Steering system with locking mechanism
AssigneeBoston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
InventorsJohn B. Golden, Mark Monroe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims20
A steering system for a medical device, the steering system comprising:
- a first drive member;
- a central shaft extending into the first drive member;
- a control knob coupled to the first drive member;
- a braking knob assembly including a 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 is positioned abutting 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 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 knob is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction.
A steering system for a medical device, the steering system comprising:
- a handle housing configured for connection to a deflectable insertion shaft;
- and
- a first drive member;
- a control knob coupled to the first drive member;
- and
- a braking mechanism configured to lock the first drive member, the braking mechanism comprising:
- a central shaft extending through the first drive member and coupled to the handle housing;
- a braking knob assembly including a 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 is positioned abutting the first arm;
- wherein the first arm is configured to move radially outward, relative to the central shaft, towards a wall of the first drive member when the knob is rotated in a first direction.
A steering system for a medical device, the steering system comprising:
- a control knob assembly including a control knob and 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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.