Catheter with a mechanism for omni-directional deflection of catheter shaft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9532830-B2
Application number	US-201414208648-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2014
Priority date	Jul 30, 2010
Publication date	Jan 3, 2017
Grant date	Jan 3, 2017

Abstract

A catheter with a mechanism for omni-directional deflection of a catheter shaft includes a shaft assembly and a controller. The shaft assembly includes a first tubular component that has a preformed curvilinear distal section, a second, substantially straight tubular component with a main axis and an outer shaft. The first and second components are configured for slidable movement therebetween while preserving common rotation so that when the second component is axially moved in a distal direction, the second component deflects the preformed curvilinear section towards the main axis while orientation of the outer shaft is preserved. The controller is configured to effect relative axial movement between the first and second components as well as to effect rotation of the first and second components (and thus also of the preformed curvilinear distal section) without any rotation of the shaft relative to the handle. Varying the deflection of the preformed curvilinear section in combination with variable rotational movement achieves omni-directional distal tip bending.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A catheter configured for omni-directional deflection of a distal portion, comprising:
a first tubular component having a distal portion and a proximal portion, said proximal portion being substantially linear in shape and said distal portion including a preformed curvilinear section;
a second tubular component having a distal portion and a proximal portion, said second component being configured for individual slidable movement and common rotational movement relative to said first component, to thereby allow said distal portion of said second component to slidably bear against said preformed curvilinear section of said first component;
a shaft having a shaft orientation and a distal portion and a proximal portion and an inner lumen configured to accommodate said first and second tubular components;
a controller at a proximal end of said shaft and including a base and configured (i) to effect a relative axial movement between said first and second tubular components and (ii) to effect a rotational movement of said first component and said second component relative to said shaft while said shaft orientation remains in a fixed rotational position relative to said base, said base comprising a handle housing, said controller including a knob configured for manual actuation wherein said knob comprises a ring disposed radially outwardly of said handle housing, wherein said knob is configured for movement relative to said handle housing, said controller being responsive to actuation of said knob to effect said relative axial movement and said rotational movement,
wherein said first and second components are in a relation selected from the group comprising a first concentric arrangement where said first tubular component is received within a central lumen of said second tubular component; and a second concentric arrangement where said second component is received within a central lumen of said first tubular component, said first and second components are concentric with said shaft over said proximal portion of said shaft including said proximal end and said distal portion of said shaft.

2. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said preformed curvilinear section comprises a regular shape comprising one of a C-shape, an S-shape, a circular shape and a multi-revolution shape.

3. The catheter of claim 1 wherein when said movement of said second component is in a first direction towards a distal end of said first component, said distal portion of said second component progressively deflects said preformed curvilinear section towards an axis of said first component.

4. The catheter of claim 3 wherein an amount said curvilinear section deflects corresponds to an axial position of said second component relative to said preformed curvilinear distal section.

5. The catheter of claim 3 wherein when said movement of said second component is in a second direction opposite said first direction and away from said distal end of said first component, said second component distal portion progressively disengages said preformed curvilinear section allowing said curvilinear section to progressively deflect away from said axis to assume a preformed shape.

6. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said distal portion of said second component is more rigid than said preformed curvilinear distal section.

7. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said shaft comprises braided thermoplastic.

8. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said preformed curvilinear distal section comprises a shape memory material.

9. The catheter of claim 8 wherein said shape memory material comprises Nitinol material.

10. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said shaft includes a relatively flexible distal segment and comprising at least one of an electrode, a sensor and a transducer configured to perform a respective one of at least a diagnostic and therapeutic function.

11. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said controller is housed in a robotically-actuated catheter system.

12. A catheter configured for omni-directional deflection of a distal portion, comprising:
a first tubular component having a distal portion and a proximal portion, said proximal portion being substantially linear in shape and said distal portion including a preformed curvilinear section;
a second tubular component having a distal portion and a proximal portion, said second component being configured for individual slidably movement and common rotational movement relative to said first component, to thereby allow said distal portion of said second component to slidably bear against said preformed curvilinear section of said first component;
a shaft having a shaft orientation and a distal portion and a proximal portion and an inner lumen configured to accommodate said first and second tubular components;
a controller at a proximal end of said shaft and including a base and configured (i) to effect a relative axial movement between said first and second tubular components and (ii) to effect a rotational movement of said first component and said second component relative to said shaft while said shaft orientation remains in a fixed rotational position relative to said base,
wherein said first and second components are in a relation selected from the group comprising a first concentric arrangement where said first tubular component is received within a central lumen of said second tubular component; and a second concentric arrangement where said second component is received within a central lumen of said first tubular component, said first and second components are concentric with said shaft over said proximal portion of said shaft including said proximal end and said distal portion of said shaft; and wherein said controller is housed in a catheter handle disposed at a catheter proximal end, said base comprising a handle housing, and wherein said shaft is fixed relative to said housing, said controller including a knob configured for manual actuation, said controller further including a first mechanism responsive to actuation of said knob configured to axially move said second tubular component relative to said first tubular component, and wherein said housing has an axis associated therewith, said first tubular component is axially fixed relative to said housing so that said first tubular component will not move axially relative to said housing.

13. A catheter configured for omni-directional deflection of a distal portion, comprising:
a first tubular component having a distal portion and a proximal portion, said proximal portion being substantially linear in shape and said distal portion including a preformed curvilinear section;
a second tubular component having a distal portion and a proximal portion, said second component being configured for individual slidable movement and common rotational movement relative to said first component, to thereby allow said distal portion of said second component to slidably bear against said preformed curvilinear section of said first component;
a shaft having a shaft orientation and a distal portion and a proximal portion and an inner lumen configured to accommodate said first and second tubular components;
a controller at a proximal end of said shaft and including a base and configured (i) to effect a relative axial movement between said first and second tubular components and (ii) to effect a rotational movement of said first component and said second component while said shaft orientation remains in a fixed rotational position relative to said base,
wherein said first and second components are in a relation selected from the group comprising a first concentric arrangement where said first tubular component

Assignees

• St Jude Medical Cardiology Div Inc
• St Jude Medical Atrial Fibrillation Div Inc

Inventors

• Tegg Troy T

Classifications

• A61M25/0136 Primary

  Handles therefor · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• A61N1/056

  Transvascular endocardial electrode systems · CPC title

• A61M25/007

  Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked · CPC title

• A61B18/1492 Primary

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