Kink-resistant steerable catheter assembly

Claim 2

A kink-resistant steerable catheter assembly comprising: (A) a handle; (B) a catheter having (a) a flexible, torque-transmitting and axially incompressible proximal or body portion terminating in a proximal end attached to said handle, and (b) a flexible and axially compressible distal or tip portion terminating in a distal end; (a) said proximal portion of said catheter including: (i) an outer extrusion formed of a thin-walled, resilient tubing, (ii) torque-transmitting means for transmitting torque along said catheter proximal portion, (iii) axially incompressible means for precluding both compression and kinking of said catheter proximal portion, (iv) a large aperture extending through said catheter proximal portion, (v) at least a pair of relatively small flexible shafts, each said small shaft extending through said large aperture and defining a relatively small lumen, (vi) a coaxial cable disposed in and extending through said large aperture, and (vii) a pair of steering wires, each of said steering wires extending through a respective one of said small lumens, and having a proximal end exiting a proximal end of said respective small lumen and entering said handle; and (b) said distal portion of said catheter including: (i) an outer extrusion extension formed of a resilient tubing, (ii) stiffly resilient biasing means for biasing said catheter distal portion to its home orientation and resisting kinking of said catheter distal portion, (iii) a large lumen through said catheter distal portion defined by said stiff biasing means, (iv) at least a pair of relatively small lumen extensions defined by said outer extrusion extension, (v) a coaxial cable extension generally centrally disposed in, substantially filling, and snugly extending through said large lumen, and (vi) a pair of steering wire extensions, each of said steering wire extensions extending through a respective one of said small lumen extensions, and having a distal end attached to said cable extension adjacent a distal end thereof; and (C) controller means, disposed in and actuatable from said handle, for placing tension on one of said steering wires while relaxing tension on the other of said steering wires, thereby to bend said distal end of said coaxial cable toward said tensed one of said steering wires.

Claim 3

The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein said torque-transmitting means is a metal braid encapsulated by said tubing.

Claim 4

The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein said axially incompressible means is an axially incompressible wire coil snugly fitted within an inner surface of said outer extrusion.

Claim 5

The catheter assembly of claim 3 wherein said large aperture is defined by said coil.

Claim 6

The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein said small lumens are off-center in said large aperture.

Claim 7

The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein small lumens are disposed on the same side of in said large aperture.

Claim 8

The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein said biasing means is a relatively stiff material snugly fitted within said outer extrusion extension.

Claim 9

A kink-resistant steerable catheter assembly for use in microwave ablation, comprising: (A) a handle; (B) a catheter having (a) a flexible, torque-transmitting and axially incompressible proximal or body portion terminating in a proximal end attached to said handle, and (b) a flexible and axially compressible distal or tip portion terminating in a distal end; (a) said proximal portion of said catheter including: (i) an outer extrusion formed of a thin-walled, resilient tubing, (ii) torque-transmitting means for transmitting torque along said catheter proximal portion, including a metal braid encapsulated by said tubing, (iii) axially incompressible means for precluding both compression and kinking of said catheter proximal portion, including an axially incompressible wire coil snugly fitted within an inner surface of said outer extrusion, (iv) a large aperture extending through said catheter proximal portion, (v) at least a pair of relatively small flexible shafts, each said small shaft extending through said large aperture and defining a relatively small lumen, said small lumens being off-center in said large aperture, said small lumens being disposed on the same side of said large aperture, (vi) a coaxial cable disposed in and extending through said large aperture, and (vii) a pair of steering wires, each of said steering wires extending through a respective one of said small lumens, and having a proximal end exiting the proximal end of said respective small lumen and entering said handle; and (b) said distal portion of said catheter including: (i) an outer extrusion extension formed of a resilient tubing, (ii) stiffly resilient biasing means fitted within said outer extrusion extension for biasing said catheter distal portion to its home orientation, said stiffly resilient biasing means being defined by a relatively stiff material snugly fitted within said outer extrusion extension to resist kinking of said catheter distal portion, (iii) a large lumen through said catheter distal portion defined by said stiff material, (iv) at least a pair of relatively small lumen extensions defined by said outer extrusion extension, (v) a coaxial cable extension generally centrally disposed in, substantially filling, and snugly extending through said large lumen, and (vi) a pair of steering wire extensions, each of said steering wire extensions extending through a respective one of said small lumen extensions, and having a distal end attached to said coaxial cable extension adjacent a distal end thereof; and (C) controller means, disposed in and actuatable from said handle, for placing tension on one of said steering wires while relaxing tension on the other of said steering wires, thereby to bend said distal end of said coaxial cable toward said tensed one of said steering wires.

