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 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, the attachment point being movable along a linear path that is substantially aligned with the deflection lumen;
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.
1 Assignment
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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.
73 Citations
29 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 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, the attachment point being movable along a linear path that is substantially aligned with the deflection lumen;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, 27, 28)
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29. 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 an inwardly extending stationary guide; 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 alignment with the longitudinal axis; a thumb wheel mounted proximal to the guide track within the handle, the thumb wheel comprising an internal axial extension having a circumferential surface offset from the longitudinal axis, a sidewall forming an outer rim and a circumferentially extending slot through the outer rim of the sidewall, and a pinion gear formed along a portion of the circumferential surface of the internal axial extension; the thumb wheel adapted to be rotated to cause rotation of the pinion gear about a common thumb wheel axis, which extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and a rack arm comprising runners received by the guide track, an attachment point coupling the deflection wire to the rack arm, and a linear rack having a first major side and a second major side, the second major side configured to engage the pinion gear, the rack arm extending within the handle obliquely to the longitudinal axis in order to position the linear rack along the pinion gear formed along the circumferential surface offset from the longitudinal axis and position the runners in the guide track in alignment with the longitudinal axis, the attachment point being movable along a linear path that is substantially aligned with the deflection lumen in response to rotation of the pinion gear causing linear movement of the runners in the guide track via the obliquely extending rack arm and 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, wherein the rack arm extends through the circumferentially extending slot of the thumbwheel to position the linear rack along the pinion gear, wherein the stationary guide of the handle passes through an arcuate opening of the thumbwheel to interface with the first major surface of the linear rack for holding the second major surface of the linear rack against the pinion gear.
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Specification