Articulated catheter
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A catheter comprising:
- an elongated flexible shaft including;
a distal bending segment;
a proximal bending segment;
a main shaft that is proximal to the proximal bending segment;
an activation element main lumen extending along at least a portion of the proximal bending segment and the main shaft;
a first activation element satellite lumen which extends along at least a portion of the distal bending segment; and
a second activation element satellite lumen which extends along at least a portion of the proximal bending segment;
a first activation element anchored at a first anchoring point and extending proximally from the first anchoring point, through at least a portion of the distal bending segment within the first satellite lumen, through the proximal bending segment and into the main shaft; and
a second activation element anchored at a second anchoring point and extending proximally from the second anchoring point, through at least a portion of the proximal bending segment within the second satellite lumen, and into the main shaft;
wherein;
the first satellite lumen starts a transition to the main lumen distal to the second anchoring point.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for manipulating an elongated flexible shaft of a catheter provide ease and reliability of positioning electrodes against or near tissue. Dual-bend flexible distal tips may be used in combination with flat wires. In some embodiments, flat wires which are free to rotate upon initial bending of shaft segments are employed. In some embodiments, one or more transition segments are used to relocate the satellite lumen-to-main lumen transition of pull wires away from a change in shaft stiffness.
81 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A catheter comprising:
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an elongated flexible shaft including; a distal bending segment; a proximal bending segment; a main shaft that is proximal to the proximal bending segment; an activation element main lumen extending along at least a portion of the proximal bending segment and the main shaft; a first activation element satellite lumen which extends along at least a portion of the distal bending segment; and a second activation element satellite lumen which extends along at least a portion of the proximal bending segment; a first activation element anchored at a first anchoring point and extending proximally from the first anchoring point, through at least a portion of the distal bending segment within the first satellite lumen, through the proximal bending segment and into the main shaft; and a second activation element anchored at a second anchoring point and extending proximally from the second anchoring point, through at least a portion of the proximal bending segment within the second satellite lumen, and into the main shaft;
wherein;the first satellite lumen starts a transition to the main lumen distal to the second anchoring point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A catheter comprising:
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an elongated flexible shaft including; a distal bending segment; a proximal bending segment; a main shaft that is proximal to the proximal bending segment; a first pull wire satellite lumen which extends along at least a portion of the distal bending segment; and a second pull wire satellite lumen which extends along at least a portion of the proximal bending segment; a first pull wire anchored at a first anchoring point in the distal bending segment and extending proximally from the first anchoring point, through at least a portion of the distal bending segment within the first satellite lumen, through the proximal bending segment and into the main shaft; and a second pull wire anchored at a second anchoring point and extending proximally from the second anchoring point, through at least a portion of the proximal bending segment within the second satellite lumen, and into the main shaft;
wherein;the first satellite lumen starts a transition toward a center axis of the catheter at a position which is distal to the second anchoring point. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification