Steering configuration for catheter with rigid distal device

Details Steering configuration for catheter with rigid distal device Steering configuration for catheter with rigid distal device

2002-03-05

2004-03-09

Casler, Brian L. (Department: 3763)

Surgery

Means for introducing or removing material from body for...

Treating material introduced into or removed from body...

C604S528000, C600S434000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06702780

ABSTRACT:

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to steerable catheters and, in particular, it concerns a steering configuration for facilitating steering of a catheter or the like provided with a rigid distal device.
Steerable catheters are well known in medical treatment of the heart. An example is a catheter for use in electro-physiology treatments, manufactured by EP Technologies, Inc., Sunnyvale, Calif., which is also described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,686 which is hereby incorporated by reference.
FIGS. 2 and 3
of that patent, incorporated herein as
FIGS. 2 and 3
of the present application, show the distal end steering portions
160
of a steering mechanism
10
of the catheter. A coiled spring or sleeve
170
defines a central lumen within a steering shaft
30
, in which lumen a steering wire
120
is positioned. Protruding from ferrul
190
, the distal end
150
of steering wire
120
is welded to a flat lead spring
230
at weld
260
. When there is no tension on the steering wire, the lead spring tends to be kept unbent as shown in FIG.
2
. While tension is placed on the steering wire
120
by manipulating a controller (not shown), the lead spring
230
and the distal end
150
of the steering wire are bent, thus turning the distal end
160
of the steering shaft
30
.
It is often a desirable to couple a device at the distal end of such a catheter. An example is mounting a sensor device for measuring the location of the tip of the catheter, as described in PCT Publication No. WO0010456 which is hereby incorporated by reference. Such a device is formed as a solid cylinder, so that the leading spring and steering wire cannot extend through the device. As a result, such devices are typically attached as an extension to the end of the steering mechanism described, for example, by welding to the end of the catheter.
Addition of a rigid device to the end of a steerable catheter as described generates a significant degradation of the steerability of the catheter. Specifically, with reference to
FIG. 4
, it will be noted that the rigid device
1000
in such an arrangement always assumes a position corresponding to a straight non-steerable extrapolation of the direction in which the end portion
260
of lead spring
230
is directed. This interferes considerably with the maneuverability of the overall structure.
There is therefore a need for a steering configuration for facilitating steering of a catheter or the like provided with a rigid distal device which would enable the rigid device to be steered beyond the angle of the distal portion of the lead spring.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a steering configuration for facilitating steering of a catheter or the like provided with a rigid distal device.
According to the teachings of the present invention there is provided, a steering configuration for facilitating steering of a catheter or the like provided with a rigid distal device, the steering configuration comprising: (a) a flexible support element having a proximal end and a distal end; (b) a rigid device attached to the distal end of the flexible support element; and (c) at least one elongated,flexible control element configured such that tension applied to the control element causes flexing of the flexible support element, wherein the control element is directly attached to the rigid device.
According to a further feature of the present invention, the rigid device is attached to the distal end of the flexible support at a first attachment region, and the control element is attached to the rigid device at a second attachment region, the second attachment region being removed from the first attachment region in such a manner that tension applied to the control element applies a turning moment between the rigid device and the flexible support in the first attachment region.
According to a further feature of the present invention, the flexible support is implemented as a spring element biased to return to a substantially straight position.
According to a further feature of the present invention, the flexible support is implemented as a leaf spring element.
According to a further feature of the present invention, the rigid device is a sensor.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5531686 (1996-07-01), Lundquist et al.
patent: 5820591 (1998-10-01), Thompson et al.
patent: WO00/10456 (2000-03-01), None

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