Rotational support for an elongate member
AssigneeHansen Medical, Inc.
InventorAlan Yu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various exemplary drive apparatuses and associated methods are disclosed for driving an elongated member, e.g., a guidewire or catheter. An exemplary drive apparatus for driving an elongated member may include a rotational component configured to apply a torque to the elongated member, where the rotational component is positioned a first distance away from an insertion site along the elongated member. The drive apparatus may further include a rotational support configured to apply an assistance torque to the elongated member. The rotational support may be positioned a second distance from the rotational component along the elongated member that is larger than the first distance.
Claims21
A method of driving an elongated member, comprising:
- applying a first torque to the elongated member with a rotational component positioned a first distance away from an insertion site along the elongated member;
- and
- applying an assistance torque to the elongated member with a rotational support positioned a second distance away from an insertion site along the elongated member, the second distance being larger than the first distance.
A method of driving an elongated member, comprising:
- applying a first torque to the elongated member with a rotational component positioned a first distance away from an insertion site along the elongated member;
- turning a first portion of the elongated member with respect to a second portion of the elongated member, wherein the first portion of the elongated member is turned approximately 180 degrees from the second portion;
- anchoring an end of the elongated member with the rotational support;
- and
- applying an assistance torque to the elongated member with a rotational support positioned a second distance away from an insertion site along the elongated member, the second distance being larger than the first distance.
A drive apparatus for driving an elongated member, comprising:
- a rotational component configured to apply a torque to the elongated member, the rotational component positioned a first distance away from an insertion site along the elongated member;
- and
- a rotational support configured to apply an assistance torque to the elongated member, the rotational support positioned a second distance from the rotational component along the elongated member, the second distance being larger than the first distance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.