Patent US5396879A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5396879A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Elongate medical instrument with distal end orientation control
Assignee: Granit Medical Innovations LLC
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Filing: 1992-04-09
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Granted: 1995-03-14
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Expires: 2012-04-09
Abstract
Abstract A medical device comprises an elongate insertion member such as a catheter or a laparoscopic instrument shaft having a flexible distal end portion, the insertion member being adapted for insertion into a patient, and a drive mounted to the insertion member about a distal end thereof for flexing the distal end portion of the insertion member. A power supply is operatively connected to the drive for energizing the drive, while a control component such as a wireless receiver is operatively connected to the drive for selectively controlling the energization thereof, thereby controlling the direction of flexing of the distal end portion. The receiver and the power supply are mounted to the insertion member proximally of the flexible distal end portion thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter J. Wilk
- 👤 Naomi L. Nakao
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:04
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B1/00; A61B1/005; A61B1/0051; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/0105; A61M25/0133; A61B2017/00367; A61B2017/00398; A61B2017/00535; A61B2017/00539; A61B2017/2901; A61B2017/2905; A61B2017/2926; A61B2017/2927; A61M25/0155; A61M25/0158
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A medical device comprising: an elongate catheter having a tubular body portion and a flexible distal end portion movably connected thereto to effect a steering of the catheter during use, said catheter being insertable into a patient, said catheter having a wall; electromagnetic motor means substantially embedded in said wall of said catheter proximately to a junction between said tubular body portion and said distal end portion for flexing said distal end portion relative to said tubular body portion; electrical power supply means operatively connected to said motor means for energizing same; and control means operatively connected to said motor means for selectively controlling the energization thereof, thereby controlling the direction of flexing of said distal end portion wherein said control means includes a wireless receiver mounted to said catheter about a distal end thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
A medical device comprising: an elongate catheter having a tubular body portion and a flexible distal end portion movably connected thereto to effect a steering of the catheter during use, said catheter being insertable into a patient, said catheter having a wall; electromagnetic motor means substantially embedded in said wall of said catheter proximately to a junction between said tubular body portion and said distal end portion for flexing said distal end portion relative to said tubular body portion; electrical power supply means operatively connected to said motor means for energizing same; and control means operatively connected to said motor means for selectively controlling the energization thereof, thereby controlling the direction of flexing of said distal end portion wherein said control means includes a wireless receiver mounted to said catheter about a distal end thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device defined in claim 1 wherein said motor means includes a plurality of actuators each substantially embedded in said wall of said catheter proximally of said distal end portion, said actuators having moving components connected to said distal end portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device defined in claim 2 wherein said power supply means is mounted to said catheter about the distal end thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device defined in claim 2 wherein said catheter is a catheter for use in angiography.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device defined in claim 1 wherein said motor means is mounted to said catheter proximally of said distal end portion, said motor means including an actuator element connected to said distal end portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device defined in claim 1 wherein said power supply means is mounted to said catheter about a distal end thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
164 words
An angiographic medical device comprising: an elongate catheter having a tubular body portion and a flexible distal end portion movably connected thereto to effect a steering of the catheter during use, said catheter being adapted for insertion into a patient., said catheter having a wall; at least one electrical drive member substantially embedded in said wall of said catheter proximately to a junction between said tubular body portion and said distal end portion for flexing said distal end portion relative to said tubular body portion; at least one movable component operably connecting said drive member and said distal end portion; electrical power supply means operatively connected to said drive member for energizing said drive member; and wireless receiver means mounted to said catheter essentially at said distal end portion and operatively connected to said drive member for receiving wireless signals and selectively energizing said drive member to control the direction of flexing of said distal end portion in response to the received wireless signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
164 words
An angiographic medical device comprising: an elongate catheter having a tubular body portion and a flexible distal end portion movably connected thereto to effect a steering of the catheter during use, said catheter being adapted for insertion into a patient., said catheter having a wall; at least one electrical drive member substantially embedded in said wall of said catheter proximately to a junction between said tubular body portion and said distal end portion for flexing said distal end portion relative to said tubular body portion; at least one movable component operably connecting said drive member and said distal end portion; electrical power supply means operatively connected to said drive member for energizing said drive member; and wireless receiver means mounted to said catheter essentially at said distal end portion and operatively connected to said drive member for receiving wireless signals and selectively energizing said drive member to control the direction of flexing of said distal end portion in response to the received wireless signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device defined in claim 7 wherein said power supply means and said receiver means are substantially embedded in said wall of said catheter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device defined in claim 7 wherein said wireless receiver means is substantially embedded in said wall of said catheter.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for use in a diagnostic or surgical application, comprising the steps of: inserting into a patient an elongate catheter having a tubular body portion and a flexible distal end portion movably connected thereto to effect a steering of the catheter; emitting a wireless signal towards the patient so that said signal is transmitted through organic tissues of the patient to a distal end of said catheter; receiving said wireless signal via a receiver mounted to said catheter about a distal end thereof; and in response to the reception of said wireless signal, automatically energizing a drive element substantially embedded in a wall of said catheter about the distal end thereof to thereby bend said distal end portion relative to said tubular body portion.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for use in a diagnostic or surgical application, comprising the steps of: inserting into a patient an elongate catheter having a tubular body portion and a flexible distal end portion movably connected thereto to effect a steering of the catheter; emitting a wireless signal towards the patient so that said signal is transmitted through organic tissues of the patient to a distal end of said catheter; receiving said wireless signal via a receiver mounted to said catheter about a distal end thereof; and in response to the reception of said wireless signal, automatically energizing a drive element substantially embedded in a wall of said catheter about the distal end thereof to thereby bend said distal end portion relative to said tubular body portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method defined in claim 10 wherein said step of inserting includes the step of inserting said catheter into a blood vessel of the patient.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method defined in claim 10 wherein said drive element is a motor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4758222A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-03-13 | 1998-09-12 | 1999-03-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-03-13 | 2002-09-12 | 2003-03-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-03-13 | 2006-09-12 | 2007-03-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |