Bi-modal catheter steering mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9387035-B2
Application number	US-54679609-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 25, 2009
Priority date	Aug 25, 2009
Publication date	Jul 12, 2016
Grant date	Jul 12, 2016

Abstract

Medical devices, systems, and methods for treating patients with tissue ablation include catheter systems having bi-modal steering mechanisms, which are capable of both linear and loop ablation. In other words, the catheter system may have two different steering modes: two-dimensional and three-dimensional. In the first and second steering modes, the steering actuator may cause one or more portions of the catheter shaft to bend in different planes. A steerable ablation catheter may include treatment elements such as electrodes at its distal end and along the catheter shaft, each of which may map, pace, and ablate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A medical device, comprising:
a catheter body defining a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion including a plurality of adjacent segments having alternating relative flexibilities;
a guide member within the catheter body, the guide member defining a first outer edge, a second outer edge, a longitudinal axis, a width that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and extends directly from the first outer edge of the guide member directly to the second outer edge of the guide member, a length that is located along the longitudinal axis, a first segment having a first plane of preferential bending, a second segment having a second plane of preferential bending substantially perpendicular to the first plane of preferential bending, and a transition portion between the first segment and the second segment, the first segment having a distal section, a proximal section, and a middle section located directly between the distal section and the proximal section, the middle section having a width that extends directly from the first outer edge of the guide member directly to the second outer edge of the guide member, the distal section and the proximal section being linear and located along the guide member longitudinal axis and an entirety of the middle section having an arc of curvature when the guide member is in an at least substantially linear configuration;
a steering actuator coupled to the proximal portion of the catheter body;
a first steering element having a first end attached to the steering actuator and a second end attached to the distal portion of the catheter body at a first position;
a second steering element having a first end attached to the steering actuator and a second end attached to the catheter body at a second position distal to the first position; and
an electrode array disposed on the distal portion of the catheter body.

2. The medical device according to claim 1 , wherein the first steering element is attached to a first side of the distal portion, and the second steering element is attached to a second side of the distal portion opposite the first side of the distal portion.

3. The medical device according to claim 1 , wherein the steering actuator is configured to provide tension to the first steering element to deflect a portion of the catheter body in a first direction in a first plane when the steering actuator is manipulated in a first direction.

4. The medical device according to claim 3 , wherein the steering actuator is configured to provide tension to the second steering element to deflect the portion of the catheter body in a second direction in a second plane when the steering actuator is manipulated in a second direction.

5. The medical device according to claim 1 , further comprising a first anchoring element at the first position; and a second anchoring element at the second position.

6. The medical device according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second steering elements are steering wires.

7. The medical device according to claim 1 , wherein the steering elements are attached to the catheter body at the same longitudinal position.

8. A medical device, comprising:
a catheter body;
a guide member within the catheter body, the guide member defining a width, a first outer edge, a second outer edge, a longitudinal axis, a width that extends directly from the first outer edge directly to the second outer edge, a length that is located along the longitudinal axis, a first segment having a first plane of preferential bending, a second segment having a second plane of preferential bending substantially perpendicular to the first plane, and a transition portion between the first segment and the second segment, the first segment having a distal section, a proximal section, and a middle section located directly between the distal section and the proximal section, the middle section having a width that extends directly from the first outer edge of the guide member and directly to the second outer edge of the guide member, the distal section and the proximal section being located along the guide member longitudinal axis and an entirety of the middle section having an arc of curvature when the guide member is in an at least substantially linear configuration;
a first and second steering element, each of the first and the second steering elements having an end attached to the catheter body at a position proximal of the first segment; and
an electrode array disposed on a distal portion of the catheter body.

9. The medical device according to claim 8 , further comprising a steering actuator coupled to the first and second steering elements.

10. The medical device according to claim 9 , wherein the first and second steering elements are attached to the catheter body at different longitudinal positions, wherein the steering actuator is configured to provide tension to the first steering element to deflect the first segment in a first direction in the first plane when the steering actuator is manipulated in a first direction, and wherein the steering actuator is configured to provide tension to the second steering element to deflect the second segment in a second direction in the second plane when the steering actuator is manipulated in a second direction.

11. The medical device according to claim 9 , further comprising:
a sheath at least partially surrounding a portion of the catheter body; and
a sheath steering actuator coupled to the sheath, wherein manipulation of the sheath steering actuator deflects a portion of the sheath.

12. A medical device, comprising:
a catheter body;
a guide member within the catheter body, the guide member defining a first outer edge, a second outer edge, a longitudinal axis, a width that extends directly from the first outer edge directly to the second outer edge, a first segment having a first plane of preferential bending, a second segment having a second plane of preferential bending, and a transition portion between the first segment and the second segment, the first segment having a distal section, a proximal section, and a middle section located directly between the distal section and the proximal section, the middle section having a width that extends directly from the first outer edge of the guide member and directly to the second outer edge of the guide member, the distal section and the proximal section being located along the guide member longitudinal axis and an entirety of the middle section having an arc of curvature when the guide member is in an at least substantially linear configuration;
a first steering element and a second steering element, each of the first and second steering elements having an end attached to the catheter body;
a steering actuator coupled to the first and the second steering elements, the steering actuator being configured to provide tension to the first and the second steering elements when the steering actuator is manipulated in a first direction and a second direction, respectively; and an electrode.

Assignees

• Werneth Randell
• Roman Ricardo
• Corvi Timothy J
• Hu Betty
• Medtronic Ablation Frontiers

Inventors

• Werneth Randell
• Roman Ricardo
• Corvi Timothy J
• Hu Betty

Classifications

• A61M25/0147

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

• A61B2018/1422

  Hook · CPC title

• A61B2017/003

  Steerable · CPC title

• A61B2018/1407

  Loop · CPC title

• A61B18/1492 Primary

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