US5656029A — Steerable catheter with adjustable bend location …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 157 words

A steerable catheter comprising a flexible elongate tubular member having proximal and distal extremities, a handle secured to the proximal extremity, said tubular member having a lumen extending therethrough, a mandrel slidably mounted in the lumen and extending into the distal extremity and means extending through the tubular member for causing bending of the distal extremity with respect to the mandrel disposed therein, said flexible elongate tubular member having an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve, said outer sleeve extending over the inner sleeve, one af said inner and outer sleeves between the proximal distal extremities of the flexible elongate tubular member being twisted through an angle of at least 250 degrees with respect to the other of said inner and outer sleeves and being secured to each other to inhibit whipping of the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member as the handle is used to impart rotational movement of the flexible elongate tubular member.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 157 words

A steerable catheter comprising a flexible elongate tubular member having proximal and distal extremities, a handle secured to the proximal extremity, said tubular member having a lumen extending therethrough, a mandrel slidably mounted in the lumen and extending into the distal extremity and means extending through the tubular member for causing bending of the distal extremity with respect to the mandrel disposed therein, said flexible elongate tubular member having an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve, said outer sleeve extending over the inner sleeve, one af said inner and outer sleeves between the proximal distal extremities of the flexible elongate tubular member being twisted through an angle of at least 250 degrees with respect to the other of said inner and outer sleeves and being secured to each other to inhibit whipping of the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member as the handle is used to impart rotational movement of the flexible elongate tubular member.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 112 words

A catheter as in claim 1 together with means carried by the handle for moving the mandrel longitudinally of the flexible elongate member to cause bends of different radii to be formed in the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member, said mandrel including first and second members, slidably mounted with respect to each other and disposed in the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member and having portions thereof overlapping each other and wherein said means carried by the handle for moving the mandrel longitudinally of the flexible elongate member includes means for changing the amount of overlap of the first and second members with respect to each other.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 49 words

A device as in claim 2 wherein said means for causing bending of the distal extremity with respect to the mandrel consists of a pull wire secured to the distal extremity of the flexible elongate member and means carried by the handle for advancing and retracting the pull wire.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 56 words

A catheter as in claim 3 wherein said mandrel includes Nitinol memory means carried by the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member having a memory which wishes to assume a straight shape to aid in returning the distal extremity of the flexible elongate member to a straight shape when the pull wire is released.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 51 words

A catheter as in claim 4 wherein said memory means assuming a straight shape is comprised of a superelastic material in ribbon-like form having a width and a thickness and solely permitting bending of the ribbon in a direction which is perpendicular to the surface forming the width of the ribbon.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 69 words

A catheter as in claim 2 wherein the means carried by the handle for changing the amount of overlap of the portions includes a pin secured to the mandrel and a sleeve carried by the handle and rotatably mounted on the handle and means coupled to the sleeve and to the pin for causing longitudinal movement of the pin with respect to the handle upon rotation of the sleeve.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 18 words

Steerable catheter as in claim 1 wherein the inner sleeve is twisted with respect to the outer sleeve.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 19 words

A steerable catheter as in claim 7 wherein the outer sleeve is formed of materials which includes a braid.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 17 words

A steerable catheter as in claim 8 wherein said braid includes a plurality of stainless steel strands.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 180 words

A steerable catheter comprising a flexible elongate tubular member having proximal and distal extremities, a handle secured to the proximal extremity, said flexible elongate tubular member comprising an inner shaft having at least one lumen extending therethrough, a coaxial sleeve mounted on the shaft, at least a portion of said shaft having a twist provided therein and means for securing said sleeve to said shaft at opposite ends of said portion to retain said twist in said shaft, a pull wire extending through said at least one lumen and connected to the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member and means carried by the handle and secured to the pull wire for retracting and advancing said pull wire, said sleeve being formed of a material having good torque transmitting properties, said pull wire being used for placing a bend in the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member, said twist in said portion of said shaft serving to prevent the pull wire from selecting a preferred orientation when said portion of the shaft is formed into a bend.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 180 words

A steerable catheter comprising a flexible elongate tubular member having proximal and distal extremities, a handle secured to the proximal extremity, said flexible elongate tubular member comprising an inner shaft having at least one lumen extending therethrough, a coaxial sleeve mounted on the shaft, at least a portion of said shaft having a twist provided therein and means for securing said sleeve to said shaft at opposite ends of said portion to retain said twist in said shaft, a pull wire extending through said at least one lumen and connected to the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member and means carried by the handle and secured to the pull wire for retracting and advancing said pull wire, said sleeve being formed of a material having good torque transmitting properties, said pull wire being used for placing a bend in the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member, said twist in said portion of said shaft serving to prevent the pull wire from selecting a preferred orientation when said portion of the shaft is formed into a bend.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 13 words

A catheter as in claim 10 wherein said twist extends through substantially 360°.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 18 words

A catheter as in claim 10 Wherein said portion of the shaft has a length of approximately 15".

