Steerable catheter
First Claim
1. A steerable catheter comprising:
- an elongated catheter body including a proximal end, a distal segment and a deflection lumen extending from the proximal end toward the distal segment;
a handle coupled to the catheter body proximal end and including a longitudinal axis; and
a deflection mechanism for selectively inducing a bend in the catheter body;
the deflection mechanism comprising;
an elongated deflection wire extending within the deflection lumen of the catheter body and into the handle;
a guide track formed within the handle in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis;
a thumb wheel mounted proximal to the elongated guide track within the handle and supporting a pinion gear, the thumb wheel and pinion gear adapted to be rotated about a common thumb wheel axis, which extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and
a rack arm including runners received by the guide track, an attachment point coupling the deflection wire to the rack arm and a linear rack engaging the pinion gear;
the rack arm extending within the handle, obliquely to the longitudinal axis, from the runners to the linear rack;
wherein rotation of the thumb wheel in a first direction moves the linear rack proximally, via the engagement of the linear rack with the pinion gear, to draw the deflection wire proximally through the deflection lumen and along the guide track inducing a first bend of the catheter body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A deflection mechanism for selectively inducing a bend in a catheter body includes an elongated deflection wire extending within a deflection lumen of the catheter body and into a handle. A guide track is formed within the handle and a thumb wheel is mounted proximal to the elongated guide track within the handle and supports a pinion gear; the thumb wheel and the pinion gear are adapted to be rotated about a common thumb wheel axis, which extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. A rack arm extends obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the handle and includes runners received by the guide track, an attachment point coupling the deflection wire to the rack arm and a linear rack engaging the pinion gear. Rotation of the thumb wheel in a first direction draws the deflection wire proximally through the deflection lumen.
81 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A steerable catheter comprising:
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an elongated catheter body including a proximal end, a distal segment and a deflection lumen extending from the proximal end toward the distal segment;
a handle coupled to the catheter body proximal end and including a longitudinal axis; and
a deflection mechanism for selectively inducing a bend in the catheter body;
the deflection mechanism comprising;
an elongated deflection wire extending within the deflection lumen of the catheter body and into the handle;
a guide track formed within the handle in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis;
a thumb wheel mounted proximal to the elongated guide track within the handle and supporting a pinion gear, the thumb wheel and pinion gear adapted to be rotated about a common thumb wheel axis, which extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and
a rack arm including runners received by the guide track, an attachment point coupling the deflection wire to the rack arm and a linear rack engaging the pinion gear;
the rack arm extending within the handle, obliquely to the longitudinal axis, from the runners to the linear rack;
wherein rotation of the thumb wheel in a first direction moves the linear rack proximally, via the engagement of the linear rack with the pinion gear, to draw the deflection wire proximally through the deflection lumen and along the guide track inducing a first bend of the catheter body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification