Automatic/manual longitudinal position translator and rotary drive system for catheters

A catheter system comprising:

• a drive assembly comprising:
• a body including a proximal portion mount;
• a drive chassis movably mounted to the body for movement along a longitudinal path;
• a longitudinal mover operably coupling the drive chassis and the body for selective movement of the drive chassis along the longitudinal path;
• and
• a rotary driver mounted to the drive chassis and moveable therewith along the longitudinal path, the rotary driver comprising a rotary drive motor and a first combined connector rotatable by the rotary drive motor and movable along the longitudinal path between first and second positions;
• and
• a catheter assembly comprising:
• a hollow sheath having a proximal portion and a tip, said proximal portion of the sheath being removably secured to the proximal portion mount of the body;
• an elongate operative element slidably and rotatably housed within the sheath, the operative element comprising a distal end and a proximal end;
• and
• a second combined connector secured to the proximal end of the operative element;
• and
• said first and second combined connectors being blind matable connectors constructed to (1) provide a data/information connection between the operative element and the rotary driver when connected, and (2) cause the second combined connector and operative element therewith to rotate and move longitudinally according to the rotation and longitudinal movement of the first combined connector.

A method for operating a catheter system comprising:

• selecting a catheter assembly, said catheter assembly comprising:
• a hollow sheath having a proximal portion and a tip;
• an elongate operative element slidably and rotatably housed within the sheath, the operative element comprising a distal end and a proximal end;
• and
• a second combined connector secured to the proximal end of the operative element;
• mounting said catheter assembly to a drive assembly, the drive assembly comprising a rotatable and translatable first combined connector;
• connecting the second combined connector of the catheter assembly to the first combined connector;
• securing the proximal portion of the sheath to a proximal portion mount of the drive assembly;
• selectively rotating the first combined connector which in turn rotates the second combined connector which in turn rotates the elongate operative element within the sheath;
• selectively longitudinally translating the operative element within the sheath by moving the first combined connector along a longitudinal path between an extended position and a retracted position;
• and
• the catheter assembly mounting step being carried out by positioning the first combined connector at the extended position, the first and second combined connectors being connected to one another while the proximal portion of the sheath and the proximal portion mount are being secured to one another.