Steerable and aimable catheter
US4543090A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 31, 1983 |
| Grant date | Sep 24, 1985 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 31, 2003 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H37/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A catheter and the like is steerable through cavities within a body and aimable toward organs or tissue within the body. The catheter includes an elongated tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end for insertion into the body and a plurality of temperature-activated memory elements in the distal end of the tubular member. Each memory element assumes a first shape when heated to a predetermined temperature and assumes. Each memory element is coupled to at least one other memory element so that movement of one element results in movement of the other element. Each memory element is moved to a second shape when the memory element coupled thereto is heated to the predetermined temperature. A control system adjacent the proximal end of the tubular member allows an operator to selectively control the temperature of each temperature-activated element to deflect the distal end of the tubular member so as to either direct the course of the tubular member or to direct the distal end of the tubular member toward an organ or tissue within the body. The control system includes a power supply source, electrical connections between the power supply source and the memory elements in th…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.