Extension regulator for catheter carried medical instruments
AssigneeBallard Medical Products
InventorsDamond C. Holsinger, Edward B. Madsen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An extension regulator for catheter carried medical instruments which extend from the distal end of the catheter or a point adjacent thereto, includes a regulator which is disposed on a hand-held deployment mechanism used to extend and retract the medical instrument. The deployment mechanism includes a body, and a sliding member which is attached to the connector and which slides along the body between a first position, wherein the medical instrument is retracted, and a second position wherein the medical instrument is fully extended. The regulator limits movement of the sliding member toward the second position to thereby limit extension of the medical instrument from the catheter.
Claims48
A apparatus for selectively deploying a medical instrument, the apparatus comprising:
- an elongate catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;
- a medical instrument having a retracted position wherein the medical instrument is disposed within the distal end of the catheter, and an extended position wherein the medical instrument is at least partially extended from the catheter;
- deployment means attached to the proximal end of the catheter for selectively extending and retracting the medical instrument, the deployment means comprising a sliding member disposed in mechanical communication with the medical instrument for moving the medical instrument between the extended and retracted positions, the sliding member being slidable between a first, proximal position, wherein the medical instrument is disposed in the retracted position, and a second, distal position, wherein the medical instrument is disposed in the extended position;
- and
- regulator means connected to the deployment means for stopping the sliding member at a third position between the first, proximal position and the second, distal position, to thereby limit the extension of the medical instrument from the catheter.
An apparatus for controlling deployment of a medical instrument disposed at the distal end of a catheter, the apparatus comprising:
- a deployment mechanism attachable to the medical instrument and to the catheter, the deployment mechanism including:
- an elongate body;
- and
- a sliding member disposed on the elongate body and slidable therealong between a first, proximal position and a second distal direction, the sliding member being disposable in mechanical communication with the medical instrument such that distal movement of the slidable member moves the medical instrument away from the distal end of the catheter;
- and
- regulator means disposed along the elongate body of the deployment mechanism for selectively inhibiting distal movement of the sliding member along the elongate body.
An apparatus for controlling deployment of a medical instrument disposed at the distal end of a catheter, the apparatus comprising:
- a deployment mechanism attachable to the medical instrument and to the catheter, the deployment mechanism including:
- an base;
- and
- a sliding member disposed in slidable engagement with the base and movable between a first, proximal position and a second distal direction, the sliding member being disposable in mechanical communication with the medical instrument such that movement of the slidable member in one direction moves the medical instrument away from the distal end of the catheter and movement in the opposite direction moves the medical instrument toward the distal end of the catheter;
- and
- regulator means disposed along sliding member for selectively inhibiting movement of the sliding member in one direction respect to the base, so as to thereby selectively limit the movement of the medical instrument away the catheter adjacent the distal end thereof.
An apparatus for selectively deploying a medical instrument, the apparatus comprising:
- an elongate catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;
- a electro-surgical element disposed in the catheter and slidable relative thereto, the electro-surgical element having a distal portion being moveable between an extended and retracted position;
- deployment means attached to the proximal end of the catheter for selectively extending and retracting the distal portion of the electro-surgical element, the deployment means comprising a sliding member disposed in mechanical communication with the electro-surgical element for moving the distal portion of the electro-surgical element between the extended and retracted positions, the sliding member being slidable between a first position, wherein the electro-surgical element is disposed in the retracted position, and a second position, wherein the electro-surgical element is disposed in the extended position;
- and
- regulator means connected to the deployment means for limiting sliding of the sliding member toward the second position, to thereby limit the extension of the electro-surgical element from the catheter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.