surface outside the divot, a force is applied on the friction disk resulting in compression thereof.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A thumb wheel mechanism includes a thumb wheel with upper and lower surfaces, the lower surface including a bore with a ball connected to it, and an handle half with upper and lower surfaces, the upper surface including a divot, the thumb wheel lower surface being aligned with the handle half upper surface so that the ball rests in the divot of the handle half upper surface when the thumb wheel mechanism is in the neutral position, thereby minimizing the compression load on the thumb wheel mechanism.
37 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A thumb wheel mechanism for use with a deflectable tip catheter with reduced stress in neutral position, the thumb wheel mechanism comprising:
-
a thumb wheel having a first upper surface opposing a first lower surface, the first lower surface including a bore and a ball connected to the bore, the ball having a diameter greater than the depth of the bore; a handle half having a second upper surface opposing a second lower surface, the second upper surface including a divot, the first lower surface being positioned over the second upper surface and the divot being aligned with the bore so that when the thumb wheel is in a neutral position, a portion of the ball extending beyond the first lower surface rests in the divot; and the thumb wheel further comprising a friction disk, whereby when the thumb wheel is in the neutral position, a minimal compression load is applied to the friction disk due to the location of the ball in the divot and conversely when the thumb wheel is in an engaged position and the ball rests along the second upper surface outside the divot, a force is applied on the friction disk resulting in compression thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 14)
-
-
6. A thumb wheel mechanism for use with a deflectable tip catheter, the catheter including a deflectable cable, the thumb wheel mechanism for further tensioning the cable into a curve and including a locking frictional force when engaged, the thumb wheel mechanism comprising:
-
a thumb wheel having a first upper surface opposing a first lower surface, the first lower surface including a bore and ball connected to the bore, the ball having a diameter greater than the depth of the bore; a handle half having a second upper surface opposing a second lower surface, the second upper surface including a divot and a level surface around the divot, the first lower surface being positioned over the second upper surface and the divot being aligned with the bore so that when the thumb wheel is engaged by rotation in one of the clockwise and counterclockwise directions, a portion of the ball extending beyond the first lower surface rides outside the divot onto the level surface around the divot; and the thumb wheel further comprising a friction disk formed of a compressible material and disposed along the first upper surface whereby when the thumb wheel is engaged, a compression load is applied to the friction disk which is larger than the unloading force of the cable in a fully actuated curve to lock the thumb wheel mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A thumb wheel mechanism for use with a deflectable tip catheter, the catheter including a deflectable cable, the thumb wheel mechanism for further tensioning a cable into a curve and including a plurality of locking positions, each locking position corresponding to a frictional force, the thumb wheel mechanism comprising:
- a thumb wheel having a first upper surface opposing a first lower surface, the first lower surface including a bore and a ball connected to the bore, the ball having a diameter greater than the depth of the bore;
a handle half having a second upper surface opposing a second lower surface, the second upper surface including a divot having a first predetermined depth, a level surface around the divot, and a depression having a second predetermined depth, the first predetermined depth being greater than the second predetermined depth, the first lower surface being positioned over the second upper surface and the divot being aligned with the bore so that when the thumb wheel is engaged by rotation in one of clockwise and counterclockwise directions, a portion of the ball extending beyond the first lower surface rides outside the divot surface onto one of the level surface and the depression; and
the thumb wheel further comprising a friction disk formed of a compressible material, the friction disk being in contact with the first upper surface, whereby when the thumb wheel is engaged so that the ball is aligned with the depression, a compression load is applied to the friction disk which is larger than the unloading force cable in a fully activated curve to lock the thumb wheel mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
- a thumb wheel having a first upper surface opposing a first lower surface, the first lower surface including a bore and a ball connected to the bore, the ball having a diameter greater than the depth of the bore;
-
15. A method of operating a thumb wheel mechanism for use with a deflectable tip catheter, the catheter including a deflectable cable, the thumb wheel mechanism for further tensioning a cable into a curve and including a locking frictional force, the thumb wheel mechanism including a thumb wheel having a first upper surface opposing a first lower surface, the first lower surface including a bore and ball connected to the bore, the ball having a diameter greater than the depth of the bore, a handle half having a second upper surface opposing a second lower surface, the second upper surface including a divot and a level surface around the divot, the first lower surface being positioned over the second upper surface and the divot being aligned with the bore, the thumb wheel further including a friction disk formed of a compressible material and located along the first upper surface, the method comprising:
- rotating the thumb wheel one of clockwise and counterclockwise so that a portion of the ball extending beyond the first lower surface rides outside the divot onto the level surface around the divot; and
the friction disk being compressed with a compression load that is directed toward the thumb wheel and which is larger than the unloading force of the cable in a fully actuated curve to lock the thumb wheel mechanism.
- rotating the thumb wheel one of clockwise and counterclockwise so that a portion of the ball extending beyond the first lower surface rides outside the divot onto the level surface around the divot; and
Specification