User interface and lock features for positioning multiple components within a body

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11871985-B2
Application number	US-202117194430-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2021
Priority date	Mar 21, 2016
Publication date	Jan 16, 2024
Grant date	Jan 16, 2024

Abstract

Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, systems, and methods for positioning electrodes within a body. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus for slidably moving multiple features relative to a sheath inserted into a body and positioned relative to a reference point includes a primary actuator configured to move a primary electrode, a secondary actuator configured to move a secondary electrode, and a control mechanism. The control mechanism is configured to selectively prevent movement of at least one of the primary actuator based on a position of the secondary actuator and of the secondary actuator based on a position of the primary actuator and lock positions of the primary actuator and the secondary actuator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a housing mechanically coupled with a primary electrode and defining a guide slot having sections transverse and parallel to an axis of the housing including a first transverse section and a second transverse section disposed toward at opposing ends of a first parallel section;
a sleeve having a distal end configured to engage an electrosurgical apparatus and a proximal end configured to be slidably received within a first end of the housing;
a latch disposed at the first end of the housing configured to selectively enable the housing to move along the sleeve to move the primary electrode to a first location relative to a reference point;
a secondary actuator received within the housing and coupled with a secondary electrode, wherein the secondary actuator is configured to move independently of the primary electrode parallel to the axis of the housing; and
an interlock lever mechanically coupled with the secondary actuator and extending through the guide slot, the interlock lever further including a clamp configured to lock the secondary actuator to the sleeve when the secondary electrode reaches a second location relative to the reference point, and wherein the interlock lever is further configured to:
engage the first transverse section of the guide slot to constrain the secondary actuator to move with the housing when the housing is moved relative to the sleeve to move the primary electrode to the first location;
move along the first parallel section of the guide slot when the primary electrode is positioned at the first location to enable the secondary actuator to move the secondary electrode independently of the first electrode; and
rotate across the second transverse section of the guide slot when the secondary electrode is positioned at the second location to cause the clamp to lock the secondary actuator to the sleeve.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the guide slot includes a second parallel section such that, when the interlock lever is slidably received within the second parallel section, the housing is movable independently of the secondary actuator and away from the distal end of the sleeve to enable the housing to partially retract the primary electrode to a third location relative to the reference point.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve includes a depth setter rod supporting outwardly facing teeth on at least one side of the depth setter parallel to a surface of the sleeve to be engaged by the clamp.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the clamp on the interlock lever includes inwardly facing teeth on one or more surfaces configured to engage the outwardly facing teeth on the depth setter rod when the interlock lever is rotated through a second transverse section of the guide slot.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the one or more surfaces are configured to flex to facilitate engagement with the outwardly facing teeth on the depth setter rod when the interlock lever is rotated through a second transverse section of the guide slot.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve further includes position indicia configured to indicate relative movement of the primary electrode caused by movement of the housing relative to the sleeve.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a secondary actuator slider lever extending outside the housing configured to enable the secondary actuator to be moved relative to the housing.

8. A system comprising:
an electrical power source configured to selectively provide electrical power between a first pole and a second pole;
an electrosurgical apparatus configured to be inserted into a body to convey a sheath containing a primary electrode electrically coupled to the first pole of the electrical power source and a secondary electrode electrically coupled to the second pole of the electrical power source to a vicinity of a reference point;
a sheath actuator configured to move the sheath relative to the reference point;
a sheath lock configured to selectively fix a position of the sheath relative to the reference point;
a housing mechanically coupled with a primary electrode and including a guide slot having sections transverse and parallel to an axis of the housing including a first transverse section and a second transverse section disposed toward at opposing ends of a first parallel section;
a sleeve having a distal end configured to engage a bronchoscope and a proximal end configured to be slidably received within a first end of the housing;
a latch disposed at the first end of the housing configured to selectively enable the housing to move along the sleeve to move the primary electrode to a first location relative to the reference point;
a secondary actuator received within the housing and coupled with a secondary electrode, wherein the secondary actuator is configured to move independently of the primary electrode parallel to the axis of the housing; and
an interlock lever mechanically coupled with the secondary actuator and extending through the guide slot, the interlock lever further including a clamp configured to lock the secondary actuator to the sleeve when the secondary electrode reaches a second location relative to the reference point, and wherein the interlock lever is further configured to:
engage the first transverse section of the guide slot to constrain the secondary actuator to move with the housing when the housing is moved relative to the sleeve to move the primary electrode to the first location;
move along the first parallel section of the guide slot when the primary electrode is positioned at the first location to enable the secondary actuator to move the secondary electrode independently of the first electrode; and
rotate across the second transverse section of the guide slot when the secondary electrode is positioned at the second location to cause the clamp to lock the secondary actuator to the sleeve.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the guide slot includes a second parallel section such that, when the interlock lever is slidably received within the second parallel section, the housing is movable independently of the secondary actuator and away from the distal end of the sleeve to enable the housing to partially retract the primary electrode to a third location relative to the reference point.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the sleeve includes a depth setter rod supporting outwardly facing teeth on at least one side of the depth setter parallel to a surface of the sleeve to be engaged by the clamp.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the clamp on the actuator lever includes inwardly facing teeth on one or more surfaces configured to engage the outwardly facing teeth on the depth setter rod when the interlock lever is rotated through a second transverse section of the guide slot.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more surfaces are configured to flex to facilitate engagement with the outwardly facing teeth on the depth setter rod when the interlock lever is rotated through a second transverse section of the guide slot.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the sleeve further comprises position indicia configured to indicate relative movement of the primary electrode caused by movement of the housing relative to the sleeve.

14. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a secondary actuator extending outside the housing configured to enable the secondary actuator to be moved relative to the housing.

15. A method comprising:
extending a sheath, the sheath containing a primary electrode mechanically coupled to a housing and selectivel

Assignees

• Gyrus Acmi Inc

Inventors

• Mills Randall D

Classifications

• A61B18/1492 Primary

  having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation (A61B18/1477 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B18/1206

  Generators therefor · CPC title

• A61B18/14 Primary

  Probes or electrodes therefor · CPC title

• A61B2017/00973

  pedal-operated · CPC title

• A61B2018/00196

  reciprocating lengthwise · CPC title