Claim 10

A kink-resistant steerable catheter assembly for use in microwave ablation, comprising: (A) a handle; (B) a catheter having (a) a flexible, torque-transmitting and axially incompressible proximal or body portion terminating in a proximal end attached to said handle, and (b) a flexible and axially compressible distal or tip portion terminating in a distal end; (a) said proximal portion of said catheter including: (i) an outer extrusion formed of a thin-walled, resilient tubing, (ii) torque-transmitting means for transmitting torque along said catheter proximal portion, including a metal braid encapsulated by said tubing, (iii) axially incompressible means for precluding both compression and kinking of said catheter proximal portion, including an axially incompressible wire coil snugly fitted within an inner surface of said outer extrusion, (iv) a large aperture extending through said catheter proximal portion, (v) at least a pair of relatively small flexible shafts, each said small shaft extending through said large aperture and defining a relatively small lumen, said small lumens being off-center in said large aperture, said small lumens being disposed on the same side of said large aperture, (vi) a coaxial cable disposed in and extending through said large aperture, and (vii) a pair of steering wires, each of said steering wires extending through a respective one of said small lumens, and having a proximal end exiting the proximal end of said respective small lumen and entering said handle; and (b) said distal portion of said catheter including: (i) an outer extrusion extension formed of a resilient tubing, (ii) stiffly resilient biasing means fitted within said outer extrusion extension for biasing said catheter distal portion to its home orientation, said stiffly resilient biasing means being defined by a relatively stiff material snugly fitted within said outer extrusion extension to resist kinking of said catheter distal portion, (iii) a large lumen through said catheter distal portion defined by said stiff material, (iv) at least a pair of relatively small lumen extensions defined by said outer extrusion extension, (v) a coaxial cable extension generally centrally disposed in, substantially filling, and snugly extending through said large lumen, and (vi) a pair of steering wire extensions, each of said steering wire extensions extending through a respective one of said small lumen extensions, and having a distal end attached to said coaxial cable extension adjacent a distal end thereof; and (C) controller means, disposed in and actuatable from said handle, for placing tension on one of said steering wires while relaxing tension on the other of said steering wires, thereby to bend said distal end of said coaxial cable toward said tensed one of said steering wires.

Claim 11

A kink-resistant steerable catheter assembly comprising: (A) a handle; (B) a catheter having (a) a flexible, torque-transmitting and axially incompressible proximal or body portion terminating in a proximal end attached to said handle, and (b) a flexible distal or tip portion terminating in a distal end; (a) said proximal portion of said catheter including: (i) an outer extrusion formed of a thin-walled, resilient tubing, (ii) torque-transmitting means for transmitting torque along said catheter proximal portion, (iii) axially incompressible means for precluding both compression and kinking of said catheter proximal portion, (iv) a large aperture extending through said catheter proximal portion, (v) at least a pair of relatively small flexible shafts, each said small shaft extending through said large aperture and defining a relatively small lumen, (vi) a coaxial cable disposed in and extending through said large aperture, and (vii) a pair of steering wires, each of said steering wires extending through a respective one of said small lumens, and having a proximal end and exiting a proximal end of said respective small lumen and entering said handle; and (b) said proximal portion of said catheter including: (i) a solid extrusion extension formed of resilient material for biasing said catheter distal portion to its home orientation and resisting kinking of said catheter distal portion, (ii) a large, central lumen through said catheter distal portion defined by said extrusion extension, (iii) at least a pair of relatively small, off-center lumen extensions through said catheter distal portion defined by said extrusion extension, (iv) a coaxial cable extension extending through said large lumen, and (v) a pair of steering wire extensions, at least one of said steering wire extensions being of rectangular cross-section, said steering wire extensions extending through a respective one of said small lumen extensions and having a distal end attached to said cable extension adjacent a distal end thereof; and (C) controller means, disposed in and actuatable from said handle, for placing tension on one of said steering wires while relaxing tension on the other of said steering wires, thereby to bend said distal end of said coaxial cable toward said tensed one of said steering wires.