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 50 words

A catheter as in claim 10 wherein said shaft is provided with a central lumen, a mandrel slidably mounted in said central lumen and extending to the distal extremity and means carried by the handle and secured to the mandrel for advancing and retracting the mandrel in the central lumen.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 24 words

A catheter as in claim 13 wherein the at least one lumen for the pull wire is offset with respect to the central lumen.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 127 words

A method for preventing whipping of the distal extremity of a steerable catheter as the steerable catheter is rotated when a bend has been placed in the distal extremity of the steerable catheter of the type which is provided with an elongate shaft and having a centrally disposed lumen therein extending therethrough and an additional lumen disposed therein offset from the centrally disposed lumen and a coaxially mounted sleeve mounted on said shaft comprising imparting a twist to at least a portion of the shaft and securing opposite sides of the portion of the shaft having the portion therein to the sleeve to retain the twist in the shaft and placing a pull wire in the additional lumen in the shaft and secured to the distal extremity.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 127 words

A method for preventing whipping of the distal extremity of a steerable catheter as the steerable catheter is rotated when a bend has been placed in the distal extremity of the steerable catheter of the type which is provided with an elongate shaft and having a centrally disposed lumen therein extending therethrough and an additional lumen disposed therein offset from the centrally disposed lumen and a coaxially mounted sleeve mounted on said shaft comprising imparting a twist to at least a portion of the shaft and securing opposite sides of the portion of the shaft having the portion therein to the sleeve to retain the twist in the shaft and placing a pull wire in the additional lumen in the shaft and secured to the distal extremity.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 45 words

A method as in claim 15 together with the step of positioning a mandrel within the central lumen adjusting the position of the mandrel to adjust the radius of the bend placed in the distal extremity of the catheter as the pull wire is retracted.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 58 words

A method as in claim 15 together with the step of placing a member in the distal extremity of the catheter having a superelastic memory in the form of a straight shape so that when the pull wire is advanced, the distal extremity of the catheter assumes a straight shape under the urging of the superelastic memory member.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 65 words

A method as in claim 17 together with the step of forming the member haying a superelastic memory into the form of a ribbon having a width greater than the thickness and orienting the ribbon so that the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member will only bend in a direction toward the pull wire which is perpendicular to the width of the ribbon.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 150 words

A steerable catheter comprising a flexible elongate tubular member having proximal and distal extremities, a handle secured to the proximal, said tubular member having a lumen extending therethrough, a bend location mandrel slidably mounted in the lumen extending into the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member, said bend location mandrel including first and second members slidably mounted with respect to each other and disposed in the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member, said first and second members having portions overlapping each other, means extending from the handle to the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member for causing bending of the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member and means secured to the handle for changing the amount of overlap of the first and second members to thereby change the radius of the bend in the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 150 words

A steerable catheter comprising a flexible elongate tubular member having proximal and distal extremities, a handle secured to the proximal, said tubular member having a lumen extending therethrough, a bend location mandrel slidably mounted in the lumen extending into the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member, said bend location mandrel including first and second members slidably mounted with respect to each other and disposed in the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member, said first and second members having portions overlapping each other, means extending from the handle to the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member for causing bending of the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member and means secured to the handle for changing the amount of overlap of the first and second members to thereby change the radius of the bend in the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 56 words

A steerable catheter as in claim 19 wherein said first and second members are in the form of ribbon-like members which are rectangular in cross-section and having a width which is greater than the thickness so that they will only bend in the direction which is perpendicular to the width of the first and second members.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 32 words

A steerable catheter as in claim 20 wherein said ribbon-like members are formed of a superelastic material and having a memory for causing first and second members to assume a straight shape.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 58 words

A steerable catheter as in claim 19 wherein a tip is carried by the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member, wherein said bend location mandrel includes a mandrel member circular in cross-section, wherein said first member is secured to the distal extremity of the mandrel member and wherein said second member is secured to said tip.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 81 words

A method for adjusting the radius of the bend in the distal extremity of a steerable catheter, providing mandrel means having overlapping portions which is slidably mounted in the distal extremity of the catheter, providing pull wire means secured to the distal extremity of the catheter for creating a bend in the distal extremity of the catheter and changing the amount of overlap of the overlapping portions to change the radius of the bend in the distal extremity of the catheter.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 81 words

A method for adjusting the radius of the bend in the distal extremity of a steerable catheter, providing mandrel means having overlapping portions which is slidably mounted in the distal extremity of the catheter, providing pull wire means secured to the distal extremity of the catheter for creating a bend in the distal extremity of the catheter and changing the amount of overlap of the overlapping portions to change the radius of the bend in the distal extremity of the catheter.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2000-08-11	2001-02-10	2001-08-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2004-08-11	2005-02-10	2005-08-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2008-08-11	2009-02-10	2009-08-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Steerable catheter with adjustable bend location and/or radius and method

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