SHAFT MOVEMENT CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHOD

摘要

The present invention is a device and method for controlling longitudinal movement of a tube (34) relative to a shaft (36) slidably disposed within the tube, especially in the catheterization of a patient. An operative segment of the shaft cooperates with an ancillary tool to create a coupling force field between the shaft (36) and the tool (34). The tube can be moved over the shaft while the coupling force field operates through the tube to restrict movement of the shaft. In preferred embodiment, the shaft is a guide wire (36) and the tube is a catheter (34) with a lumen for slidably receiving the guide wire (36), while the coupling force is created magnetically.