Mechanism of small drive wire retention on spool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9750397-B2
Application number	US-201514722737-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 27, 2015
Priority date	Jun 20, 2014
Publication date	Sep 5, 2017
Grant date	Sep 5, 2017

Abstract

A steering mechanism for a medical device that is configured for passing through the body cavities of a patient and for passage through an endoscope working channel is described. The mechanism comprises at least one spool having a central hole through which a central axle passes, the spool being rotatable about the axle, and the spool having at least one retaining tube having a lumen therethrough and configured to contain a portion of a drive cable. The drive cables, which may include UHMWPE, are capable of and are effective for deflecting the distal end of a catheter or endoscopic device, while preferably each being at least partially disposed through a retaining tube that is effective to prevent tangling or other binding of the cable(s).

First claim

I claim:

1. A medical device with a proximal end and a distal end including a steering mechanism nearer the proximal than the distal end, the steering mechanism comprising:
a first spool having a first circumferential groove, the first spool being rotatable about a first rotation axis that extends through a radial center of a first spool face;
a second spool having a second circumferential groove, the second spool being rotatable about a second rotation axis that is coaxial with the first rotation axis and that extends through a radial center of a second spool face;
a first retaining tube including a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough, a first end and second end with a middle length therebetween; a portion of the middle tube length of the first retaining tube being disposed in the first circumferential groove;
a second retaining tube including a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough, a first end and second end with a middle length therebetween; a portion of the middle length of the second retaining tube being disposed in the second circumferential groove;
a first drive cable disposed through a length of the lumen of the first retaining tube and extending distally from the first end of the first retaining tube, a second drive cable disposed through a length of the lumen of the second retaining tube and extending distally from the first end of the second retaining tube, a third drive cable disposed through a length of the lumen of the first retaining tube and extending distally from the second end of the first retaining tube, and a fourth drive cable disposed through a length of the lumen of the second retaining tube and extending distally from the second end of the second retaining tube;
wherein the first spool and the second spool are rotatable independent of one another, wherein a proximal end length of each of the first and third drive cables contacts the first spool face and a proximal terminal end of each of the first and third drive cables being directly attached to the first spool by a knob, and wherein a proximal end length of each of the second and fourth drive cables contacts the second spool face and a proximal terminal end of each of the second and fourth drive cables being directly attached to the second spool by a knob.

2. The medical device of claim 1 wherein a proximal terminal end of at least one of the drive cables is attached to at least one of the spools with a knob.

3. The medical device of claim 1 wherein a proximal terminal end of each of the drive cables is attached to at least one of the spools with a knob.

4. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the first end and the second end of the first retaining tube, and the first end and the second end of the second retaining tube each extend generally distally from the spools.

5. The medical device of claim 1 , further comprising a multilumen tubular body extending distally relative to the spools, wherein each drive cable extends into a separate one of the lumens of the multilumen tubular body.

6. The medical device of claim 5 , wherein the multilumen tubular body comprises a catheter, an endoscope, or both.

7. The medical device of claim 5 , where, within the lumens of the multilumen tubular body, the first drive cable is substantially 180 degrees away from the second drive cable, the third drive cable is substantially 180 degrees away from the fourth drive cable, or both.

8. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the drive cables are disposed at least partially through the retaining tubes in a manner that effectively prevents the drive cables from entangling when one or both spools is rotated about the rotation axis of said spool.

9. The medical device of claim 8 wherein a proximal end portion of each of the drive cables exits through the retaining tube being a corresponding retaining tube through which that drive cable passes and engages a knob mounted into the spool around which the corresponding retaining tube is disposed.

Assignees

• Cook Medical Technologies Llc

Inventors

• Williams Michael Lee

Classifications

• A61M25/0136

  Handles therefor · CPC title

• A61B1/0057 Primary

  Constructional details of force transmission elements, e.g. control wires · CPC title

• A61B1/0052 Primary

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

• Y10T74/2042

  and hand operator · CPC title

• Y10T74/20372

  Manual controlling elements · CPC title