Steering system with locking mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016000304-A1
Application number	US-201514854552-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 15, 2015
Priority date	May 13, 2008
Publication date	Jan 7, 2016
Grant date	—

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

1 - 25 . (canceled)

26 . A steerable medical device, comprising:
a steerable shaft; a first rotatable drive member operatively coupled to the steerable shaft to deflect a portion of the steerable shaft along a first direction; a second rotatable drive member operatively coupled to the steerable shaft to deflect the portion of the steerable shaft along a second direction, wherein the second direction is different than the first direction; a first brake, wherein actuation of the first brake exerts a first braking force on the first rotatable drive member; and a second brake, wherein actuation of the second brake exerts a second braking force on the second rotatable drive member, and the first brake and the second brake are independently actuatable.

27 . The steerable medical device of claim 26 , wherein the first braking force and the second braking force are applicable simultaneously.

28 . The steerable medical device of claim 26 , wherein the first braking force and the second braking force have different magnitudes.

29 . The steerable medical device of claim 26 , wherein the first brake is actuatable to a first state of engagement with the first rotatable drive member to exert the first braking force on the first rotatable drive member.

30 . The steerable medical device of claim 29 , wherein the first brake is actuatable to a second state of engagement with the first rotatable drive member to exert a third braking force on the first rotatable drive member, and the first braking force and the third braking force have different magnitudes.

31 . The steerable medical device of claim 30 , wherein the first brake is actuatable to a third state of engagement with the first rotatable drive member to exert a fourth braking force on the first rotatable drive member, and the first, third, and fourth braking forces have different magnitudes.

32 . The steerable medical device of claim 26 , further including a first steering wire extending between the first rotatable drive member and the steerable shaft, wherein actuation of the first rotatable drive member moves the first steering wire to deflect the portion of the steerable shaft along the first direction.

33 . A steerable medical device, comprising:
a steerable shaft; a rotatable drive member operatively coupled to the steerable shaft to deflect a portion of the steerable shaft; and a brake actuatable to a first state of engagement with the rotatable drive member to produce a first amount of resistance to rotation of the rotatable drive member, and to a second state of engagement with the rotatable drive member to produce a second amount of resistance to rotation of the rotatable drive member, wherein the second amount of resistance is greater than the first amount of resistance, and the rotatable drive member is rotatable with the brake in the first state of engagement and the second state of engagement.

34 . The steerable medical device of claim 33 , wherein the rotatable drive member is one of two rotatable drive members, the brake is one of two brakes, and each brake is configured to engage one of the rotatable drive members.

35 . The steerable medical device of claim 33 , wherein the brake is actuatable to a third state of engagement with the rotatable drive member to produce a third amount of resistance to rotation of the rotatable drive member.

36 . The steerable medical device of claim 35 , wherein the third amount of resistance is greater than the second amount of resistance.

37 . The steerable medical device of claim 33 , wherein the brake includes a plurality of cantilevered brake arms.

38 . The steerable medical device of claim 37 , further including a brake lever for actuating the brake.

39 . The steerable medical device of claim 39 , wherein the brake lever includes a plurality of protrusions, each protrusion engaging one of the cantilevered brake arms.

40 . A steerable medical device, comprising:
a steerable shaft; a rotatable drive member operatively coupled to the steerable shaft to deflect a portion of the steerable shaft; and a braking device including:
a brake, and
a braking lever movable to a plurality of discrete positions of engagement with the brake, the plurality of discrete positions including:
a first position of engagement with the brake wherein engagement of the brake with the rotatable drive member produces a first amount of resistance to rotation of the rotatable drive member, and
a second position of engagement with the brake wherein engagement of the brake with the rotatable drive member produces a second amount of resistance to rotation of the rotatable drive member, and the second amount is different than the first amount.

41 . The steerable medical device of claim 40 , wherein the second amount of resistance is greater than the first amount of resistance.

42 . The steerable medical device of claim 41 , wherein the plurality of discrete positions includes a third position of engagement with the brake wherein engagement of the brake with the rotatable drive member produces a third amount of resistance to rotation of the rotatable drive member, the third amount of resistance being greater than the second amount of resistance.

43 . The steerable medical device of claim 40 , wherein the rotatable drive member is rotatable with the brake in the first position and the second position.

44 . The steerable medical device of claim 40 , wherein the braking lever includes a protrusion, the brake includes a first recess and a second recess, the protrusion moves into the first recess at the first position of engagement, and the protrusion moves into the second recess at the second position of engagement.

45 . The steerable medical device of claim 40 , wherein the rotatable drive member is one of two rotatable drive members, the braking device is one of two braking devices, and each braking device is configured to engage one of the two rotatable drive members.

Assignees

• Boston Scient Scimed Inc

Inventors

• Golden John
• 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