Fluid Drive System for Catheter Articulation and Other Uses

摘要

Fluid control devices, systems, and methods are useful for articulating catheters and other elongate flexible structures. A modular manifold architecture includes plate-mounted valves to facilitate fluid communication along a plurality of fluid channels included in one or more multi-lumen shafts for articulating actuators comprising balloons within a balloon array, with the balloons often mounted on two or more extruded multi-lumen shafts. Valve/plate modules can be assembled in an array, and a proximal interface of the shaft(s) may have ports for accessing the balloon channels distributed along an axis of the interface. By aligning and engaging the proximal interface with a receptacle that traverses the plates of the manifold assembly, the ports can be quickly and easily sealed to associated channels of the various valve/plate modules using a quick-disconnect fitting.

主权项

1. An articulation system comprising:
an articulated structure including an elongate flexible body having a proximal end and a distal end with an axis therebetween, a proximal interface adjacent the proximal end having a plurality of ports distributed along the axis, a plurality of actuators distal of the ports, and a plurality of lumens extending along the flexible body, each lumen providing fluid communication between an associated port and an associated actuator; and a manifold having a manifold body with a proximal orientation and a distal orientation with a manifold axis therebetween, the manifold body having a plurality of regions distributed along the manifold axis, each region having a fluid supply channel, the manifold having a receptacle traversing the regions, wherein the receptacle removably receives the proximal interface of the articulated structure with each port in sealed fluid communication with an associated fluid supply channel such that fluid transmitted from the fluid supply channels can actuate the actuators and induce movement of the distal end.