Steering system with locking mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12336687-B2
Application number	US-202318365637-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 4, 2023
Priority date	May 13, 2008
Publication date	Jun 24, 2025
Grant date	Jun 24, 2025

Abstract

A steerable device, such as a steerable catheter, may include a control handle and an insertion shaft extending outwardly therefrom. In use, the insertion shaft is navigated to an area of interest for examination and/or treatment thereof. The steerable device may include a steering system that controls the deflection angle of the distal end of the insertion shaft in two or more non-planar directions for navigating the insertion shaft to the area of interest. The steering system may also include a locking mechanism for arresting or partially arresting the movement of the distal end of the insertion shaft in a first direction independent of arresting or partially arresting the movement of the distal end in a second non-planar direction.

First claim

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A steering system for a medical device, the steering system comprising:
a central shaft;
a braking knob assembly including a brake knob and a cam member, wherein the cam member includes a first protrusion; and
a brake member including a first arm, wherein the first protrusion abuts the first arm;
wherein the first protrusion is configured to engage the brake member to move the first arm radially outward, relative to the central shaft, when the brake knob is rotated in a first direction; and
wherein the first arm is configured to move radially inward, relative to the central shaft, when the brake knob is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction.

2. The steering system of claim 1 , wherein the first arm includes a notch configured to receive the first protrusion.

3. The steering system of claim 1 , wherein the first arm includes a free end and a fixed end, wherein the free end includes a convex brake surface.

4. The steering system of claim 3 , wherein the convex brake surface is textured or coated with a high friction material.

5. The steering system of claim 1 , wherein:
the braking knob assembly further includes a second protrusion,
the brake member includes a second arm, and
the second protrusion abuts the second arm, and is configured to engage the brake member to move the second arm radially outward, relative to the central shaft, when the brake knob is rotated in the first direction.

6. The steering system of claim 1 , wherein the brake member is configured to brake a first drive member when the brake member moves radially outward, wherein the central shaft extends into the first drive member.

7. The steering system of claim 1 , wherein the brake member includes:
a central lumen configured to receive the central shaft;
a first projecting tab extending outward from a fixed end of the first arm; and
a second arm extending outward from a second projecting tab, wherein the second arm is curved towards the central shaft.

8. The steering system of claim 1 , wherein the first arm includes a free end and a fixed end, wherein the free end is expanded relative to a middle portion of the first arm.

9. The steering system of claim 1 , wherein the first arm includes a recess extending from a free end of the first arm to a position spaced from a fixed end of the first arm.

10. The steering system of claim 1 , wherein the brake member includes:
a lumen configured to receive the central shaft;
a first projecting tab extending outward from a fixed end of the first arm;
a second arm;
a second projecting tab extending outward from a fixed end of the second arm;
wherein the first arm is curved towards the central shaft and includes a first expanded free end and a first notch proximate to the first expanded free end; and
wherein the second arm is curved towards the central shaft and includes a second expanded free end and a second notch proximate to the second expanded free end.

11. The steering system of claim 1 , wherein the first protrusion is spaced from the central shaft.

12. The steering system of claim 1 , wherein the first arm extends circumferentially around the central shaft.

13. A steering system for a medical device, the steering system comprising:
a handle housing configured for connection to a deflectable insertion shaft; and
a braking mechanism comprising:
a central shaft;
a braking assembly including a cam member, wherein the cam member includes a first protrusion; and
a brake member including a first arm, wherein the first protrusion abuts the first arm;

wherein the first arm is configured to move radially outward, relative to the central shaft, towards a wall of a first drive member when the cam member is rotated in a first direction.

14. The steering system of claim 13 , wherein the first protrusion is configured to be positioned within a first recess of the first arm when the braking mechanism is in a locked position.

15. The steering system of claim 13 , wherein the wall of the first drive member faces radially-inward towards a central longitudinal axis of the handle housing.

16. The steering system of claim 13 , wherein the first arm includes a plurality of notches configured to receive the first protrusion.

17. The steering system of claim 13 , wherein the first protrusion is spaced from the central shaft.

18. The steering system of claim 13 , wherein the first arm includes a free end and a fixed end, wherein the free end is expanded relative to a middle portion of the first arm.

19. The steering system of claim 13 , wherein:
the braking assembly further includes a second protrusion,
the brake member includes a second arm, and
the second protrusion is positioned abutting the second arm, and is configured to engage the brake member to move the second arm radially outward, relative to a central longitudinal axis of the handle housing, when the cam member is rotated in the first direction.

20. A steering system for a medical device, the steering system comprising:
a control knob assembly including a drive member, wherein the drive member is coupled to a first steering wire;
a braking knob assembly including a knob and a cam member, wherein the cam member includes a first protrusion; and
a brake member configured to engage the control knob assembly, wherein the first protrusion abuts a first arm of the brake member, and wherein the braking knob assembly is configured to apply a frictional force to a radially-inward facing, relative to a central longitudinal axis of the drive member, wall of the control knob assembly.

Assignees

• Boston Scient Scimed Inc

Inventors

• Golden John B
• Monroe Mark

Classifications

• A61M25/0147

  with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires · CPC title

• A61B1/0052 Primary

  Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles · CPC title