US3773034A - Steerable catheter - Google Patents
Steerable catheter Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3773034A US3773034A US00201912A US3773034DA US3773034A US 3773034 A US3773034 A US 3773034A US 00201912 A US00201912 A US 00201912A US 3773034D A US3773034D A US 3773034DA US 3773034 A US3773034 A US 3773034A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- tube
- distal end
- catheter
- control
- fluid
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M25/00—Catheters; Hollow probes
- A61M25/01—Introducing, guiding, advancing, emplacing or holding catheters
- A61M25/0105—Steering means as part of the catheter or advancing means; Markers for positioning
- A61M25/0133—Tip steering devices
- A61M25/0155—Tip steering devices with hydraulic or pneumatic means, e.g. balloons or inflatable compartments
Definitions
- ABSTRACT A tip on a catheter is bent to steer the distal end of the catheter by displacing a control fluid within an elongated fluid conduit to stretch one longitudinally extending side of the tip relative to an opposite longitudinally extending side of the tip.
- the stretched side bends about the shorter side with a radius of curvature larger than the radius of curvature for the shorter side of the tip.
- a longitudinal restraining means may be applied to the tip to assure that the tip always bends in the same direction with the fluid displacement.
- catheters may be bent in several and predetermined directions by providing a plurality of discrete fluid control conduits and by establishing a fluid pressure differential in at least one of the conduits to cause its associated side to lengthen and bend relative to a portion of the tip associated with another control conduit.
- the catheter may be small in dimension, made inexpensively and restrained against expanding in diameter by a circumferential restraining means.
- This invention relates to catheters and more particularly to catheters having distal ends which may be deflected or bent to facilitate its introduction into or travel through channels within the human body.
- catheters to therapeutically explore the cardiovascular and veinous systems of the human body.
- the movement of a catheter through the blood vessels within the human body to probe deeply for a considerable depth or through branching vessels requires that the tip of the catheter be steerable, that is, bendable or deflectable to travel at an angle when a branch of the blood vessel is reached.
- the catheter has a lumen, i.e., a passageway therein, through which fluids or contrast media may be transmitted or a medical instrumentality may be inserted. It will be appreciated that the catheters must be extremely small in diameter to move through the blood vessels and that the controls therefore must also be relatively small if there is to be sufficient space remaining for the lumen.
- cathether having a steerable tip at the distal end has several control wires running from the steerable tip to a proximal end at which steering means are provided for operating the control wires to bend the steerable tip.
- control wires add considerable stiffness to the catheter. Also, because the wire must be very small in diameter and often are curved and are frictionally retarded against movement while within the blood vessel, the wires sometimes fail when forces are exerted thereon to steer the same.
- Steerable catheters heretofore have been relatively expensive and definitely are not so inexpensive that they may be discarded after use, as in the case with many disposable medical instruments.
- the use of wires may be dispensed with and the catheter may be steered by a fluid displacement technique. That is, a displacement of fluid and a change of fluid pressure within control passages within the catheter is used to bend the tip to control its curvature for movement through the blood vessels.
- the catheter may be made from plastic materials and at sufficiently low cost as to be a disposable instrument.
- a general object of the invention is to provide a new and improved steerable catheter.
- FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a steerable catheter embodying the novel features of the invention
- FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the steerable tip of the catheter of FIG. 1 bent by fluid displacement;
- FIG. 3 is a view of the tip shown in FIG. 2 with the tip straightened
- FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the fabrication of the tip of FIG. 2;
- FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a multidirectional bendable tip constructed in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectioned perspective view of the tip of FIG. 5.
- FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of the invention.
- a steerable catheter 11 comprising an elongated flexible tubular member 12 having a steerable tip 14 at its distal end.
- a steering control means 17 is provided for displacing fluid within a control conduit means 19 (FIG. 2) associated with the tubular member 12 and extending to the steerable tip 14 at which the displacement of fluid results in one side of the steerable tip being lengthened relative to the other side of the tip with the result that the steerable tip bends.
