| 摘要 |
A steerable guidewire or stylet that has increased torsional strength is disclosed. A braided structure located in the vicinity of at least the distal end of the guidewire or stylet provides for a more efficient transfer of rotational force over the length of the guidewire or stylet. The braided structure may be comprised of a flat metal ribbon wire that may optionally be reinforced with a polyimide. According to one aspect of the invention, the stylet includes an outer member, and a pull-wire located within the outer member. The pull-wire is coupled to the distal tip of the outer member such that when tension is applied to the pull-wire, the distal tip of the outer member is deflected. The distal tip of the outer member may be formed of a material having superelastic properties such as a nickel titanium alloy, whereas the proximal portion of the stylet may be formed of a material having more torsional strength. The distal tip of the outer member may further include at least one aperture to provide a preferred bending direction when tension is applied to the pull-wire. Pull-wire is retained within the at least one aperture by the braided structure. According to another aspect of the invention, a handle is provided that includes both rotatable and slidable mechanisms to facilitate deflection of the distal tip portion of the outer member. In one embodiment, the handle may be adapted for use with a lead extension tool.
|
