Catheter system with linear actuation control mechanism
AssigneeEdwards Lifesciences Corporation
InventorMorgan House
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Abstract
A handle shaft is disposed at a proximal end of a catheter. A wire extends from a distal part of the catheter, proximally through the catheter to the handle shaft. A knob is disposed outside of the handle shaft. A threaded mechanism provides operative coupling between the knob and the handle shaft such that (i) rotation of the knob with respect to the handle shaft alters tension in the wire via the threaded mechanism functioning as a linear actuator; and (ii) non-rotational axial movement of the knob with respect to the handle shaft alters tension in the wire without the threaded mechanism functioning as a linear actuator. Other embodiments are also described.
Claims15
An apparatus, comprising:
- a catheter;
- a handle shaft, disposed at a proximal end of the catheter;
- a wire, extending from a distal part of the catheter, proximally through the catheter to the handle shaft;
- a knob, disposed outside of the handle shaft;
- and
- a thread mechanism that provides operative coupling between the knob and the handle shaft such that:
- rotation of the knob with respect to the handle shaft alters tension in the wire via the thread mechanism functioning as a linear actuator, and
- non-rotational axial movement of the knob with respect to the handle shaft alters tension in the wire without the thread mechanism functioning as a linear actuator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.