Steerable catheters

摘要

Embodiments of steerable catheters are disclosed. The catheters may include a plurality of generally arcuate-shaped struts connected at proximal and distal ends of a handle. The handle is connected to a tubular portion at a distal end of the handle. The tubular portion includes a resilient component positioned near a distal tip of the tubular portion. The catheter includes a pull wire fixed to a point at or near the distal tip of the tubular portion. Upon manual compression of the handle, the struts are squeezed together, lengthening the handle, and extending the pull wire proximally. The proximal extension of the pull wire can cause the distal tip of the catheter to deflect. The catheter can be rotated greater than 360° around a longitudinal axis. The compressible handle can allow a user of the catheter tactile feedback and control over navigation of the catheter.

主权项

1. A method of using a steerable catheter, the method comprising:
advancing a handle, the handle coupled to an elongate tubular body, the elongate tubular body in a lumen of a patient, the handle comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and an axis between the proximal end of the handle and the distal end of the handle, the handle comprising a plurality of resilient and flexible struts biased into an arcuate configuration, the struts coupled at the proximal end of the handle and the distal end of the handle, the struts extending away from the axis from the proximal end of the handle to an intermediate point along the handle and the struts extending towards the axis from the intermediate point to the distal end of the handle, the struts circumferentially spaced about the axis of the handle forming a generally arcuate shape, and the elongate tubular body comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion coupled to the distal end of the handle, the distal portion including a distal end of the elongate tubular body, the distal portion comprising a resilient component longitudinally extending along the elongate tubular body proximate to the distal end of the elongate tubular body, a pull wire lumen extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion, a pull wire extending from the proximal end of the handle to the distal end of the elongate tubular body within the pull wire lumen; manually inwardly compressing the handle, extending the proximal end of the handle and the pull wire proximally and deflecting the distal end of the elongate tubular body from a substantially straight configuration to a curved configuration, a degree of deflecting corresponding to a force applied during the manual inward compression; and rotating the handle including:
continuing manually inwardly compressing the handle; andmoving at least one of a thumb forward and fingers backwards, or moving at least one of a thumb backwards and fingers forward.