Steerable Catheter With Flexing Tip Member

摘要

A steerable catheter device includes a catheter body, a flexing tip member coupled to a distal end of the catheter body and having a wall with a first plurality of arcuate slits and a second plurality of arcuate slits, the first and second plurality of slits being diametrically opposed and alternating with each other, and an actuator that bends the flexing tip member, wherein at least a portion of the catheter body includes a braided sheath, and wherein each of the first and second plurality of slits has two ends and a center positioned midway between the two ends, and wherein all of the first plurality of slits have centers positioned along a first axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the catheter body and all of the second plurality of slits have centers positioned along a second axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the catheter body.

主权项

1. A steerable catheter device, comprising:
a catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis; a flexing tip member coupled to the distal end of said catheter body and having a length, wherein said flexing tip member comprises a wall with a first plurality of arcuate slits and a second plurality of arcuate slits, wherein said first plurality of slits and said second plurality of slits are diametrically opposed, and wherein said first plurality of slits alternate with said second plurality of slits; and an actuator that bends said flexing tip member; wherein at least a portion of said catheter body comprises a braided sheath; and wherein each of said first and second plurality of slits has two ends and a center positioned midway between the two ends and wherein all of said first plurality of slits have centers positioned along a first axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the catheter body and all of said second plurality of slits have centers positioned along a second axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the catheter body.