Steering mechanism

• US 9,357,903 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2013
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Tah, Richard C., Ostrovsky, Isaac, Slanda, Jozef
• Primary Examiner(s): Price, Nathan R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Snyder, Melissa A
• Application Number:
  US14/054,452
• Publication Number:
  US 20140039522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 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 moveable relative to the first actuator;

wherein the second actuator is moveably coupled to the first actuator.

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

3. The medical device 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 medical device of claim 1, wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

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

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

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

8. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the first actuator is coupled to at least a first vertical plane wire and configured to apply force leverage on the at least first vertical plane wire.

9. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the second actuator is directly coupled to the first actuator.

10. A method of manipulating a medical device, comprising:

positioning a medical device adjacent a treatment site, the medical device including 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;

actuating a first actuator of the steering system, the first actuator being rotatable about a first axis different than the longitudinal axis and configured move the steerable member along the first plane; and

actuating a second actuator of the steering system, the second actuator being moveably coupled to the first actuator.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein actuating the second actuator includes actuating the second actuator independently of the first actuator.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the steering system is adapted to achieve 360 degrees of articulation of the steerable member.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein actuating the first actuator and actuating the second actuator includes one-handed actuation by a user.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the second actuator is actuatable either (i) along the first axis, or (ii) about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis.

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 moveable relative to the first actuator;

wherein the first actuator is configured to receive at least a portion of the second actuator therein.

16. The medical device of claim 15, wherein the second actuator is independently moveable of the first actuator.

17. 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.

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

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 second actuator is directly coupled to the first actuator.