Steerable catheter

US7682358B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Medtronic, Inc. · US

Inventors

• George Gullickson · Bloomington, US
• Mark T. Stewart · Lino Lakes, US
• Joseph E. Cardinal · Brooklyn Park, US
• Harry A. Puryear · Shoreview, US
• Scott Klimek · La Petite Bellangeraie, US
• James Skarda · Lake Elmo, US
• Richard A. Thompson, II · St. Louis Park, US
• Alan Carlson · San Antonio, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 30, 2003
• Grant date: Mar 23, 2010
• Expiry date: Apr 4, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61M25/0136
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A deflection mechanism for selectively inducing a bend in a catheter body includes an elongated deflection wire extending within a deflection lumen of the catheter body and into a handle. A guide track is formed within the handle and a thumb wheel is mounted proximal to the elongated guide track within the handle and supports a pinion gear; the thumb wheel and the pinion gear are adapted to be rotated about a common thumb wheel axis, which extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. A rack arm extends obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the handle and includes runners received by the guide track, an attachment point coupling the deflection wire to the rack arm and a linear rack engaging the pinion gear. Rotation of the thumb wheel in a first direction draws the deflection wire proximally through the deflection lumen.