Claim 12

A kink-resistant steerable catheter assembly comprising: (A) a handle; (B) a catheter having (a) a flexible, torque-transmitting and axially incompressible proximal or body portion terminating in a proximal end attached to said handle, and (b) a flexible distal or tip portion terminating in a distal end; (a) said proximal portion of said catheter including: (i) an outer extrusion formed of a thin-walled, resilient tubing, (ii) torque-transmitting means for transmitting torque along said catheter proximal portion, (iii) axially incompressible means for precluding both compression and kinking of said catheter proximal portion, (iv) a large aperture extending through said catheter proximal portion, (v) at least a pair of relatively small flexible shafts, each said small shaft extending through said large aperture and defining a relatively small lumen, (vi) a coaxial cable disposed in and extending through said large aperture, and (vii) a pair of steering wires, each of said steering wires extending through a respective one of said small lumens, and having a proximal end and exiting a proximal end of said respective small lumen and entering said handle; and (b) said proximal portion of said catheter including: (i) a solid extrusion extension formed of resilient material for biasing said catheter distal portion to its home orientation and resisting kinking of said catheter distal portion, (ii) a large, central lumen through said catheter distal portion defined by said extrusion extension, (iii) at least a pair of relatively small, off-center lumen extensions through said catheter distal portion defined by said extrusion extension, (iv) a coaxial cable extension extending through said large lumen, and (v) a pair of steering wire extensions, at least one of said steering wire extensions being of rectangular cross-section, said steering wire extensions extending through a respective one of said small lumen extensions and having a distal end attached to said cable extension adjacent a distal end thereof; and (C) controller means, disposed in and actuatable from said handle, for placing tension on one of said steering wires while relaxing tension on the other of said steering wires, thereby to bend said distal end of said coaxial cable toward said tensed one of said steering wires.

Claim 13

The catheter assembly of claim 9 wherein said small lumen extensions are diametrically off-center relative to said large lumen.

Claim 14

The catheter assembly of claim 9 wherein said small lumen extensions are disposed on opposite sides of said large lumen.

Claim 15

The catheter assembly of claim 9 wherein each of said steering wire extensions is of rectangular cross-section.

Claim 16

The catheter assembly of claim 9 wherein at least one of said steering wire extensions is of circular cross-section.

Claim 17

The catheter assembly of claim 9 wherein both of said steering wire extensions are of circular cross-section.

Claim 18

The catheter assembly of claim 9 wherein said flexible distal or tip portion of said catheter is axially compressible.

Claim 19

The catheter assembly of claim 9 wherein said flexible distal or tip portion of said catheter is axially incompressible.

