Steerable medical delivery devices and methods of use

• US 8,708,953 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2013
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shifamed Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Shifamed Holdings, LLC
• Inventors: Salahieh, Amr, Lepak, Jonah, Leung, Emma, Saul, Tom, Dueri, Jean-Pierre, De La Menardiere, Brice Arnault, Baldwin, Clayton
• Primary Examiner(s): FLICK, JASON E
• Application Number:
  US14/070,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20140058324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 179 Days
• Field of Search: 604/95.04
• US Class Current: 604/95.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00135 Oversleeves mounted on the endoscope prior to insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00309 Cut-outs or slits
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00314 Separate linked members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/10 for stereotaxic surgery, e.g. frame-based stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0161 wherein the distal tips have two or more deflection regions
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0013 Weakening parts of a catheter tubing, e.g. by making cuts in the tube or reducing thickness of a layer at one point to adjust the flexibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0045 multi-layered, e.g. coated coating materials A61L29/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0053 having a variable stiffness along the longitudinal axis, e.g. by varying the pitch of the coil or braid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0136 Handles therefor
• 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 25/0144 having flexible regions as a result of inner reinforcement means, e.g. struts or rods
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0147 with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires

Abstract

Steerable medical delivery devices and their methods of use.

Claims

1. A steerable medical delivery device, comprising:

a steerable portion comprising

a first tubular member comprising a first flexible polymeric tubular member, the first tubular member configured to preferentially bend; and

a second tubular member comprising a second flexible polymeric tubular member, the second tubular member configured to preferentially bend, wherein the first tubular member is disposed within the second tubular member;

wherein the first and second tubular members are permanently axially fixed relative to one another at a fixation location distal to the steerable portion, and wherein an external controller is configured to axially move at least one of the first and second tubular members relative to the other at a location proximal to the steerable portion to cause relative axial movement between the first and second tubular members along the steerable portion to steer the steerable portion in a first direction.

2. The steerable medical delivery device of claim 1 wherein the first and second flexible polymeric tubular members each comprise a wall of solid material along the steerable portion.

3. The steerable medical delivery device of claim 2 wherein the first and second tubular members each further comprise a structural support embedded in the respective first and second flexible polymeric tubular members.

4. The steerable medical delivery device of claim 2 wherein the first and second flexible polymeric tubular members each comprise a variable structure in the steerable portion, and the variable structures impart the respective preferential bending.

5. The steerable medical delivery device of claim 4 wherein the variable structures for each is a variable thickness in the steerable portion, and the variable thicknesses impart the preferential bending in the respective first and second tubular members.

6. The steerable medical delivery device of claim 1 wherein along the steerable portion, in a cross section perpendicular to a longitudinal axis, the first flexible polymeric tubular member has a first portion with a first durometer and a second portion with a second durometer different than the first durometer.

7. The steerable medical device of claim 1 wherein the external controller is coupled to at least one of the first and second tubular members.

8. The steerable medical device of claim 7 wherein the actuator is configured to be actuated to axially move at least of the first and second tubular members relative to the other at a location proximal to the steerable portion.

9. The steerable medical device of claim 7 wherein the external controller is coupled to the first tubular member.

10. The steerable medical device of claim 1 wherein the external controller is configured to axially move at least one of the first and second tubular members relative to the other within an external handle.

11. The steerable medical device of claim 1 wherein the external controller is configured to axially move at least one of the first and second tubular members relative to the other at a location external to a patient when the steerable portion is disposed at a target location inside the patient.