Bi-directional catheter steering handle

摘要

A deflectable sheath for use in medical procedures in the vasculature is described. The sheath includes a handle supporting the sheath. Two pull wires run along opposite sides of the sheath to anchors at the deflectable distal end. The handle includes a rotatable member that moves a threaded slider block in a back and forth translational manner. As that translational movement occurs, force is applied to either one or the other of the pull wires to cause deflection of distal end of the sheath in either and upwardly or a downwardly direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the sheath.

主权项

1. A deflectable catheter, which comprises:
a) a tubular sheath providing a delivery lumen extending from a proximal sheath portion to a deflectable distal sheath end; b) a handle supporting the proximal sheath portion; c) a longitudinal inner tube supported by the handle, the inner tube comprising an inner tube lumen extending from a distal inner tube end in open communication with the delivery lumen of the sheath to a proximal inner tube end located at a proximal end of the handle; d) a rotatable threaded member supported on an outer tubular rod housed inside the handle, wherein the inner tube extends through the outer tubular rod; e) a slider block housed inside the handle and comprising at least one thread that mates with the threaded member so that a rotational force imparted to the threaded member results in selected translational, but not rotational, movement of the slider block back-and-forth along the handle; f) first and second pull wires extending from the deflectable distal sheath end to the handle; g) wherein the first pull wire has a first distal end at the deflectable distal sheath end and extends through an annulus between the inner tube and the outer tubular rod supporting the threaded member with a proximal end of the first pull wire bearing against a proximal surface of a proximal end wall of the slider block housed inside the handle; h) wherein the second pull wire has a second distal end at the deflectable distal sheath end and extends through the annulus to a proximal U-shaped tube as a change-of-direction device and then to a proximal end of the second pull wire bearing against a distal surface of the proximal end wall of the slider block housed inside the handle; i) wherein the rotatable member is manipulatable in a first direction to translate the slider block in a rearwardly direction along the handle to apply a first pulling force on the first pull wire to thereby deflect the distal sheath end into a first orientation out of alignment, with respect to a longitudinal axis of the sheath; and j) wherein the rotatable member is manipulatable in a second direction, opposite the first direction, to translate the slider block in a forwardly direction to apply a second pulling force on the second pull wire to thereby deflect the distal sheath end into a second orientation out of alignment with respect to the longitudinal axis of the sheath.