Catheter with improved torque transmission

摘要

A catheter has a deflection beam and a single continuous puller wire to effectuate bi-directional deflection. A joint between a catheter body and a deflectable distal section effectively transmits torque from a control handle. The joint includes two open-shaped brackets, each affixed to a respective side of the flat deflection beam to form a closed-shaped hollow body that bridges and circumferentially encircles the beam. Each bracket has through-holes into which thermoplastic material of the catheter body and the deflectable distal section can melt and migrate to form interlocking nodes.

主权项

1. A catheter, comprising:
an elongated catheter body comprising a first tubular structure having a first central lumen, a distal end and a proximal end; the first tubular structure having a layer of thermoplastic material, a deflectable section having a second tubular structure having a second central lumen, and a proximal end that is distal of the proximal end of the catheter body; the second tubular structure having a layer of thermoplastic material; a joint between the distal end of the first tubular structure and the proximal end of the second tubular structure, the joint including a first bracket with two first edges and a second bracket with two second edges, each bracket having at least one receiving formation; a beam having a generally rectangular cross-section with first and second opposing surfaces, at least a portion of the beam extending through the joint; and a puller wire having first and second main sections and a U-bend section between the first and second main sections, the first and second main sections both having an end anchored in a control handle at the proximal end of the catheter body, and the U-bend section being anchored to a distal end of the beam; wherein the two first edges are affixed to the first surface of the beam and the two second edges are affixed to the second surface of the beam such that the first and second brackets form a hollow body surrounding the portion of the beam, a distal portion of the hollow body being covered by the layer of thermoplastic material of the second tubular structure, a proximal portion of the hollow body being covered by the layer of thermoplastic material of the first tubular structure, the layers of thermoplastic materials of the first and second tubular structures each having at least one node extending into the receiving formation.