# US 12,758,307 B2 · Catheter deflection control assembly

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- Number: US 12,758,307 B2
- Document ID: US12758307B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/089,772
- Filed: 2020-11-05
- Published: 2021-06-17
- Granted: 2026-10-13
- Earliest claimed: 2019-12-16
- Assignees: Biosense Webster (Israel) Ltd.
- Applicants: Biosense Webster (Israel) Ltd.
- Inventors: Piyush K. Sheth; Jeffrey L. Clark
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12758307B2

## CPC

- A61B 18/1492: {having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation (A61B18/1477 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2018/00351: {Heart}
- A61B 2018/00577: {Ablation}
- A61B 2018/0091: {Handpieces of the surgical instrument or device}
- A61B 2018/00916: {with means for switching or controlling the main function of the instrument or device}
- A61M 25/0133: {Tip steering devices}
- A61M 25/0136: {Handles therefor}
- A61M 25/0147: {with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

An apparatus includes a handle, a catheter, an end effector, and a deflection drive assembly. The end effector includes at least one electrode. The deflection drive assembly includes an input member, a translating assembly coupled to the end effector, and a rack and pinion assembly. The rack and pinion assembly is configured to drive the translating assembly to deflect the end effector away at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis and consists of a rack and a pinion. The rack and pinion assembly is configured to either transfer rotational motion of the pinion from the input member into linear motion of the rack to push distally or pull proximally the translating member; or transfer linear motion of the rack from the input member into rotational motion of the pinion to move a first end of the translating member proximally and a second end of the translating member distally.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus, comprising:
(a) a handle;
(b) a catheter extending distally from the handle, a proximal portion of the catheter defining a longitudinal axis;
(c) an end effector extending distally from the catheter, the end effector including at least one electrode;
(d) a deflection drive assembly comprising:
(i) an input member associated with the handle,
(ii) a translating assembly coupled to the end effector, and
(iii) a rack and pinion assembly comprising a pinion responsive to the input member with rotational motion and a rack with linear motion transferred from the rotational motion of the pinion to translational motion of the translating assembly to push distally or pull proximally the translating assembly in deflecting the end effector, the pinion having a first plurality of teeth and the rack having a second plurality of teeth, the first and second pluralities of teeth configured to cooperate to thereby transfer the rotational motion of the pinion to the translational motion of the translating assembly, the translating assembly comprising a push-pull cable with a proximal end coupled to the rack and a distal end coupled to the end effector; and
(e) a locking assembly interposed between the input member and the translating assembly, the locking assembly comprising a pin disposed on at least one of the first plurality of teeth of the pinion and a detent configured in the rack between proximal teeth and distal teeth of the second plurality of teeth of the rack, the pin configured to engage the detent to releasably lock the end effector in deflection at a selected angle relative to the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, the input member comprising a rocker arm configured to rotate relative to the handle about a drive axis, the rack and pinion assembly configured to transfer the rotational motion of the pinion from the rocker arm into the linear motion of the rack to push distally or pull proximally the translating assembly.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, the rocker arm and the pinion being co-axial about the drive axis.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the pin projects from the rocker arm.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the locking assembly is movable between locked and unlocked configurations, the locking assembly configured to lock the end effector at the selected angle relative to the longitudinal axis in the locked configuration.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the locking assembly is configured to prevent the translating assembly from translating along the longitudinal axis in the locked configuration.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6, the pin and the detent being configured to engage one another in the locked configuration, the pin and the detent being configured to be spaced at a distance from one another in the unlocked configuration.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5, the locking assembly further comprising a biasing member configured to bias the rack away from the pinion to disengage the pin from the detent.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the rack is constructed of a bendable material.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the handle is configured to actuate the biasing member.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, the translating assembly consisting of a single push-pull cable, the rack and pinion assembly being configured to drive the single push-pull cable in opposing directions.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, the at least one electrode being configured to emit RF energy.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, the at least one electrode being configured to perform electrophysiology mapping.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pin upon rotational movement from the input member is configured to move into the detent on the rack, wherein the pinion is free to rotate when the pin is outside of the detent and the pinion is locked against rotation when the pin is received in the detent.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the locking assembly further comprises a second detent at a second location on the rack different from a first location of the detent.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein engagement of the pin in the detent at the first location locks the end effector in a neutral configuration aligned with the longitudinal axis, and engagement of the pin in the second detent in the second location locks the end effector in a deflection configuration at the selected angle relative to the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pinion is configured for bidirectional rotation in a first direction that moves the rack in a distal direction and a second direction that moves the rack in a proximal direction.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pin is positioned adjacent to a gear tooth tip of the pinion.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detent is formed in a gear tooth trough of the rack.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detent is configured as a deeper gear tooth trough in the rack.