- the steerable tip 14 is formed of a stretchable material which is free to lengthen when sufficient fluid force is applied to stretch one longitudinally extending portion or side 20 of the tip relative to another or opposite longitudinally extending area or side 21 causing the tip to bend with its lengthened side 20 having a larger curvature and with its shorter side 21 having a smaller curvature.
- the catheter illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 is a unidirectional catheter with the side 21 constrained against lengthening by an axial restraint means 23 while the other side is free to lengthen.
- a circumferential restraining means 25 in the form of helically wrapped bands or tapes 26 wound in opposite directions constrain the tip against a substantial increase in diameter while the side 20 is lengthening.
- the catheter 11 illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 is termed a unidirectional catheter in that it bends in the same and only one direction; and hence it will be necessary to rotate the entire tubular member 12 to turn the tip 14 if it is not already positioned to bend toward the branch blood vessel into which it is to be inserted.
- a multi-directional steerable catheter 27, such as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, may be bent at various directions and with varying amounts of curvature upon operation of the steerable control means 28 (FIG. 5) connected to several discrete lines 30, 31 and 32 of a fluid control means 29 which also comprises several fluid control tubes.
- a steerable tip 33 may be bent from a straight position, as shown in solid lines in FIG. 5, to the bent position, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 5.
- the bending is accomplished in general the same way as in the unidirectional catheter. That is, by displacing fluid to lengthen one side of the tip relative to an opposite side of the tip.
- the unidirectional catheter 11 shown in FIGS. 1-4 it is formed with a pair of coaxial tubes comprising an inner, elongated flexible tube 39 and an outer concentric elongated flexible tube 41 formed of a flexible elastomeric material such as a plastic.
- the innermost tube 39 has a central lumen 43 through which test fluids or instrumentation may be inserted at a proximal end 45 of the catheter.
- the inner and outer tubes 39 and 41 are joined together at a fluid tight juncture 47 at a distal end 49 for the catheter to prevent the loss of control fluid which is introduced between interior surface 51 of the outer tube and exterior surface 53 of the innermost tube 39 and within an annular control conduit passageway 55 therebetween.
- a longitudinal restraint means 23 will assure that the steerable tip 14 will bend in a predetermined and predictable direction; and in this instance, the restraint means is in the form of a longitudinally extending solid filament or cord 56 such as illustrated in H6. 4.
- the cord 56 is fastened to the outer side of the outer tube 41, for example, by being disposed between an inner wrap 57 of tape or cord 26 and an outer wrap 58 of a flat helically wound dacron tape or cords 26.
- the helically wound wraps 57 and of tape serve as a constraint against substantial enlargement of the tip diame ter with increased pressure of the fluid in the passageway 55.
- the longitudinal restraint cord 56 is disposed parallel to the longitudinal axes of the respective tubes 39 and 41 and extends substantially the length of the tip 14.
- a substantially circular cross-sectioned cord 56 may be flattened into a more oval or flat cross section by passing it through a nip of a pair of rollers.
- the pressure acts on the joined tube ends 47 and is longitudinally directed to cause the unrestrained side of the outer tube 41 to lengthen appreciably relative to its other side 2ll to which is bound the restraint cord 56.
- This cord is bendable but does not readily lengthen when placed in tension.
- the cord resists elongation and the cord 56 is bound to the underlying tape wraps 57 and thereby to the side 21 of the outer tube 41 by the outer tape wraps 58.
- the restraining cord 56 will be at the inner smaller diameter curve, as best seen in FIG. 2, opposite the outer, larger diameter curve.
- the steerable fluid control means 17 for displacing and increasing the fluid pressure within the fluid control passageway 55 may be in the form of a conventional syringe 61, as best seen in FIG. 1, which has its discharge end attached to a tube 63 which has its other end secured to the tubes 411 and 39 and disposed in fluid communication with the annular fluid control passageway 55 therebetween.
- the syringe has a central barrel 65 containing a supply of control liquid which is acted upon by a piston at the inner end of the plunger 67.
- a pressing inwardly on the plunger 67 increases the liquid pressure and displaces liquid from the syringe as the liquid acting on the tip end wall 47 forces the same forwardly with a stretching of the side 20 of the tube 41 and a bending about the constrained side 21, such as to the position shown in FIG. 2.
