# US 2008/0188800 A1 · Steerable Device For Introducing Diagnostic And Therapeutic Apparatus Into The Body

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- Number: US 2008/0188800 A1
- Document ID: US20080188800A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 11/923,606
- Filed: 2007-10-24
- Published: 2008-08-07
- Earliest claimed: 1998-10-02
- Inventors: Robert F. Bencini; Russell B. Thompson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080188800A1

## CPC

- A61M 25/0138: {having flexible regions as a result of weakened outer material, e.g. slots, slits, cuts, joints or coils}
- A61M 25/0136: {Handles therefor}
- A61M 25/0141: {having flexible regions as a result of using materials with different mechanical properties}
- A61M 25/0144: {having flexible regions as a result of inner reinforcement means, e.g. struts or rods}
- A61M 25/0147: {with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires}
- A61B 2017/00243: {cardiac}
- A61M 25/005: {with embedded materials for reinforcement, e.g. wires, coils, braids}
- A61M 25/0051: {made from fenestrated or weakened tubing layer}
- A61M 2025/015: {Details of the distal fixation of the movable mechanical means}
- 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)}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

An apparatus including an elongate body having a lumen extending therethrough and a steering wire associated with the distal portion of the elongate body.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus, comprising:
an elongate body defining a proximal portion and a distal portion and including a wall defining an inner surface, an outer surface and a central lumen extending from the proximal portion to an aperture in the distal portion;
a steering wire having a distal portion; and
a tubular member, with a plurality of slots, located between the inner surface and the outer surface of the distal portion of the elongate body and secured to the distal portion of the steering wire.

### Claim at position 2

2-17. (canceled)

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
a steering wire lumen offset from the central lumen in which at least a portion of the steering wire is located.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the proximal portion of the elongate body is relatively stiff and the distal portion of the elongate body is relatively flexible.

### Claim at position 5

20-25. (canceled)

### Claim 26 (depends on 1)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
a catheter supporting at least one of a diagnostic element and a therapeutic element located within the central lumen and slidable relative thereto.

### Claim 27

An apparatus, comprising:
an elongate body proximal portion defining a lumen extending therethrough, a distal end and a proximal portion stiffness;
an elongate body distal portion associated with the distal end of the elongate body proximal portion, the elongate body distal portion defining a distal end, a proximal end, a lumen extending therethrough, a length from the distal end to the proximal end, and a perimeter, and including at least first and second distal members that together form the elongate body distal portion, the first distal member defining a first distal member stiffness and the second distal member defining a second distal member stiffness less than the first distal member stiffness; and
a steering wire having a distal portion operably connected to the elongate body distal portion.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the first distal member stiffness and the second distal member stiffness are both less than the elongate body proximal portion stiffness.

### Claim 29 (depends on 27)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the second distal member defines a second lumen and the steering wire is located within the second lumen.

### Claim 30 (depends on 27)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the first and second distal members are substantially semi-circular in cross-sectional shape.

### Claim 31 (depends on 27)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the first and second distal members occupy substantially equal segments of the elongate body distal portion perimeter over the elongate body distal portion length.

### Claim 32 (depends on 27)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the first and second distal members occupy respective segments of the elongate body distal portion perimeter that vary in size over the length of the distal portion.

### Claim 33 (depends on 27)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the first distal member occupies a segment of the elongate body distal portion perimeter that varies in size over the elongate body distal portion length such that the first distal member occupies substantially all of the perimeter at one end of the elongate body distal portion and occupies substantially none of the perimeter at the other end of the elongate body distal portion.

### Claim 34 (depends on 27)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the first distal member occupies a segment of the elongate body distal portion perimeter that increases in size over a first portion of the elongate body distal portion length and decreases in size over a second portion of the elongate body distal portion length.

### Claim 35 (depends on 27)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the elongate body distal portion includes a third distal member and the third distal member defines a stiffness less than the first distal member stiffness and greater than the second distal member stiffness.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein the first distal member is located distally of the second and third distal members and the third distal member is located distally of the second distal member.

### Claim 37 (depends on 35)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 35, the first, second and third distal members occupy respective segments of the elongate body distal portion perimeter and the segments vary in size over the elongate body distal portion length.

### Claim 38 (depends on 35)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein the first, second and third distal members define respective lengths and occupy respective segments of the elongate body distal portion perimeter and the respective sizes of the segments remain substantially constant over the respective lengths distal members.

### Claim 39 (depends on 27)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the first distal member comprises a pair of first distal members respectively located on opposite sides of the second distal member.

### Claim 40 (depends on 27)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the second distal member comprises a wall defining the elongate body distal portion lumen and the first distal member is located within the wall.

### Claim 41 (depends on 40)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 40, wherein the first distal member extends substantially from the proximal end of the elongate body distal portion to the distal end of the elongate body distal portion.

### Claim 42 (depends on 40)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 40, wherein the wall includes an inner surface and an outer surface and the first distal member is located in spaced relation to the inner surface.

### Claim 43 (depends on 1)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tubular member defines a longitudinal axis and the plurality of slots are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 44 (depends on 1)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of slots are arranged such that the tubular member defines an elongate stiffening member.

### Claim 45 (depends on 44)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 44, wherein the steering wire is secured to a portion of the tubular member that is diametrically opposed from the stiffening member.

### Claim 46 (depends on 44)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 44, wherein the tubular member defines a circumference and the elongate stiffening member extends over less than one-half of the circumference.

### Claim 47 (depends on 44)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 44, wherein the tubular member includes a plurality of rings with the slots therebetween, and a portion of each ring defines a portion of the elongate stiffening member.

### Claim 48 (depends on 1)

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tubular member comprises a hypotube.