Catheter drive shaft spring clutch

A catheter, comprising:

• an elongate member;
• a catheter drive shaft to which torque can be applied, the catheter drive shaft being rotatably disposed within the elongate member;
• a driven member rotatably coupled to the catheter drive shaft, the driven member comprising a spring;
• and
• a driver member cooperating with the spring, wherein the driven and driver members are rotatably engaged with each other before the applied torque exceeds a critical magnitude, the driven and driver members automatically rotatably unengage each other after the applied torque exceeds the critical magnitude and automatically re-engage each other after the applied torque falls below the critical magnitude.

A catheter, comprising:

• an elongate member;
• a catheter drive shaft to which torque can be applied, the catheter drive shaft being rotatably disposed within the elongate member;
• a rigid cylindrical member;
• a coil spring interference fitted over the cylindrical member;
• a driven member rotatably coupled with the catheter drive shaft, the driven member comprising one of the cylindrical member and coil spring;
• and
• a driver member comprising the other of the cylindrical member and coil spring, where the driver and driven members are automatically unengaged with each other after the torque exceeds a critical magnitude and are automatically re-engaged with each other after the applied torque falls below the critical magnitude.

A catheter, comprising:

• an elongate member;
• a catheter drive shaft being rotatably disposed within the elongate member;
• a rigid receptacle having a cylindrical cavity formed therein;
• a watch spring interference fitted within the cavity;
• a driven member rotatably coupled with the catheter drive shaft, the driven member comprising one of the rigid receptacle and the watch spring;
• and
• a driver member comprising the other of the rigid receptacle and watch spring.