- the liquid pressure will be reduced inside the control passageway and the stretched side 20 of the outer tube 41 will contract and straighten to return and straighten the tip.
- an internal circumferential restraint in the form of a close wound coiled spring 7ll may be placed within the lumen 43 to support the interior wall of the inner tube 43.
- the spring is helically wound and made of stainless steel and allows bending of the tip without collapsing the inner tube and closing the central lumen. That is, the coils of the spring resist the inward movement of the wall of tube 39 when the pressure of the fluid is increased during bending. Stainless steel is preferred for the spring to prevent contamination of the fluid being injected into the blood vessel.
- a fluid control means having a plurality of control pas sageways in the form of tubes 73, 74 and 75 (FIG. 6) bonded along the exterior of an inner tube 77 having an inner lumen 79 through which a contrasting fluid or instrument may be inserted.
- the control tubes 73, 74 and 75 are spaced circumferentially about the outer surface of the innermost tube and bonded thereto at equi-angularly spaced locations.
- the control tubes have closed ends located at distal end 81 of the bendable tip 33 against which pressurized liquid in the tube will exert longitudinally directed forces to stretch the control tube and the underlying portion of the inner tube 77.
- control tubes 73, 74 and 75 are preferably overwrapped with oppositely disposed lays of helically wound tape 83, of a thin flat dacron material.
- the helical windings will allow bending and stretching of the inner tube 77 and control tubes 73, 74 and 75 but constrain the latter against substantial enlargement of the diameter thereof with increase in pressure of the liquid during bending of the tip.
- the windings of tape are disposed side by side in each lay to prevent the bulging of an expanded tube between adjacent windings while still keeping the bulk of winding reduced.
- an elastomeric coating 85 of plastic is applied to outer wraps of the tape 83 to impregnate the same and form a smooth outer wall of plastic for the catheter tip 33.
- successive applications of urethane may be applied to impregnate the tape windings and to build a plastic coating for the tip.
- An internal circumferential restraint in the form of a close wound coiled spring 78 may be placed within the lumen 79 to resist the inward movement of the wall of the inner tube 77 when the pressure of the fluid in the control tubes 73, 74 and 75 is increased during the bending of the tip 33.
- the spring is helically wound and allows bending of the tip without collapsing the inner tube and closing the lumen.
- Stainless steel is the preferred material for the spring to prevent contamination of fluids being injected into the blood vessel.
- the steering control means 28 for the multidirectional catheter 27 may be of several types.
- the illustrated steering control means 28 comprises three syringes 91, 93 and 95 each attached to one of the tubular line 30, 31 and 32 leading to and connected in fluid communication with one of the control tubes 73, 74 and 75.
- fluid within its syringe barrel 96 may be placed under increased pressure and displaced therefrom into its associated line and control tube to cause stretching of its control tube and its attached portion of the inner tube 77.
- a simultaneous operation of two of the syringes to increase liquid pressure within two control tubes causes the bending to occur along a path between the bending positions caused with operation of only a single one of the syringes.
- a more compact steering control means 28 more readily operable with one hand may be achieved by replacing the three individual syringes with one pistol grip handle having three plunger operating triggers or buttons incorporated therein for operation by each one of three fingers gripping the handle. Then, either one or a combination of two buttons may be depressed to increase pressure in attached fluid control lines 30,31 and 32 to cause the tip 33 of the multi-directional catheter 27 to bend and steer in the desired direction such as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 5.
- the multi-directional catheter 27 having three control tubes 73, 74 and 75 has been found to be relatively stable and predictable as to its direction of tuming and may be operable with reasonable fluid operating pressures.
- Multi-directional catheter have been made with two control tubes (now shown) but they have not been found to possess the stability and the predictability in turning that the three tube multi-directional catheters possess.
- increasing the number of control tubes from three to four has been found to result in the necessity for a greater-operating fluid pressure to cause bending because of increased frictional losses due to the small size of the four individual control tubes.