Claim 20

A kink-resistant steerable catheter assembly comprising: (A) a handle; (B) a catheter having (a) a flexible, torque-transmitting and axially incompressible proximal or body portion terminating in a proximal end attached to said handle, and (b) a flexible distal or tip portion terminating in a distal end; (a) said proximal portion of said catheter including: (i) an outer extrusion formed of a thin-walled, resilient tubing, (ii) torque-transmitting means for transmitting torque along said catheter proximal portion, (iii) axially incompressible means for precluding both compression and kinking of said catheter proximal portion, (iv) a large aperture extending through said catheter proximal portion, (v) at least a pair of relatively small flexible shafts, each said small shaft extending through said large aperture and defining a relatively small lumen, (vi) a coaxial cable disposed in and extending through said large aperture, and (vii) a pair of steering wires, each of said steering wires extending through a respective one of said small lumens, and having a proximal end and exiting a proximal end of said respective small lumen and entering said handle; and (b) said proximal portion of said catheter including: (i) a solid extrusion extension formed of resilient material for biasing said catheter distal portion to its home orientation and resisting kinking of said catheter distal portion, (ii) a large, central lumen through said catheter distal portion defined by said extrusion extension, (iii) at least a pair of relatively small, off-center lumen extensions through said catheter distal portion defined by said extrusion extension, (iv) a coaxial cable extension extending through said large lumen, (v) a pair of steering wire extensions, said steering wire extensions extending through a respective one of said small lumen extensions and having a distal end attached to said cable extension adjacent a distal end thereof; and (vi) axially incompressible means for defining a flex plane intermediate said pair of steering wire extensions and enabling said steering wire extensions to bend said distal end to either side of said flex plane and; (C) controller means, disposed in and actuatable from said handle, for placing tension on one of said steering wires while relaxing tension on the other of said steering wires, thereby to bend said distal end of said coaxial cable toward said tensed one of said steering wires.

Claim 21

A kink-resistant steerable catheter assembly comprising: (A) a handle; (B) a catheter having (a) a flexible, torque-transmitting and axially incompressible proximal or body portion terminating in a proximal end attached to said handle, and (b) a flexible distal or tip portion terminating in a distal end; (a) said proximal portion of said catheter including: (i) an outer extrusion formed of a thin-walled, resilient tubing, (ii) torque-transmitting means for transmitting torque along said catheter proximal portion, (iii) axially incompressible means for precluding both compression and kinking of said catheter proximal portion, (iv) a large aperture extending through said catheter proximal portion, (v) at least a pair of relatively small flexible shafts, each said small shaft extending through said large aperture and defining a relatively small lumen, (vi) a coaxial cable disposed in and extending through said large aperture, and (vii) a pair of steering wires, each of said steering wires extending through a respective one of said small lumens, and having a proximal end and exiting a proximal end of said respective small lumen and entering said handle; and (b) said proximal portion of said catheter including: (i) a solid extrusion extension formed of resilient material for biasing said catheter distal portion to its home orientation and resisting kinking of said catheter distal portion, (ii) a large, central lumen through said catheter distal portion defined by said extrusion extension, (iii) at least a pair of relatively small, off-center lumen extensions through said catheter distal portion defined by said extrusion extension, (iv) a coaxial cable extension extending through said large lumen, (v) a pair of steering wire extensions, said steering wire extensions extending through a respective one of said small lumen extensions and having a distal end attached to said cable extension adjacent a distal end thereof; and (vi) axially incompressible means for defining a flex plane intermediate said pair of steering wire extensions and enabling said steering wire extensions to bend said distal end to either side of said flex plane and; (C) controller means, disposed in and actuatable from said handle, for placing tension on one of said steering wires while relaxing tension on the other of said steering wires, thereby to bend said distal end of said coaxial cable toward said tensed one of said steering wires.

Claim 22

The assembly of claim 17 wherein said flex plane is intermediate said small lumen extensions and said steering wire extensions therein and enables said steering wire extensions to bend said large lumen and said coaxial cable extension therein to either side of said flex plane.

Claim 23

The assembly of claim 17 wherein said incompressible means includes a spaced parallel pair of axially incompressible rods.

Claim 24

The assembly of claim 19 wherein said axially incompressible rods are circular in cross section.

Claim 25

The assembly of claim 19 wherein said incompressible rods are rectangular in cross section.

Claim 26

The assembly of claim 17 wherein said incompressible means is a single incompressible rod of rectangular cross-section defining said flex plane.