CATHETER GUIDING SYSTEM AND METHODS

摘要

A steerable guide catheter includes a tip ring at a distal end and one or more pullwires configured to engage with the tip ring when put in tension, the pullwire(s) thereby subjecting the steerable guide catheter to a curving or turning force. The tip ring includes a saddle and one or more pullwire channels allowing the pullwire to be looped over the saddle such that when the pullwire is placed under tension, it abuts against the saddle of the tip ring. Some embodiments include additional catheters axially aligned within or outside of the steerable guide catheter, and include a keying feature aligning the rotation of the multiple catheters. The keys of the keying feature can be formed of a polyamide with a glass microsphere filler, and can be thermally welded to the catheter.

主权项

1. A guidance system for accessing a target area within a body, the guidance system comprising:
a guidable catheter having a proximal end and a distal end; a tip ring attached to the distal end of the guidable catheter, the tip ring having a first saddle; and a first pullwire extending to the tip ring and configured to engage with the first saddle of the tip ring upon application of tension to the first pullwire, the first pullwire thereby subjecting the guidable catheter to a first curving force upon application of tension to the first pullwire.