- the catheter with three control tubes is preferred.
- While the illustrated multi-directional catheter 27 is fabricated with separate fluid control tubes 73, 74 and 75 which are individually preformed and then secured by adhesive to the inner tube 77, reduced cost for the catheter may be achieved by integrally molding the innermost tube and control fluid passageways from a suitable plastic material.
- a one-piece molded catheter having fluid control passages may be sufficiently low in cost to be disposable.
- a steerable tip 101 in another smaller diameter embodiment of the invention, comprises a flexible resilient tube 103 with a closed end 105 having a central control conduit means in the form of a hollow interior passageway 107 in the tube 103.
- a longitudinal restraint 109 is secured along the one side of the tube 103 by a circumferential restraint which is formed with opposed helical wraps of tape 111.
- the tube 103 extends to the proximal end of the catheter for connection to a syringe (not shown) of its associated steering control means.
- An outer concentric tube 113 having a larger diameter is joined to the inner tube 103 at a juncture wall 114 adjacent the steerable tip but rearwardly thereof to form an annular passageway 115 extending rearwardly to the proximal end of the tube.
- a series of apertures 117 are formed in the outer tube 113 adjacent the steerable tip for allowing contrast media or catheter test fluid to be ejected from the annular passageway 115.
- test fluids may be supplied from a syringe (not shown) and forced through a line extending therefrom to the annular passageway 115 whereby such testfluid may flow from the apertures 117 adjacent the steerable tip.
- the steerable tip does not include the outer tube 113, the outside diameter of the tip including the circumferential wraps 111 may be kept smaller.
- the present invention is directed to a fluid displacement steerable catheter which eliminates the stiffness and frictional resistance of control wires or the like used in prior art catheters.
- the fluid displacement catheter may be made with relatively inexpensive flexible, resilient plastic tubes or flexible, resilient elastomeric material molded in one piece.
- the desired degree and direction of bending of the tip may be attained by controlling the amount of fluid displaced and the pressure exerted on one longitudinal side of the tip relative to another longitudinal side thereof.
- the catheter may be made with dimensions sufficiently small to pass through blood vessels and still provide a lumen for the injection of contrasting media or instrumentation into the human body.
- An elongated steerable catheter extending from a proximal to a distal end for passing through channels defined by walls in a body, said catheter comprising an elongated tube having a longitudinally extending passageway therein extending from the proximal end to a discharge opening adjacent the distal end, at least one control conduit means receiving a control fluid associated with the elongated tube and extending longitudinally from said proximal end to said distal end, said distal end of said tube being formed of a flexible, thin stretchable and contractible material for axial elongation with increase in pressure in said control conduit means and for contraction with reduction of said increase in pressure, said catheter having a predetermined overall length and a predetermined external cross-sectional dimension remaining substantially unchanged with increase of pressure in said control tube, and teer na m s Q ....lill?
- EkliQQEQl fluid in said control conduit means to cause one portion of said elongated tube at the distal end of the catheter which is the least restrained by the walls of the channel to stretch and to lengthen further into said channel and relative to another portion of said elongated tube which is more restrained by engagement with the walls of said channels, said lengthened portion being free to bend about said another portion in proportion to the pressure of control fluid and at various locations dependent upon the location of the restraint of said another portion so that tip may bend with varying radii dependent upon the radii of the channel.
- control conduit means is an inner tube having a hollow central passageway and in which said elongated tube is an outer tubecoaxial with said inner tube and in which said passageway of said elongated tube is annular in cross section, said discharge opening of said elongated tube being radially directed and in said outer tube.
- a catheter in accordance with claim 1 in which means are provided in said distal end of said tube passageway to hold the same against collapsing inwardly and closing said tube passageway when bending the catheter distal end.
- a catheter in accordance with claim 3 in which said means to hold said tube passageway against collapsing is a coiled spring inserted into said lumen at said sqs flwr qfz.
- a said control conduit means comprises plurality of longitudinal extending control conduits are spaced circumferentially about said tube and in which said steering control means is connected to each of said control conduits to provide a pressure differential within and between said control conduits to stretch said one portion of said tube thereby causing said distal end to bend.
