Complex shape steerable tissue visualization and manipulation catheter

• US 8,657,805 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2008
• Issued: 02/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. (Intuitive Surgical Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. (Intuitive Surgical Holdings, LLC)
• Inventors: Peh, Ruey-Feng, Saadat, Vahid, Rothe, Chris A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bosques, Edelmira
• Application Number:
  US12/117,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20080281293A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,119 Days
• Field of Search: 604523-532, 604 9501- 9505, 604104-109, 606/200, 606/192, 606/194
• US Class Current: 604/529
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00082 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00085 Baskets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0051 with controlled bending of insertion part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0052 Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0055 Constructional details of insertion parts, e.g. vertebral elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/008 Articulations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/3137 for examination of the interior of blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/00 Catheters; Hollow probes dilators A61M29/00; peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00 ; for measuring or testing A61B; materials for catheters A61L29/00
• 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

Complex steerable catheter visualization and tissue manipulation systems and their methods of use are disclosed herein. The deployment catheter is articulated using various steering mechanisms. Tissue visualization is accomplished from the visualization hood at the distal end of the deployment catheter, the hood having an ability to expand and other features to facilitate visualization and articulation at the tissue surface.

Claims

1. An apparatus for accessing a difficult-to-reach tissue surface in a region of a body having a continuous interfering blood flow comprising:

a flexible deployment catheter shaft capable of intravascular advancement having an articulatable assembly near or at a distal portion of the catheter, the articulatable assembly having a proximal steerable section and a distal steerable section connected distally of the proximal section;

a barrier or membrane attached to a distal end of the distal steerable section such that the barrier or membrane forms a non-inflatable fluid impermeable barrier which is self-expanding from a delivery profile to a deployment profile which defines an open area surrounded by the barrier or membrane, wherein the open area is in fluid communication with a lumen defined through the catheter and with an environment external to the barrier or membrane; and

,

a visualization element disposed within or adjacent to the open area of the barrier or membrane for visualizing tissue adjacent to the open area,

the proximal steerable section articulates with a steering guide traveling along a steering actuator, and

the distal steerable section is adapted to articulate within one or more planes relative to a longitudinal axis of the proximal steerable section.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising pullwires traveling along the steering guide.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a ring-linked steerable segment.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, having a pullwire guided by the steering guide.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, having a pullwire threaded along a steering tube within a ring-linked proximal steerable section.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an ablation element positionable at the distal end of the catheter shaft.