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US 7,678,074 B2Granted
Deflectable catheter steering and locking system
AssigneeEnpath Medical, Inc.
InventorsBrian Fischer, Bradley Charles Knippel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A deflectable catheter includes a catheter shaft having a deflectable distal tip. A support member is coupled around a proximal portion of the catheter shaft, and the support member includes a first brake portion extending along at least a portion of the support member. A handle is coupled around the support member. The deflectable catheter includes a carriage moveably coupled along the handle, and the carriage includes a second brake portion sized and shaped to engage with at least a portion of the first brake portion. A flexible element is coupled between the deflectable distal tip and the carriage. A biasing device is adapted to bias the second brake portion into engagement with the first brake portion.
Claims26
A deflectable catheter assembly comprising:
- a catheter shaft extending from a catheter shaft proximal portion to a catheter shaft deflectable distal end;
- a flexible element extending through the catheter shaft from the catheter shaft deflectable distal end to a catheter shaft intermediate portion, the flexible element extends outside of the catheter shaft at the catheter shaft intermediate portion and extends toward the catheter shaft proximal portion along the catheter shaft;
- and
- a carriage assembly movably coupled with the catheter shaft between the catheter shaft intermediate portion and the catheter shaft proximal portion, wherein the carriage assembly includes:
- a retainer engaged with the flexible element, the retainer is movably coupled along the catheter shaft and movable between the catheter shaft intermediate portion and the catheter shaft proximal portion,
- a carriage movably coupled with the retainer, the carriage is laterally movable relative to the catheter shaft and the retainer, the carriage is movable along the catheter shaft between the catheter shaft intermediate portion and the catheter shaft proximal portion, and
- a first brake surface extends along the catheter shaft, and the carriage includes a second brake surface, in a first engaged orientation the second brake surface is engaged with the first brake surface and the carriage assembly is locked in a position along the catheter shaft, and in a second disengaged orientation the carriage is laterally moved relative to the catheter shaft and the second brake surface is disengaged from the first brake surface and the carriage assembly is movable along the catheter shaft;
- wherein in the first engaged orientation, the carriage is positioned at a first longitudinal location adjacent to the catheter shaft, and in a third engaged orientation where the second brake surface is again engaged with the first brake surface, the carriage is positioned at a second longitudinal location adjacent to the catheter shaft, and the carriage is equidistant from the catheter shaft at both the first and second longitudinal locations.
5 more elements
A deflectable catheter assembly comprising:
- a catheter shaft extending from a catheter shaft proximal portion to a catheter shaft deflectable distal end, the catheter shaft deflectable distal end is movable between a first deflected orientation and a second deflected orientation opposed to the first deflected orientation;
- a first brake surface extending along the catheter shaft between the catheter shaft proximal portion and a catheter shaft intermediate portion;
- a flexible element fixed with the catheter shaft deflectable distal end and extending toward the catheter shaft proximal portion;
- an actuator assembly configured to deflect the catheter shaft deflectable distal end and lock the catheter shaft deflectable distal end in a plurality of orientations between the first and second deflected orientations, the actuator assembly including:
- an actuator,
- a carriage engaged with the actuator, the carriage includes a second brake surface configured to engage with the first brake surface, the carriage is movably coupled along the catheter shaft, and the catheter shaft proximal portion extends through the carriage,
- a retainer engaged with the flexible element, the carriage extends around the retainer, and the retainer and the carriage surround the catheter shaft proximal portion, the retainer is slidable along the catheter shaft between the catheter shaft proximal portion and the catheter shaft intermediate portion and the carriage is laterally moveable relative to the retainer;
- and
- a retainer guide coupled along the catheter shaft proximal portion, the retainer is slidably engaged between the retainer guide and the catheter shaft proximal portion, wherein the engagement of the retainer therebetween holds the retainer laterally static during lateral movement of the carriage relative to the catheter shaft.
6 more elements
A method for making a deflectable catheter comprising:
- coupling a flexible element to a deflectable distal tip of a catheter shaft;
- forming a first brake surface along the catheter shaft from a catheter shaft proximal portion toward a catheter shaft intermediate portion;
- engaging an actuator assembly with the catheter shaft proximal portion including:
- movably coupling a carriage along the catheter shaft, including positioning the catheter shaft proximal portion within the carriage, wherein the carriage includes a second brake surface engaged with the first brake surface,
- engaging an actuator with the carriage,
- engaging a retainer with the flexible element, wherein the carriage extends around the retainer, and the retainer and the carriage surround the catheter shaft proximal portion, wherein the retainer is slidable along the catheter shaft proximal portion and the carriage is laterally slidable relative to the retainer;
- and
- engaging a retainer guide along the catheter shaft proximal portion, wherein the retainer is slidably engaged between the retainer guide and the catheter shaft proximal portion, and the engagement of the retainer therebetween holds the retainer laterally static during movement of the carriage along the catheter shaft.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.