# US 2014/0194718 A1 · Catheter with a mechanism for omni-directional deflection of catheter shaft > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0194718 A1 - Document ID: US20140194718A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/208,648 - Filed: 2014-03-13 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2010-07-30 - Assignees: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc. - Applicants: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc. - Inventors: Troy T. Tegg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194718A1 ## CPC - A61M 25/0136: {Handles therefor} - A61B 5/6852: {Catheters} - A61B 5/6855: {with a distal curved tip} - A61B 18/1492: {having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation (A61B18/1477 takes precedence)} - A61M 25/007: {Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked} - A61M 25/0141: {having flexible regions as a result of using materials with different mechanical properties} - A61B 2018/00577: {Ablation} - A61B 2218/002: Irrigation - A61M 2025/0004: {having two or more concentrically arranged tubes for forming a concentric catheter system} - A61N 1/056: {Transvascular endocardial electrode systems} - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - 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) - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A catheter with a mechanism for omni-directional deflection of a catheter shaft includes a shaft assembly and a controller. The shaft assembly includes a first tubular component that has a preformed curvilinear distal section, a second, substantially straight tubular component with a main axis and an outer shaft. The first and second components are configured for slidable movement therebetween while preserving common rotation so that when the second component is axially moved in a distal direction, the second component deflects the preformed curvilinear section towards the main axis while orientation of the outer shaft is preserved. The controller is configured to effect relative axial movement between the first and second components as well as to effect rotation of the first and second components (and thus also of the preformed curvilinear distal section) without any rotation of the shaft relative to the handle. Varying the deflection of the preformed curvilinear section in combination with variable rotational movement achieves omni-directional distal tip bending. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-31. (canceled) ### Claim 32 A catheter configured for omni-directional deflection of a distal portion, comprising: a first tubular component having a distal portion and a proximal portion, said proximal portion being substantially linear in shape and said distal portion including a preformed curvilinear section; a second tubular component having a distal portion and a proximal portion, said second component being configured for individual slidable movement and common rotational movement relative to said first component, to thereby allow said distal portion of said second component to slidably bear against said preformed curvilinear section of said first component; a shaft having a shaft orientation and a distal portion and a proximal portion and an inner lumen configured to accommodate said first and second tubular components; a controller at a proximal end of said shaft and including a base and configured (i) to effect a relative axial movement between said first and second tubular components and (ii) to effect a rotational movement of said first component and said second component while said shaft orientation remains in a fixed rotational position relative to said base, wherein said first and second components are in a relation selected from the group comprising a first concentric arrangement where said first tubular component is received within a central lumen of said second tubular component; and a second concentric arrangement where said second component is received within a central lumen of said first tubular component, said first and second components are concentric with said shaft over said proximal portion of said shaft including said proximal end and said distal portion of said shaft. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The catheter of claim 32 wherein said preformed curvilinear section comprises a regular shape comprising one of a C-shape, an S-shape, a circular shape and a multi-revolution shape. ### Claim 34 (depends on 32) The catheter of claim 32 wherein when said movement of said second component is in a first direction towards a distal end of said first component, said distal portion of said second component progressively deflects said preformed curvilinear section towards an axis of said first component. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The catheter of claim 34 wherein an amount said curvilinear section deflects corresponds to an axial position of said second component relative to said preformed curvilinear distal section. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) The catheter of claim 34 wherein when said movement of said second component is in a second direction opposite said first direction and away from said distal end of said first component, said second component distal portion progressively disengages said preformed curvilinear section allowing said curvilinear section to progressively deflect away from said axis to assume a preformed shape. ### Claim 37 (depends on 32) The catheter of claim 32 wherein said distal portion of said second component is more rigid than said preformed curvilinear distal section. ### Claim 38 (depends on 32) The catheter of claim 32 wherein said shaft comprises braided thermoplastic. ### Claim 39 (depends on 32) The catheter of claim 32 wherein said preformed curvilinear distal section comprises a shape memory material. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The catheter of claim 39 wherein said shape memory material comprises Nitinol material. ### Claim 41 (depends on 32) The catheter of claim 32 wherein said shaft includes a relatively flexible distal segment and comprising at least one of an electrode, a sensor and a transducer configured to perform a respective one of at least a diagnostic and therapeutic function. ### Claim 42 (depends on 32) The catheter of claim 32 wherein said controller is housed in a robotically-actuated catheter system. ### Claim 43 (depends on 32) The catheter of claim 32 wherein said controller is housed in a catheter handle disposed at a catheter proximal end, said base comprising a handle housing. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The catheter of claim 43 wherein said shaft is fixed relative to said housing, said controller including a knob configured for manual actuation, said controller further including a first mechanism responsive to actuation of said knob configured to axially move said second tubular component relative to said first tubular component. