Steerable electrophysiology catheter
US5797842A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 31, 1996 |
| Grant date | Aug 25, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 31, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61M25/0147
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A steerable catheter includes a handle, an elongated catheter body, a steering tube formed by an elongated coiled spring, the steering tube having a distal end that terminates short of the distal end of the catheter, and a steering spring having a bendable portion extending outside the distal end of the steering tube for bending the distal end of the catheter in response to an applied force exerted by one or more steering wires. A controller is positioned on the handle and attached to the steering wire, for applying tension. At least one and preferably two sleeves of polymeric material are heat shrunk around a part, but not all of the length of the distal portion of the catheter which extends distally from the elongated coiled spring. The bending characteristics of the catheter are modified by the length, and thickness of the sleeves as well as the physical characteristics of the polymer used. The preferred polymeric material is a polyester such as polyethylene terephthalate.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.