Medical devices with distal control

• US 9,918,705 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2017
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Micronovus, LLC
• Original Assignee: Brian Giles
• Inventors: Giles, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): HENSON, DEVIN B
• Application Number:
  US15/660,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20180008251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 237 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0008 characterised by distal tip features
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00148 using anchoring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0055 Constructional details of insertion parts, e.g. vertebral elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0057 Constructional details of force transmission elements, e.g. control wires
• 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 2017/00323 Cables or rods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00871 polymeric
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0079 Separate user-activated means, e.g. guidewires, guide tubes, balloon catheters or sheaths, for sealing off an orifice, e.g. a lumen or side holes, of a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0266 Shape memory materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0041 pre-formed, e.g. specially adapted to fit with the anatomy of body channels urethral catheters A61F2/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0074 Dynamic characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. openable, closable, expandable or deformable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0097 characterised by the hub connectors A61M39/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0102 Insertion or introduction using an inner stiffening member, e.g. stylet or push-rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0105 Steering means as part of the catheter or advancing means; Markers for positioning systems for detection of markers A61B
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0133 Tip steering devices
• 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 25/0147 with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0158 : with magnetic or electrical means, e.g. by using piezo materials, electroactive polymers, magnetic materials or by heating of shape memory materials

Abstract

A device comprises a tubular member with a longitudinal axis having a proximal end and a distal end, at least one partial cut located at, along or near the distal end of the tubular member, the at least one partial cut comprising an orientation that is angled relative to both the longitudinal axis and an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis, a pusher member positioned within an interior of the tubular member and configured to selectively advance the distal end of the tubular member longitudinally, wherein the distal end of the tubular member is configured to at least partially rotate when the pusher member is advanced relative to the tubular member so at to facilitate placement of the distal end in a particular branch of a subject'"'"'s intraluminal network, wherein the distal end of the tubular member is configured to longitudinally elongate along or near an area of the at least one partial cut.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a tubular member with a longitudinal axis having a proximal end and a distal end;

at least one partial cut located at, along or near the distal end of the tubular member, the at least one partial cut comprising an orientation that is angled relative to both the longitudinal axis and an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis; and

a pusher member positioned within an interior of the tubular member and configured to selectively advance the distal end of the tubular member longitudinally by imparting a longitudinal force on the tubular member, wherein the distal end of the tubular member along the at least one partial cut is configured to at least partially rotate about the longitudinal axis to selectively change the position of the distal end of the tubular member when the pusher member is advanced relative to the tubular member so at to facilitate placement of the distal end in a particular branch of a subject'"'"'s intraluminal network;

wherein the distal end of the tubular member is configured to longitudinally elongate along or near an area of the at least one partial cut; and

wherein a distal portion of the device comprises an angled shape relative to the longitudinal axis so that the distal portion is angularly offset relative to the longitudinal axis.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one partial cut extends throughout an entire thickness of a wall of the tubular member.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one partial cut does not extend throughout an entire thickness of a wall of the tubular member.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one partial cut comprises a spiral or helical shape.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein an angle of the at least one partial cut relative to the longitudinal axis is between 10 and 80 degrees.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the pusher member is secured to the tubular member along the distal end of the tubular member.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the pusher member is secured to the tubular member using at least one of an adhesive and a mechanical connection.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the pusher member is not secured to the tubular member.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the tubular member comprises a lumen through which the pusher member is selectively moved.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one outer member or coating positioned along an exterior of the tubular member.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one pull member to facilitate steering of the device within an anatomy of a subject.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising a handle assembly, wherein a first portion of the handle assembly is secured to the tubular member and a second portion of the handle assembly is secured to the pusher member, wherein movement of the first portion relative to the second portion of the handle assembly facilitate movement of the tubular member relative to the pusher member.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one partial cut comprises a single helix oriented in a single pitch direction.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one partial cut comprises a dual chirality helix.

15. A device comprising:

a tubular member with a longitudinal axis having a proximal end and a distal end;

at least one partial cut located at, along or near the distal end of the tubular member, the at least one partial cut comprising an orientation that is angled relative to both the longitudinal axis and an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis; and

a pusher member positioned within an interior of the tubular member and configured to selectively advance the distal end of the tubular member longitudinally by imparting a longitudinal force on the tubular member;

wherein movement of the pusher member relative to the tubular member converts longitudinal displacement into rotational movement, causing the distal end of the tubular member along the at least one partial cut to at least partially rotate about the longitudinal axis when the pusher member is advanced relative to the tubular member so at to facilitate placement of the distal end in a particular branch of a subject'"'"'s intraluminal network;

wherein the distal end of the tubular member is configured to longitudinally elongate along or near an area of the at least one partial cut; and

wherein a distal portion of the device comprises an angled shape relative to the longitudinal axis so that the distal portion is angularly offset relative to the longitudinal axis; and

wherein movement of the pusher member relative to the tubular member changes an angular orientation of the distal portion of the device to facilitate placement of the device in a particular branch of a subject'"'"'s intraluminal network.

16. A method of rotating a distal end of an intraluminal device, comprising:

providing an intraluminal device comprising a tubular member and a pusher member configured to be selectively moved relative to the tubular member along a longitudinal axis, wherein the tubular member comprises at least one cut along a distal end of the tubular member;

wherein movement of the pusher member relative to the tubular member, such that the pusher member moves the distal end of the tubular member distally, causes the distal end of the tubular member to selectively rotate along the at least one cut;

moving the pusher member relative to the tubular member to selectively rotate the distal end of the device about the longitudinal axis;

wherein a distal portion of the intraluminal device comprises an angled shape relative to the longitudinal axis so that the distal portion is angularly offset relative to the longitudinal axis.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one cut extends throughout an entire thickness of a wall of the tubular member.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one cut does not extend throughout an entire thickness of a wall of the tubular member.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one partial cut comprises a single helix oriented in a single pitch direction.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one partial cut comprises a dual chirality helix.