Steerable and aimable catheter
US4758222A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 5, 1986 |
| Grant date | Jul 19, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 5, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H37/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A catheter or the like is steerable through cavities within a body and aimable toward organ or tissue within the body. The catheter includes an elongated tubular member having a distal end for insertion into the body and a temperature-activated memory element in the distal end of the hollow tubular member. The memory element has an initial shape and moves to assume a predetermined shape when heated to a predetermined temperature. A control system is provided for selectively heating the memory element to the predetermined temperature so that the memory element is moved in a first direction to deflect the distal end of the tubular member and thereby steer or aim the catheter within the body. A spring assembly is provided for yieldably urging the memory element in an opposite second direction to establish the initial shape and also to aid in returning the memory element to its initial shape when the temperature of the memory element is less than the predetermined temperature. The spring assembly includes a core member for supporting the memory element and a resilient member. Both the core member and resilient member are preformed to assume curved shapes and both move to assume a shape…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.