Ultrasound catheter and hand-held device for manipulating a transducer on the catheter's distal end

US8840560B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• THE VOLCANO CORPORATION · US

Inventors

• Norman Hugh Hossack · Folsom, US
• Richard Scott Huennekens · San Diego, US
• Rovil Arcia · Fremont, US
• Ernest Heflin · Pleasanton, US
• Stephen Charles Davies · Cameron Park, US
• Richard Chester Klosinski, JR. · Sacramento, US
• Blair D. Walker · Mission Viejo, US
• Chak M. Leung · Palo Alto, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 4, 2007
• Grant date: Sep 23, 2014
• Expiry date: Sep 3, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2017/003
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A hand-operated intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) catheter is described for flexed and rotational steering is described for improved catheter operation, control and less trauma on patients. The disclosed catheter assembly includes ultrasound transducers mounted upon a rotatable tip mounted on a distal end of a flexible elongate shaft. A set of steering lines are controlled by a steering actuator to articulate bidirectionally a distal segment of the catheter. Another steering actuator controls rotation of a torque member that, in turn is coupled to the rotatable tip. A user, through the steering actuators, affects repositioning the ultrasonic transducers by repositioning exposed control surfaces of the steering actuators lengthwise along the housing of the handle.