Steerable guide catheter
AssigneeCirca Scientific, Inc.
InventorsDarren Edminster, Douglas Wahnschaffe, Steve Berhow
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flexible guide tube having a deflectable distal end is disclosed with at least first and second tensioning lines coupled to a deflectable distal end of the flexible guide tube. The first tensioning line is configured to deflect the distal end of the flexible guide tube in a first direction and the second tensioning line is configured to deflect the distal end of the flexible guide tube in a second direction that is opposite the first direction. A handle is coupled to flexible tube, the handle having a medial portion with a longitudinal axis substantially parallel with at least a portion of the flexible guide tube, a first actuator disposed proximal the medial section, and a second actuator disposed distal the medial section.
Claims9
A steerable guide catheter comprising:
- a flexible guide tube having a deflectable distal end;
- at least two tensioning lines coupled to the deflectable distal end of the flexible guide tube, wherein a first of the at least two tensioning lines is configured to deflect the distal end of the flexible guide tube in a first direction and a second of the at least two tensioning lines is configured to deflect the distal end of the flexible guide tube in a second direction;
- and
- a housing coupled to the flexible guide tube,
- wherein a proximal end of the flexible guide tube extends through the housing;
- a compression fitting disposed about a proximal end of the housing and enclosing the proximal end of the flexible guide tube;
- a first actuator and a second actuator each coupled to a drive shaft, the drive shaft extending through a first drive nut and through a second drive nut, the first drive nut being coupled to the first tensioning line and the second drive nut being coupled to the second tensioning line,
- wherein no portion of the flexible guide tube extends through the first and second drive nuts, and
- wherein both the first actuator and the second actuator are configured to move both the first and second drive nuts in opposite directions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.