Steerable medical device, handle for a medical device, and method for operating a medical device
AssigneeBoston Scientific Medical Device Limited
InventorDoran Avivi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A steerable medical device includes an elongate tool and a handle mounted to the tool. The handle has a handle body and a knob that is rotatable with respect to the handle body. A first gear is housed within the handle and is associated with the knob, so that rotation of the knob drives rotation of the first gear. A slider is housed within the handle body and includes a rack engaged with the first gear, so that rotation of the first gear drives translation of the slider with respect to the handle body. At least one control wire is coupled to the tool, so that translation of the slider causes tensioning of the control wire, and tensioning of the control wire causes deflection of the tool.
Claims9
A steerable medical device comprising:
- an elongate tool;
- a handle mounted to the tool and having a handle body and a knob that is rotatable with respect to the handle body;
- a first gear housed within the handle and associated with the knob, whereby rotation of the knob drives rotation of the first gear, wherein the first gear is a worm screw,
- a slider housed within the handle body and including a rack engaged with the first gear, wherein the rack comprises a plurality of teeth having convex tip surfaces,
- whereby rotation of the first gear drives translation of the slider with respect to the handle body;
- and
- at least one control wire coupled to the slider and to the tool, whereby translation of the slider causes tensioning of the control wire, and tensioning of the control wire causes deflection of the tool.
A handle for a steerable medical device, the handle comprising:
- a handle body and a knob that is rotatable with respect to the handle body;
- a first gear housed within the handle and associated with the knob, whereby rotation of the knob drives rotation of the first gear, wherein the first gear is a worm screw;
- a slider housed within the handle body and including a rack engaged with the first gear, wherein the rack comprises a plurality of teeth having convex tip surfaces,
- whereby rotation of the first gear drives translation of the slider with respect to the handle body;
- and
- at least one control wire coupled to the slider, whereby translation of the slider causes tensioning of the control wire.
A method for operating a medical device, the method comprising:
- rotating a knob of a handle;
- transmitting rotation of the knob to a first gear associated with the knob, wherein the first gear is a worm screw;
- engaging the first gear with a rack of a slider comprising a plurality of teeth having convex tip surfaces to cause translation of the slider by rotation of the first gear;
- causing tensioning of a control wire by translation of the slider;
- and
- causing deflection of a tool by tensioning of the control wire.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.