EP0715865A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Steerable stylet assembly
Assignee: Telectronics NV
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Filing: 1995-12-08
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2015-12-08
Abstract
Abstract A steerable stylet assembly for use in guiding a medical catheter through a patient's venous system is provided. The device generally includes a handle assembly having an elongated inner stylet fixedly coupled thereto and an elongated outer stylet slideably coupled thereto. The elongated inner stylet includes a predefined non-linear shape and the elongated outer tube element includes a predefined linear shape. Accordingly, when the outer tube element envelopes the inner stylet, the device is linear; however, when the outer stylet is slid relative to the inner stylet it allows the inner stylet to take the predefined shape. Thus, the medical catheter takes the predefined shape. An optional mechanism is provided for use with active fixation medical catheters.
Inventors
- 👤 Demetrious Doumenis
- 👤 Allan K. Rebell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 04:07
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/056; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0021; A61M25/0041; A61M25/01; A61M25/0105; A61M25/0133; A61M25/0152
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A steerable stylet assembly for use in guiding a medical catheter through a patient's venous system, comprising: a first elongated stylet element; an elongated outer tube element surrounding said stylet element and being slidable therein; one of said elements having a predefined non-linear shape and the other of said elements having a linear shape; and means for moving said stylet element and said tube element relative to each other such that said catheter assumes said predefined shape.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
16 words
The steerable stylet assembly of claim 1 wherein said steerable stylet assembly includes a handle assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The steerable stylet assembly of claim 2 wherein said first stylet element is fixedly secured to said handle assembly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The steerable stylet assembly of claim 3 wherein said tube element is slidable relative to said handle assembly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The steerable stylet assembly of claim 2 wherein said tube element is slidable relative to said handle assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The steerable stylet assembly of claim 2 wherein said handle assembly includes means for controlling a said medical catheter having an active fixation lead.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
The steerable stylet assembly of claim 6 wherein said medical catheter having an active fixation lead includes at least one coiled conductor extending through said catheter and operatively coupled to said active fixation lead, and said controlling means is a device for engaging the coiled wire of the medical catheter and facilitating the twisting of the coiled wire.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The steerable stylet assembly of claim 6 wherein said controlling means is a second elongated stylet having a proximal end and a distal end.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The steerable stylet assembly of claim 8 wherein said proximal end of said second elongated stylet is rotationally coupled to said housing, and said distal end of said second elongated stylet includes a screwdriver head.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The steerable stylet assembly of claim 1 wherein said moving means includes a control element coupled to said tube element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The steerable stylet assembly of claim 10 wherein said steerable stylet assembly includes a handle assembly defining a track.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The steerable stylet assembly of claim 11 wherein said control element is disposed partial within said track and movement of said control element along said track causes said tube element to move relative to said first stylet element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The steerable stylet assembly of claim 1 wherein said first elongated stylet element includes a predefined J-shape.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The steerable stylet assembly of claim 13 wherein said elongated outer tube element is linear.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The steerable stylet assembly of claim 14 wherein said elongated outer tube element is more rigid than said first elongated stylet element
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The steerable stylet assembly of claim 14 further including a handle assembly fixedly coupled to said first elongated stylet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The steerable stylet assembly of claim 16 wherein said elongated outer tube element is slidable relative to said housing and said first elongated stylet.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The steerable stylet assembly of claim 1 wherein said elongated outer tube element includes a predefined J-shape.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The steerable stylet assembly of claim 8 wherein said first elongated stylet element is linear.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The steerable stylet assembly of claim 19 wherein said first elongated stylet element is more rigid than said outer tube element.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The steerable stylet assembly of claim 19 further including a handle assembly fixedly coupled to said elongated outer tube element.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The steerable stylet assembly of claim 21 wherein said first elongated stylet element is slidable relative to said housing and said elongated outer tube element.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
137 words
A steerable stylet assembly for use in implanting an active fixation lead into a patient, said active fixation lead including an elongated flexible lead body, having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end including an active fixation device, and said lead body defining a lumen, comprising: a first elongated inner stylet element having a proximal end and a distal end, and having a predefined non-linear shape along at least a portion of said distal end; a second elongated inner stylet element having a proximal end and a distal end, and having means for selectively extending said active fixation device; an elongated outer tube element surrounding said first and second inner stylet elements, and having a predefined linear shape; and means for moving said outer tube element relative to said first elongated inner stylet element.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The steerable stylet assembly of claim 23 wherein said first elongated inner stylet is more rigid than said second elongated inner stylet.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
37 words
The steerable stylet assembly of claim 24 wherein said elongated outer tube element is more rigid than said first inner stylet element, so that the elongated outer tube element maintains the predefined linear shape at all times.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The steerable stylet assembly of claim 23 wherein said steerable stylet assembly includes a handle assembly.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The steerable stylet assembly of claim 26 wherein said first elongated inner stylet element is fixedly secured to said handle assembly.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The steerable stylet assembly of claim 27 wherein said elongated outer tube element is slidable relative to said handle assembly.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The steerable stylet assembly of claim 28 wherein said proximal end of said second elongated stylet is rotationally coupled to said housing.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
The steerable stylet assembly of claim 26 wherein said handle assembly defines a track.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
The steerable stylet assembly of claim 30 wherein said moving means includes a control element coupled to said outer tube element.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
40 words
The steerable stylet assembly of claim 31 wherein said control element is disposed partial within said track and movement of said control element along said track causes said tube element to move relative to said first elongated inner stylet element.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The steerable stylet assembly of claim 23 wherein said first elongated inner stylet element includes a predefined J-shape.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
124 words
A system for implanting an active fixation lead into a patient, comprising an active fixation lead including an elongated flexible lead body having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end including an active fixation device and having a predefined non-linear shape, and said lead body defining a lumen; a stylet assembly including an elongated inner stylet element having a proximal end and a distal end, said inner stylet element having means for selectively extending said active fixation device located on said distal end, an elongated outer tube element surrounding said inner stylet element, said outer tube element having a predefined essentially linear shape, and means for moving said outer tube element relative to said distal end of said active fixation lead.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
59 words
The system of claim 34 wherein said outer tube stylet is more rigid than said predefined non-linear shaped lead, so that said lead is essentially linear when said outer tube stylet extends to the distal end of said lead, and is said predefined non-linear shape when said outer tube stylet is retracted from said distal end of said lead.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 34 wherein said steerably stylet assembly includes a handle assembly.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 36 where said tube element is slidable relative to said handle assembly.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5005587A
Cited
US5228455A
Cited
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