Steering mechanism

• US 8,585,639 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2011
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Tah, Richard C., Ostrovsky, Isaac, Slanda, Jozef
• Primary Examiner(s): Stigell, Theodore
• Assistant Examiner(s): Snyder, Melissa A
• Application Number:
  US13/243,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20120253277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 604/95.04, 604/95.01, 604528-529, 600/139, 600141-142, 600146-149
• US Class Current: 604/95.04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00042 for mechanical operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0052 Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0053 using distributed actuators, e.g. artificial muscles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/126 provided with means for cleaning in-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/10 for stereotaxic surgery, e.g. frame-based stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0136 Handles therefor

Abstract

A hand-holdable steering mechanism is used as part of a medical device such as a catheter or an endoscope to allow movement of a steerable distal portion of the catheter or endoscope. The mechanism can include a housing, a first actuator, and a second actuator. The first actuator is configured to move the steerable portion along a first plane when the first actuator is moved between first and second positions. The second actuator is configured to move the steerable portion along a second plane different than the first plane when the second actuator is moved between first and second positions.

Claims

1. A mechanism for controlled articulation of a steerable device, comprising:

a handle extending along a longitudinal axis and coupleable to a steerable device; and

a steering system configured to articulate the steerable device in a first plane and a second plane different than the first plane, the steering system including;

a first actuator rotatable about a first axis different than the longitudinal axis and configured to apply force leverage to the steerable device to move the device along the first plane; and

a second actuator having a portion extending into the first actuator, wherein the second actuator is moveable relative to the first actuator.

2. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the second actuator is independently moveable of the first actuator.

3. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the second actuator is actuatable either (i) along the first axis, or (ii) about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis.

4. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

5. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the steering system is adapted to achieve 360 degrees of articulation of the steerable device.

6. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are adapted for one-handed operation by a user.

7. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first plane is a vertical plane and the second plane is a horizontal plane.

8. A steering system for a steerable medical device, comprising:

a housing extending along a longitudinal axis;

a first actuator coupled to at least a first vertical plane wire, the first actuator configured to move a steerable medical device between a first position and a second position different from the first position upon actuation of the first actuator, the first actuator configured for actuation about a first axis different than the longitudinal axis; and

a second actuator coupled to the first actuator and at least a first horizontal plane wire, the second actuator configured to move the steerable medical device between the first position and a third position different from the first and second positions upon actuation of the second actuator, at least a portion of the second actuator extending into the first actuator;

wherein the steering system is adapted to achieve 360 degrees of articulation of the steerable medical device.

9. The steering system of claim 8, wherein the first actuator is configured to apply force leverage on the at least first vertical plane wire.

10. The steering system of claim 8, further comprising at least two first vertical plane wires.

11. The steering system of claim 8, further comprising at least two first horizontal plane wires.

12. The steering system of claim 8, wherein the second actuator is independently actuatable of the first actuator.

13. The steering system of claim 8, wherein the second actuator is actuatable either (i) along the first axis, or (ii) about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis.

14. The steering system of claim 8, wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are adapted for one-handed operation by a user.

15. A medical device, comprising:

a handle extending along a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end and a distal end;

a steerable member coupled to and extending distally from the distal end of the handle; and

a steering system configured to articulate the steerable member in a first plane and a second plane different than the first plane, the steering system including;

a first actuator rotatable about a first axis different than the longitudinal axis and configured move the steerable member along the first plane; and

a second actuator having a portion extending into the first actuator, wherein the second actuator is moveable relative to the first actuator.

16. The medical device of claim 15, wherein the second actuator is actuatable either (i) along the first axis, or (ii) about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis.

17. The medical device of claim 15, wherein the second actuator is independently actuatable of the first actuator.

18. The medical device of claim 15, wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are adapted for one-handed by a user.

19. The medical device of claim 15, wherein the first plane is a vertical plane and the second plane is a horizontal plane.

20. The medical device of claim 15, wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.