CATHETER POSITIONING SYSTEMS

摘要

The present invention provides a catheter positioning system which serves to control and stabilize a distal end (12) of a catheter (10) at a treatment site within a patient so that a medical procedure can be performed with accuracy. Generally, the positioning system operates by providing deformable mechanical members at the distal end of the catheter which can be operated from the proximal end of the catheter (10) to extend radially outward to engage surrounding tissue adjacent to treatment site. In one embodiment of the invention a flexible superstructure comprising the plurality of flexible veins (16) extending longitudinally along the distal end of the catheter can be deformed to bow radially outward to engage surrounding tissue. The distal tip of the catheter joined to one of the veins was correspondingly displaced or rotated angularly as the veins bow outward. In another embodiment radially projecting fingers (50) are joined to the distal end of the catheter.