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) The catheter of claim 44 wherein said housing has an axis associated therewith, said first tubular component is axially fixed relative to said housing so that said first tubular component will not move axially relative to said housing. ### Claim 46 (depends on 44) The catheter of claim 44 wherein said controller further includes a second mechanism responsive to actuation of said knob configured to rotate said first tubular component relative to said housing. ### Claim 47 (depends on 44) The catheter of claim 44 wherein said housing has a cylindrical portion, said knob comprising an elongate ring radially outwardly of said cylindrical portion and wherein said ring has an internal gear disposed in an inner circumference thereof, said first mechanism including an input gear in mesh with said internal gear of said knob such that rotation of said knob causes rotation of said input gear. ### Claim 48 A method of making a catheter configured for omni-directional deflection of a distal portion, comprising the steps of: producing a first tubular component having a distal portion and a proximal portion, said proximal portion being substantially linear in shape and the distal portion including a preformed curvilinear section; producing a second tubular component having a distal portion and a proximal portion; coupling the first and second components so as to allow individual slidable movement and common rotational movement, to thereby allow the distal portion of the second component to slidably bear against the preformed curvilinear section of the first component, wherein coupling comprises disposing the first and second components in a relation selected from the group comprising (i) a first concentric arrangement where said first tubular component is received within a central lumen of said second tubular component; and (ii) a second concentric arrangement where said second component is received within a central lumen of said first tubular component; disposing the first and second components in an inner lumen of a shaft to thereby produce a shaft assembly such that the first and second components and the shaft are concentric over a proximal portion of the shaft including a proximal end thereof and a distal portion of the shaft; and coupling the shaft assembly to a controller such that the shaft is in a predetermined shaft orientation relative to the controller and wherein the controller is configured (i) to effect a relative axial movement between the first and second tubular components and (ii) to effect a rotational movement of the first and second components while the shaft orientation remains fixed, said controller being disposed at the proximal end of said shaft. ### Claim 49 A method of operating a catheter for omni-directional deflection of a distal portion, comprising the steps of: disposing a first component of the catheter and a second component of the catheter in a relation selected from the group comprising (i) a first concentric arrangement where the first component is received within a central lumen of the second component; and (ii) a second concentric arrangement where the second component is received within a central lumen of the first component; imparting, with respect to a preformed curvilinear section at a distal end of the first component, a relative slidable axial movement to the second component that is substantially straight so as to vary where a distal end portion of the second component bears against the preformed curvilinear section, thereby altering a shape of the preformed curvilinear section, and wherein the first and second components are concentric with a shaft over a proximal portion including a proximal end of the shaft and a distal portion of the shaft; and rotating the first and second components while maintaining a shaft orientation of the shaft of the catheter in which the first and second components are disposed in a fixed position relative to a controller located at the proximal end of the shaft operative to effect said rotating wherein said rotating alters an orientation of the preformed curvilinear section. ### Claim 50 (depends on 49) The method of claim 49 wherein said imparting step includes the sub-step of: moving the second component in a first axial direction towards the distal end of the first component wherein the second component progressively deflects the preformed curvilinear section towards an axis of the first component. ### Claim 51 (depends on 50) The method of claim 50 wherein said moving sub-step includes deflecting the preformed curvilinear section by an amount that corresponds to an axial position of the second component relative to the preformed curvilinear section. ### Claim 52 (depends on 50) The method of claim 50 wherein said imparting step includes the sub-step of: moving the second component in a second axial direction opposite the first axial direction and away from the distal end of the first component wherein the second component progressively disengages the preformed curvilinear section thereby allowing the curvilinear section to progressively deflect away from the axis. ### Claim 53 (depends on 49) The method of claim 49 wherein the shaft is fixed relative to a housing of the controller. ### Claim 54 A catheter configured for omni-directional deflection of a distal portion, comprising: a shaft assembly including a first component having a preformed curvilinear section, a substantially straight second component slidably disposed with respect to said first component, and a shaft with an inner lumen configured to accommodate said first and second components wherein said first and second components are in a relation selected from the group comprising a first concentric arrangement where said first tubular component is received within a central lumen of said second tubular component; and a second concentric arrangement where said second component is received within a central lumen of said first tubular component, and wherein said first and second components are concentric with said shaft over a proximal portion including a proximal end of said shaft and a distal portion of said shaft; means disposed at said proximal end of said shaft for imparting a relative axial movement of said second component with respect to said preformed curvilinear section so as to vary a position where a distal end portion of said second component bears against said preformed curvilinear section, thereby altering a shape of said preformed curvilinear section; and means disposed at said proximal end of said shaft for rotating said first and second components while maintaining a shaft orientation of said shaft in a fixed position relative to said rotating means, thereby altering an orientation of said preformed curvilinear section. ### Claim 55 (depends on 54) The catheter of claim 54 wherein said imparting means includes means for moving said second component in a first axial direction towards a distal end of said first component wherein said distal end portion of said second component progressively deflects said preformed curvilinear section towards an axis of said first component. ### Claim 56 (depends on 55) The catheter of claim 55 wherein said moving means is further configured for moving said second component in a second axial direction opposite said first axial direction and away from said distal end of said first component wherein said second component progressively disengages said preformed curvilinear section thereby allowing said curvilinear section to progressively deflect away from said axis.