Medical device having a tensionable coupling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11504102-B2
Application number	US-201916296709-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2019
Priority date	Jan 31, 2012
Publication date	Nov 22, 2022
Grant date	Nov 22, 2022

Abstract

This invention is directed to a medical device having an elongate shaft having a distal end and a controller coupled to the shaft. A control member can extend through at least part of the elongate shaft and at least part of the controller, wherein the control member in a tensioned configuration can be moveable by the controller to control the distal end of the shaft and the control member can be slack in an untensioned configuration. A tensioning mechanism can be configured to move relative to at least one of the elongate shaft and the controller to tension the control member and automatically lock the control member in the tensioned configuration.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A controller assembly for use with a medical device, comprising:
a stabilizing member including a first arm, a second arm, and a support member extending between the first arm and the second arm;
a base coupled to a catheter a control member configured to control a distal region of the catheter; and
a pivot assembly coupled to the base and including:
a pulley;
an attachment mechanism configured to attach the control member to the pulley, wherein, in at least one configuration, a free end of the control member extends proximally beyond the pulley; and
a surface configured to receive the stabilizing member, wherein the stabilizing member is removably couplable to the surface to limit movement of the pulley relative to the base and permit application of a predefined tension to the control member prior to attaching the control member to the pulley.

2. The controller assembly of claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism extends proximally from the pulley.

3. The controller assembly of claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes a first aperture configured to receive the control member and a second aperture configured to receive an attachment member to attach the control member to the pulley.

4. The controller assembly of claim 3 , wherein the control member includes a hypotube, the first aperture is configured to receive the hypotube, and the attachment member is configured to at least partially compress the hypotube to attach the control member to the pulley.

5. The controller assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base is positionable within a tensioning fixture that includes an aperture configured to receive the stabilizing member.

6. The controller assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first aperture is disposed on a first surface of the attachment mechanism, wherein the second aperture is disposed on a second surface of the attachment mechanism, and wherein the second surface is transverse to the first surface.

7. The controller assembly of claim 3 , wherein the attachment member includes at least one of a nut, a screw, or an adhesive.

8. The controller assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pivot assembly further includes a shaft, and wherein the support member includes an opening for receiving an end of the shaft.

9. A controller assembly for use with a medical device, comprising:
a base coupled to a catheter;
a control member configured to control a distal region of the catheter; and
a pivot assembly coupled to the base, the pivot assembly including:
a pulley;
an attachment mechanism fixed to the pulley, wherein the pivot assembly is configured to transition between a first configuration, in which a portion of the control member is movable relative to the attachment mechanism, and a second configuration, in which the portion of the control member is fixed relative to the attachment mechanism, wherein, in at least the first configuration, a free end of the control member extends proximally beyond the pulley, wherein the attachment mechanism includes a first aperture configured to receive the portion of the control member and a second aperture configured to receive an attachment member to attach the portion of the control member to the pulley, wherein the first aperture is disposed on a first surface of the attachment mechanism, wherein the second aperture is disposed on a second surface of the attachment mechanism, and wherein the second surface is transverse to the first surface; and
a surface configured to receive a stabilizing member, wherein, in the first configuration of the pivot assembly, the stabilizing member is positionable against the surface to limit movement of the pulley relative to the base and permit application of a predefined tension to the control member.

10. The controller assembly of claim 9 , wherein the attachment mechanism extends proximally from the pulley.

11. The controller assembly of claim 9 , wherein the portion of the control member includes a hypotube, the first aperture is configured to receive the hypotube, and the attachment member is configured to at least partially compress the hypotube to attach the portion of the control member to the pulley.

12. The controller assembly of claim 9 , wherein the attachment member includes at least one of a nut, a screw, or an adhesive.

13. The controller assembly of claim 9 , further comprising the stabilizing member, wherein the stabilizing member is removably couplable to the surface of the pivot assembly.

14. The controller assembly of claim 13 , wherein the stabilizing member includes a first arm, a second arm, and a support member extending between the first arm and the second arm.

15. A controller assembly for use with a medical device, comprising:
a base coupled to a catheter;
a control member configured to control a distal region of the catheter; and
a pivot assembly coupled to the base and including:
a pulley;
an attachment mechanism fixed to the pulley, wherein the attachment mechanism includes a first aperture and a second aperture, wherein the control member extends through the first aperture, wherein a free end of the control member extends proximally of the pulley in at least a first configuration of the pivot assembly, wherein an attachment member is disposed in the second aperture in at least a second configuration of the pivot assembly, wherein the attachment member secures the control member to the attachment mechanism, wherein the first aperture is disposed on a first surface of the attachment mechanism, wherein the second aperture is disposed on a second surface of the attachment mechanism, and wherein the second surface is transverse to the first surface; and
a surface configured to receive a stabilizing member, wherein, in the first configuration of the pivot assembly, the stabilizing member is positionable against the surface to limit movement of the pulley relative to the base and permit application of a predefined tension to the control member.

Assignees

• Boston Scient Scimed Inc

Inventors

• Stanton Larry
• Golden John
• Kappel Gary
• Wood Mark
• Durr Bernadette
• Zalewski Brandon
• Keene Ken
• Weitzner Barry
• Smith Paul
• Suon Naroun

Classifications

• A61B2017/00323

  Cables or rods · CPC title

• A61B17/00234 Primary

  for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61B17/00 Primary

  Surgical instruments, devices or methods (A61B18/00 takes precedence; dental tools A61C3/00; eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/20) · CPC title