Steerable medical device

• US 10,130,242 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2015
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Ostrovsky, Isaac, Shukhat, Victor, Li, Jianmin, Slanda, Jozef
• Primary Examiner(s): MENDEZ, MANUEL A
• Application Number:
  US14/589,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20150119754A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,415 Days
• Field of Search: 604 9504, 60416412-16413, 604523-528, 600146, 600147, 600148, 600149, 600150
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00154 using guiding arrangements for insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0051 with controlled bending of insertion part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/04 Endoscopic instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets A61B18/00 takes precedence; contraceptive devices, pessaries, or applicators therefor A61F6/00; eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00296 mounted on an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00318 Steering mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00323 Cables or rods
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0008 having visible markings on its surface, i.e. visible to the naked eye, for any purpose, e.g. insertion depth markers, rotational markers or identification of type
• 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

Abstract

A steerable medical device is used to controllably introduce a guidewire or other medical instrument into a body of a patient and direct placement of the guidewire or other medical instrument in the body of the patient. The steerable medical device can include an elongated member, a steering mechanism, and an attachment member. The elongated member extends along a longitudinal axis and comprises a deflectable distal portion that is deflectable off of the longitudinal axis. The steering mechanism is adapted to control longitudinal and rotational movement of the elongated member and to control off-axis deflection of its deflectable portion. The attachment member is removably couplable to another medical device. The attachment member is moveably coupled to the steering mechanism and the elongated member.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting a length of a shaft of a medical device, the method comprising:

manipulating a proximal assembly of the medical device, the proximal assembly being coupled to a proximal end of the shaft, wherein manipulating the proximal assembly includes;

moving a first member of the proximal assembly relative to a second member of the proximal assembly, the first member being coupled to the proximal end of the shaft, to adjust a distance between a distal end of the shaft and a distal end of the second member, and

fixing the first member relative to the second member to set the distance between the distal end of the shaft and the distal end of the second member.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein moving the first member relative to the second member includes moving the first member distally relative to the second member to increase the distance between the distal end of the shaft and the distal end of the second member.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein moving the first member relative to the second member includes moving the first member proximally relative to the second member to decrease the distance between the distal end of the shaft and the distal end of the second member.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein moving the first member relative to the second member includes moving the shaft through an opening of the second member.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein moving the first member relative to the second member includes sliding one of the first and second members against the other of the first and second members.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein moving the first member relative to the second member includes actuating a spring-biased fastener of the first member to allow the second member to slide within a lumen of the first member.

7. A method for adjusting a position of a first medical device relative to a second medical device, the method comprising:

moving an attachment assembly from an engaged configuration, fixedly securing the first medical device to the second medical device, to a disengaged configuration, allowing relative movement between the first and second medical devices;

sliding one of a shaft of the first medical device and a shaft of the second medical device relative to the other to adjust a distance between distal ends of the shafts, wherein one of the shafts is received within the other; and

moving the attachment assembly to the engaged configuration to fixedly secure the first and second medical devices and set the distance between the distal ends of the shafts.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein sliding one of the shafts includes moving the first medical device relative to the second medical device while maintaining contact between the attachment assembly and the second medical device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein sliding one of the shafts includes extending a distal end of the shaft of the first medical device distally beyond a distal end of the shaft of the second medical device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein sliding one of the shafts includes retracting a distal end of the shaft of the first medical device into a distal end of the shaft of the second medical device.

11. The method of claim 7, further including actuating a steering mechanism of the first medical device to deflect the distal end of the shaft of the first medical device away from a longitudinal axis of the shaft of the second medical device.

12. The method of claim 7, further including rotating the shaft of the first medical device relative to the shaft of the second medical device about a longitudinal axis of the shaft of the first medical device.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein moving the attachment assembly to the disengaged configuration includes actuating a spring-biased fastener of the attachment assembly, to allow relative movement between an attachment member of the attachment assembly and the first medical device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein moving the attachment assembly to the engaged configuration includes releasing the spring-biased fastener.

15. A method for performing a medical procedure with a first medical device and a second medical device, the method comprising:

moving a fastener of the first medical device from an engaged configuration, wherein the fastener fixedly secures the first medical device to an attachment member coupling the first medical device to the second medical device, to a disengaged configuration, wherein the fastener allows relative movement between the first medical device and the attachment member;

sliding the first medical device relative to the attachment member to extend a distal end of a shaft of the first medical device distally beyond a distal end of a shaft of the second medical device; and

moving the fastener to the engaged configuration to fixedly secure the first medical device to the attachment member, with the distal end of the shaft of the first medical device extended distally beyond the distal end of the shaft of the second medical device.

16. The method of claim 15, further including deflecting the distal end of the shaft of the first medical device away from a longitudinal axis of the shaft of the second medical device.

17. The method of claim 15, further including rotating the shaft of the first medical device relative to the shaft of the second medical device about a longitudinal axis of the shaft of the first medical device.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein sliding the first medical device relative to the attachment member includes sliding the first medical device relative to the second medical device.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein sliding the first medical device relative to the attachment member includes maintaining engagement between a distal end of the attachment member and a port of the second medical device that opens into the shaft of the second medical device.

20. The method of claim 15, further including guiding a third medical device through the shaft of the first medical device.