Steerable assembly for surgical catheter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10029073-B2
Application number	US-201213675934-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2012
Priority date	Nov 13, 2012
Publication date	Jul 24, 2018
Grant date	Jul 24, 2018

Abstract

A catheter configured for intraluminal delivery to a location in the body of a patient, the catheter comprising a steerable assembly comprising a first segment connected to a second segment; the first segment comprises first and second cylindrical elements connected to each other by a first revolute joint in a first single plane; the second segment comprises third and fourth cylindrical elements connected to each other by a second revolute joint in a second single plane, wherein the first single plane and the second single plane are offset by an angle from each other.

First claim

We claim:

1. A catheter configured for intraluminal delivery to a location in the body of a patient, the catheter comprising:
an elongate hollow tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end;
a steerable assembly attached to the distal end of the tubular body;
wherein
the steerable assembly comprises a first segment connected to a second segment;
the first segment comprises a first element and a second element, each of the first element and the second element defining an internal bore and connected to each other by a first revolute joint in a single plane, characterized in that the single plane of the first revolute joint in a single plane is a first single plane, and further wherein the first revolute joint in a single plane is also a bearing joint;
the second segment comprises a third element and a fourth element each of the third element and the fourth element defining an internal bore and connected to each other by a second revolute joint in a single plane, characterized in that the single plane of the second revolute joint in a single plane is a second single plane, and wherein the second revolute joint in a single plane is also a bearing joint;
wherein the first single plane and the second single plane are offset by an angle from each other; and
further wherein, each of the internal bores of the first element, the second element, the third element, and the fourth element are sized and configured to receive a clip device for performing mitral valve repair.

2. The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the first segment further comprises:
a fifth element defining an internal bore, and connected to the second element by a third revolute joint in a single plane, characterized in that the single plane of the third revolute joint in a single plane is the first single plane, and wherein the third revolute joint in a single plane is also a bearing joint;
a sixth element defining an internal bore, and connected to the fourth element by a fourth revolute joint in a single plane, characterized in that the single plane of the fourth revolute joint in a single plane is the second single plane, and wherein the fourth revolute joint is also a bearing joint.

3. The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the offset angle is 90 degrees.

4. The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the first segment and the second segment are connected to each other by an intermediate element.

5. The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the first revolute joint in a single plane is formed to include a first opening in the first element and a second opening in the second element, and a pin passing through the first opening and the second opening.

6. The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the first revolute joint is formed to include a depression in the first element and a protrusion on the second element, wherein the protrusion is configured to fit within the depression to permit rotation of the elements with respect to each other.

7. The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the first revolute joint is formed to include a ball portion on the first element and a socket portion on the second element, wherein the socket portion is configured to receive the ball portion and to permit the ball portion to rotate while in contact with the socket portion.

8. The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the steerable assembly further includes a flexible membrane configured to permit the elements of the steerable assembly to rotate in relation to each other, but to restrain the elements from axial movement in relation to each other.

9. The catheter of claim 8 , wherein the flexible membrane is applied at an outside diameter surface of the steerable assembly.

10. The catheter of claim 1 , further including a plurality of pullwires extending through the tubular body and through the steerable assembly, wherein each of the first element, second element, third element and fourth elements defines at least one detent configured to receive one of the plurality of pullwires.

11. The catheter of claim 10 , wherein the at least one detent is a hole defining a complete continuous circumference.

12. A catheter configured for intraluminal delivery to a location in the body of a patient, the catheter comprising:
an elongate hollow tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end;
a steerable assembly attached to the distal end of the tubular body and comprising a first element, a second element, and a third element, each of the first element, the second element and the third element defining an internal bore, wherein
the first element and the second element are connected to each other by a first revolute joint in a single plane characterized in that the single plane of the first revolute joint in a single plane is a first single plane, and wherein the first revolute joint in a single plane is also a bearing joint; and
the second element and the third element are connected to each other by a second revolute joint in a single plane characterized in that the single plane of the second revolute joint in a single plane is a second single plane, and wherein the second revolute joint in a single plane is also a bearing joint and further wherein the first single plane and the second single plane are offset from each other by an angle; and,
further wherein, each of the internal bores of the first element, the second element, and the third element are sized and configured to receive a clip device for performing mitral valve repair.

13. The catheter of claim 12 , wherein the offset angle is 90 degrees.

14. The catheter of claim 12 wherein the first revolute joint in a single plane is formed to include a first opening on the first element and a second opening on the second element, and a pin passing through the first opening and the second opening.

15. The catheter of claim 12 wherein the first revolute joint is formed to include a depression in the first element and a protrusion on the second element, wherein the protrusion is configured to fit within the depression to permit rotation of the elements with respect to each other.

16. The catheter of claim 12 , wherein the first revolute joint is formed to include a ball portion on the first element and a socket portion on the second element, wherein the socket portion is configured to receive the ball portion and to permit the ball portion to rotate while in contact with the socket portion.

17. The catheter of claim 12 , further including a plurality of pullwires extending through the tubular body and through the steerable assembly, and wherein each of the first element, second element, and third element defines at least one detent configured to receive one of the plurality of pullwires.

18. The catheter of claim 12 , wherein the steerable assembly further includes a flexible membrane configured to permit the elements of the steerable assembly to rotate in relation to each other, but to restrain the elements from axial movement in relation to each other.

19. The catheter of claim 18 , wherein the flexible membrane is applied to an outside diameter surface of the steerable assembly.

20. A catheter configured for intraluminal delivery to a location in the body of a patient, the catheter comprising:
an elongate hollow tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end;
a steerable assembly attached to the distal end of the tubular body;
a plurality of pullwires extending through the tubular body and through the steerable assembly; wherein
the steerable assembly comprises a first segment connected to a second segment;
the first segment comprises a first element and a s

Assignees

• Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc
• Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc

Inventors

• Kabe Arundhati N
• Thornton Troy L
• Weiss Aaron M

Classifications

• A61F2/246

  Devices for obstructing a leak through a native valve in a closed condition · CPC title

• A61M25/0138

  having flexible regions as a result of weakened outer material, e.g. slots, slits, cuts, joints or coils · CPC title

• A61B2017/00783

  Valvuloplasty · CPC title

• A61M2025/0161

  wherein the distal tips have two or more deflection regions · CPC title

• A61M25/0141 Primary

  having flexible regions as a result of using materials with different mechanical properties · CPC title