US 4,601,705 A · Steerable and aimable catheter

Abstract

A catheter or the like is steerable through cavities within a body and aimable toward organs or tissue within the body. The catheter includes an elongated tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end for insertion into the body, a plurality of temperature-activated memory elements in the distal end of the tubular member, and a core for supporting the memory elements. Each memory element assumes a preset shape when heated to a predetermined temperature. A sleeve is provided to couple slidably each memory element to the core so that each memory element is permitted to slip in relation to the core and also to couple each memory element so that movement of one element results in movement of the other elements. Each memory element is moved to another shape when the memory element coupled thereto is heated to the predetermined temperature. A control system adjacent the proximal end of the tubular member allows an operator to control selectively the temperature of each temperature-activated element to deflect the distal end of the tubular member so as to either direct the course of the tubular member or to direct the distal end of the tubular member toward an organ or tissue within the body.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A catheter comprising

an elongated hollow tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end for insertion into the body,
a core member within the distal end of the hollow tubular member,
at least two temperature-activated memory elements within the distal end of the hollow tubular member, each memory element moving to assume a predetermined shape when heated to a predetermined temperature,
coupling means for coupling one memory element to another memory element so that when the one memory element moves in a first direction to assume its predetermined shape a force is applied to move the other memory element in the first direction and when the other memory element moves in a second direction to assume its predetermined shape a force is applied to move the one memory element in the second direction, the coupling means including sleeve means for slidably coupling each memory element to the core member so that each memory element is permitted to slip in relation to the adjacent core member when at least one of the memory elements moves to assume its predetermined shape, and
control means for selectively heating each memory element to move at least one of the memory elements to assume its predetermined shape to deflect the distal end of the tubular member in a selected direction and to slide each memory element in relation to the adjacent core member so that the memory elements are able to move in slipping relation to the distal end of the core member, whereby maneuverability of the tubular member within the body toward a selected deflected position is increased.

2 more elements

A catheter comprising

an elongated hollow tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end for insertion into the body,
a core member having a distal end positioned within the distal end of the hollow tubular member and movable therein,
at least two temperature-activated memory elements within the distal end of the hollow tubular member, each memory element having a tip portion and a body portion and moving to assume a predetermined shape when heated to a predetermined temperature,
sleeve means for slidably coupling the tip portion of each memory element to the distal end of the core member so that the tip portion of each memory element is permitted to slip in relation to the adjacent core member when at least one of the memory elements moves to assume its predetermined shape,
wrap means for slidably coupling at least a segment of the body portion to the core member so that the body portion segment is permitted to slip in relation to the adjacent core member when at least one of the memory elements moves to assume its predetermined shape, and
control means for selectively heating each memory element to move at least one of the elements to assume its predetermined shape to deflect the distal end of the tubular member in a selected direction and to slide the tip portion and the body portion segment of each memory element in relation to the adjacent core member so that the memory elements are able to move in slipping relation to the core member, whereby maneuverability of the tubular member within the body toward a selected deflected position is increased.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Steerable and aimable catheter

Life of this patent

Steerable and aimable catheter

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15