Fixed dimensional and bi-directional steerable catheter control handle

An apparatus for imparting a tensile force to deflect a distal portion of a catheter while maintaining its exterior dimensions, the apparatus comprising:

• a handle grip including a cross-section of generally predetermined exterior dimensions, and a longitudinal axis;
• a flexible elongate member including proximal and distal end portions, with the proximal end portion being coupled to the handle grip;
• a lumen extending through said flexible elongate member terminating at an external opening at the distal end portion of said flexible elongate member;
• an adjustment knob including a cross-section of generally predetermined exterior dimensions, and being rotatably coupled to the handle grip around the longitudinal axis of the handle grip;
• and
• at least one elongate deflection member operably coupled to the adjustment knob and to the distal end portion of the elongate member,
• wherein rotation of the adjustment knob imparts a tensile force to the elongate deflection member by movement of an actuation member coupled to the elongate deflection member relative to the adjustment knob thereby causing the distal end portion of the elongate member to deflect from a prior, substantially straight configuration while maintaining the generally predetermined exterior dimensions of the handle grip and the adjustment knob.

An apparatus for imparting a tensile force to deflect a distal portion of a catheter while maintaining its exterior dimensions, the apparatus comprising:

• a handle grip including a cross-section of generally predetermined exterior dimensions, and a longitudinal axis;
• a flexible elongate member including proximal and distal end portions, with the proximal end portion being coupled to the handle grip;
• a lumen extending from the proximal end portion and terminating at an external opening thereof at the distal end portion of said flexible elongate member;
• an adjustment knob including a cross-section of generally predetermined exterior dimensions, and being rotatably coupled to the handle grip around the longitudinal axis of the handle grip;
• and
• at least one elongate deflection member operably coupled to the adjustment knob and to the distal end portion of the elongate member,
• wherein rotation of the adjustment knob imparts a tensile force to the elongate deflection member thereby causing the distal end portion of the elongate member to deflect from a prior configuration while maintaining the generally predetermined exterior dimensions of the handle grip and the adjustment knob.

An apparatus for imparting a tensile force to deflect a distal portion of a catheter while maintaining its exterior dimensions, the apparatus comprising:

• a substantially hollow handle grip having a tactile outer surface having a longitudinal axis;
• an adjustment knob having a tactile outer surface coupled to the handle grip approximately equidistant from the longitudinal axis;
• a relatively thin elongated flexible body having a distal end portion and having a proximal portion, wherein the proximal portion couples to the handle grip;
• at least a pair of elongated members operatively coupled to the adjustment knob and to the distal end portion;
• and
• means disposed within the handle grip and operatively coupled to the adjustment knob for imparting a tensile force to one of the elongated members by linear movement of an actuation member coupled to one of the elongate members relative to the adjustment knob when the adjustment knob is rotated about the longitudinal axis so that the distal end portion of the flexible body deflects from a first configuration to a second configuration,
• wherein the tactile outer surfaces of the handle grip and the adjustment knob are substantially unchanged when the flexible body is disposed in the first and second configurations.

An apparatus for imparting a tensile force to deflect a distal portion of a catheter while maintaining its exterior dimensions, the apparatus comprising:

• a handle grip including a cross-section of generally predetermined exterior dimensions, and a longitudinal axis;
• a flexible elongate member including proximal and distal end portions, with the proximal end portion being coupled to the handle grip;
• an adjustment knob including a cross-section of generally predetermined exterior dimensions, and being rotatably coupled to the handle grip around the longitudinal axis of the handle grip;
• and
• at least a pair of elongate deflection members operably coupled to the adjustment knob and to the distal end portion of the elongate member,
• wherein rotation of the adjustment knob imparts a tensile force to at least one of the elongate deflection members by linear movement, relative to the adjustment knob, of an actuation member coupled to the at least one elongate deflection member, so as to cause the distal end portion of the flexible elongate member to deflect from a prior configuration while maintaining the generally predetermined exterior dimensions of the handle grip and the adjustment knob.