Deflectable medical devices

• US 9,162,046 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2012
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Hill, Jason P., Thielen, Joseph M., Jenson, Mark L., Haverkost, Patrick A., Groff, Joel N., Hendrickson, Gary L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavert, Nicole F
• Application Number:
  US13/631,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20130096553A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 606/15, 606/41
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00434 Neural system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00511 Kidney
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• 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 25/0147 with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence

Abstract

Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may be a deflectable medical device that includes a catheter shaft having a distal end. An ablation electrode may be disposed at the distal end. A deflection mechanism may be coupled to the catheter shaft. The deflection mechanism may include a deflection body and a pull wire coupled to the deflection body. The deflection body may have a longitudinally-extending furrow formed therein. A flex member may be disposed adjacent to the deflection mechanism.

Claims

1. A deflectable medical device, comprising:

a catheter shaft having a distal end;

an ablation electrode disposed at the distal end;

a deflection mechanism coupled to the catheter shaft, the deflection mechanism including a deflection body and a pull wire coupled to the deflection body;

wherein the deflection body has an exterior surface and a longitudinally-extending furrow defined by an indentation in the exterior surface of the deflection body; and

a flex member disposed adjacent to the deflection mechanism.

2. The deflectable medical device of claim 1, wherein the deflection body includes a first longitudinally-extending spine and wherein a first group of slots are formed in the deflection body and define a first group of ribs.

3. The deflectable medical device of claim 2, wherein the first spine has a constant width.

4. The deflectable medical device of claim 2, wherein the first spine is tapered.

5. The deflectable medical device of claim 2, wherein the first spine includes a first portion having a first width, a second portion having a second width, and a third portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion and having a third width that is less than both the first width and the second width.

6. The deflectable medical device of claim 2, wherein the deflection body includes a second longitudinally-extending spine and wherein a second group of slots are formed in the deflection body and define a second group of ribs.

7. The deflectable medical device of claim 6, wherein the first longitudinally-extending spine and the second longitudinally-extending spine are positioned on opposite sides of the deflection body.

8. The deflectable medical device of claim 1, wherein the flex member is attached to a distal end of the deflection body.

9. The deflectable medical device of claim 1, wherein the flex member includes a tubular member having a plurality of slots formed therein.

10. The deflectable medical device of claim 1, wherein the pull wire is disposed within the furrow.

11. The deflectable medical device of claim 1, wherein the deflection body includes a second furrow, and further comprising a second pull wire disposed within the second furrow.

12. The deflectable medical device of claim 1, wherein the deflection body is configured to have a preferred bending direction.

13. The deflectable medical device of claim 1, wherein the deflection body is configured to have more than one preferred bending direction.