Endoscope structures and techniques for navigating to a target in a branched structure
First Claim
1. A catheter assembly comprising:
- a handle;
a locatable guide extending from the handle and including a distal end;
a plurality of steering elements extending between the handle and the distal end of the locatable guide and configured to articulate the distal end of the locatable guide; and
an actuator slidably and rotatably disposed on the handle, the actuator configured to rotate relative to the handle to select one or more of the steering elements for actuation and configured to slide relative to the handle to actuate the selected one or more of the steering elements to articulate the distal end of the locatable guide,wherein each steering element includes an actuator block at a proximal end thereof, and the actuator is configured to engage the actuator blocks when the actuator slides relative to the handle to slide one or more actuator blocks relative to the handle.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods employing a small gauge steerable catheter (30) including a locatable guide (32) with a sheath (40), particularly as an enhancement to a bronchoscope (14). A typical procedure is as follows. The location of a target in a reference coordinate system is detected or imported. The catheter (30) is navigated to the target which tracking the distal tip (34) of the guide (32) in the reference coordinate system. Insertion of the catheter is typically via a working channel of a convention bronchoscope. Once the tip of the catheter is positioned at the target, the guide (32) is withdrawn, leaving the sheath (40) secured in place. The sheath (40) is then used as a guide channel to direct a medical tool to target.
718 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A catheter assembly comprising:
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a handle; a locatable guide extending from the handle and including a distal end; a plurality of steering elements extending between the handle and the distal end of the locatable guide and configured to articulate the distal end of the locatable guide; and an actuator slidably and rotatably disposed on the handle, the actuator configured to rotate relative to the handle to select one or more of the steering elements for actuation and configured to slide relative to the handle to actuate the selected one or more of the steering elements to articulate the distal end of the locatable guide, wherein each steering element includes an actuator block at a proximal end thereof, and the actuator is configured to engage the actuator blocks when the actuator slides relative to the handle to slide one or more actuator blocks relative to the handle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A catheter assembly comprising:
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a handle; a locatable guide extending from the handle and including a distal end; a plurality of steering elements extending between the handle and the distal end of the locatable guide and configured to articulate the distal end of the locatable guide; and an actuator slidably and rotatably disposed on the handle, the actuator configured to rotate relative to the handle to select one or more of the steering elements for actuation and configured to slide relative to the handle to actuate the selected one or more of the steering elements to articulate the distal end of the locatable guide, wherein a first of the steering elements is actuatable by the actuator to articulate the distal end of the locatable guide in a first direction, a second of the steering elements is actuatable by the actuator to articulate the locatable guide in a second direction, and both the first and the second of the steering elements are actuatable by the actuator together to articulate the locatable guide in a third direction intermediate to the first direction and the second direction. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification