Active catheter device and associated system and method

An active catheter system, comprising:

• an elongate flexible tube member defining an axis and having a leading end and an opposed trailing end;
• a plurality of ferrule members operably engaged with the tube member, in successive spaced apart relation with respect thereto from the leading end toward the trailing end, the ferrule members being operably engaged with the tube member so as to be not rotatable about the axis relative to each other;
• at least one articulation member operably engaged with and extending between a first pair of ferrule members, including a first ferrule member about the leading end and a second ferrule member along the tube member, so as to define a first catheter segment;
• at least one articulation member operably engaged with and extending between a second pair of ferrule members, including the second ferrule member and a third ferrule member toward the trailing end along the tube member, so as to define a second catheter segment, each articulation member being comprised of a superelastic material and formed into a first actuated configuration, before being plastically deformed into a second configuration for operable engagement between the respective first and second pair of ferrule members;
• and
• a controller device operably engaged with the at least one articulation member of each of the first and second catheter segments, and configured to selectively and discretely apply a stimulus individually to each of the at least one articulation member, the superelastic material being configured to undergo a material phase change upon application of a stimulus thereto such that the at least one articulation member of each of the first and second catheter segments changes from the second configuration to the first configuration in response to the respective selective stimulus, and thereby causes the tube member to substantially conform thereto, such that the first and second catheter segments are capable of changing configuration independently of each other.

An active catheter system adapted to be applied to an anatomical channel, the active catheter system comprising:

• an elongate flexible tube member defining an axis and having a leading end and an opposed trailing end;
• a plurality of ferrule members operably engaged with the tube member, in successive spaced apart relation with respect thereto from the leading end toward the trailing end, the ferrule members being operably engaged with the tube member so as to be not rotatable about the axis relative to each other;
• at least one articulation member operably engaged with and extending between a first pair of ferrule members, including a first ferrule member about the leading end and a second ferrule member along the tube member, so as to define a first catheter segment;
• at least one articulation member operably engaged with and extending between a second pair of ferrule members, including the second ferrule member and a third ferrule member toward the trailing end along the tube member, so as to define a second catheter segment, each articulation member being comprised of a superelastic material and formed into a first actuated configuration, before being plastically deformed into a second configuration for operable engagement between the respective first and second pair of ferrule members;
• an articulation controller device operably engaged with the at least one articulation member of each of the first and second catheter segments, and configured to selectively and discretely apply a stimulus individually to each of the at least one articulation member, the superelastic material being configured to undergo a material phase change upon application of a stimulus thereto such that the at least one articulation member of each of the first and second catheter segments changes from the second configuration to the first configuration in response to the respective selective stimulus, and thereby causes the tube member to substantially conform thereto, such that the first and second catheter segments are capable of changing configuration independently of each other;
• and
• an axial advancement controller device operably engaged with the articulation controller device, the axial advancement controller device being configured to determine a threading configuration of the first catheter segment, as the first catheter segment is threaded through a portion of the anatomical channel, and to direct the articulation controller to replicate the threading configuration in the second catheter segment, as the second catheter segment is subsequently threaded through the portion of the anatomical channel.