Catheter having an active return-to-straight mechanism
US10118021B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 29, 2014 |
| Grant date | Nov 6, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 28, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61M2025/0166
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Actuators for steerable medical devices are disclosed that not only deflect or steer a portion of a medical device (e.g., a distal portion of a catheter shaft), but also include mechanisms for actively returning the deflected portion of the medical device to an initial configuration (e.g., straight or substantially straight). These active return-to-straight mechanisms may return a catheter shaft from a deflected configuration to a substantially straight configuration throughout a medical procedure, may employ one or more tension members extending along the catheter shaft, and may comprise a gross return actuator and a fine return actuator. For example, the gross return actuator may be configured to partially reverse the deflection of the distal portion of the catheter; and the fine return actuator may be configured to continue reversing the deflection. The gross return actuator may automatically trigger or actuate (mechanically or electromechanically) the fine return actuator.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.