- a catheter in accordance with claim 1 in which a circumferential restraining means holds said control conduit means from a substantial radially outward expansion with an increase of pressure in said control conduit.
- An elongated steerable catheter extending from a proximal to a distal end, said catheter comprising an elongated tube having a longitudinally extending passageway therein extending from the proximal end to a discharge opening adjacent the distal end, an elongated control conduit for receiving a control fluid associated with the elongated tube and extending longitudinally from said proximal end to said distal end, a constraining means for constraining one portion of said tube at said distal end against lengthening longitudinally to the extent that another portion lengthens under fluid pressure in said control conduit, and steering control means for increasing the pressure of said control fluid in said control conduit to elongate said other portion of said tube relative to said one portion causing said distal end to bend with said other portion having a larger radius of curvature than the one portion of the tube.
- An elongated catheter extending from a proximal end to a distal end which is steerable in multiple directions, said catheter comprising an elongated tube having a longitudinally extending passageway therein extending from the proximal end to a discharge opening adjacent the distal end, said distal end of said tube being stretchable and contractible, a plurality of discrete longitudinally extending control conduits spaced circumferentially about said tube and extending from said proximal end to said distal end, said control conduits being connected to said distal end of said steerable catheter at circumferentially spaced positions for stretching an associated portion of said distal end of said tube with establishment of a differential fluid pressure and displacement of fluid among said control conduits, and a steering control means having a plurality of selectively operable pressure increasing means each associated with one of said control conduits for increasing the pressure of fluid in its associated discrete control conduit for stretching its associated portion of the distal end of said tube, selective operations of said pressure increasing means establishing pressure differentials causing the tube distal end to
- control conduits comprise three separate tubes each extending along and secured about an outer wall for said elongated tube and in which a restraining means is helically wound about said control tubes to limit the radially outward expansion thereof with an increase in fluid pressure within the respective ones of the control tubes.
- a catheter in accordance with claim 10 in which means are provided in said distal end of said tube passageway to hold the same against collpsing inwardly and closing said tube passageway when bending the catheter distal end.
- An elongated steerable catheter extending from a proximal to a distal end, said catheter comprising an elongated tube having a longitudinally extending passageway therein extending from the proximal end to a discharge opening adjacent the distal end, at least one control conduit means receiving a control fluid associated with the elongated tube and extending longitudinally from said proximal end to said distal end, steering control means for displacing said control fluid in said control conduit to cause one portion of said elongated tube at the distal end of the catheter to lengthen relative to another portion of said elongated tube causing the distal end to bend with the lengthened portion having a larger radius of curvature than the other portion of the elongated tube, means in said distal end of said tube passageway for holding the same against collapsing inwardly and closing said tube passageway when bending the catheter distal end, and a constraining means constraining said other portion of the tube against lengthening longitudinally to the extent that said one portion lengthens where
- Patent No. 3 r 773 r 034 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Dated November. 20, 1973 MARVIN BURNS CHARLES THOMAS OGDEN and RICHARD A.
Abstract
A tip on a catheter is bent to steer the distal end of the catheter by displacing a control fluid within an elongated fluid conduit to stretch one longitudinally extending side of the tip relative to an opposite longitudinally extending side of the tip. The stretched side bends about the shorter side with a radius of curvature larger than the radius of curvature for the shorter side of the tip. A longitudinal restraining means may be applied to the tip to assure that the tip always bends in the same direction with the fluid displacement. On the other hand, other catheters may be bent in several and predetermined directions by providing a plurality of discrete fluid control conduits and by establishing a fluid pressure differential in at least one of the conduits to cause its associated side to lengthen and bend relative to a portion of the tip associated with another control conduit. The catheter may be small in dimension, made inexpensively and restrained against expanding in diameter by a circumferential restraining means.
Description
United States Patent [1 1 Burns et al.
[ STEERABLE CATHETER [75] Inventors: Marvin Burns, Wilmette; Charles Thomas Ogden, Chicago; Richard A. Rodzen, Bollingbrook, all of 111.
[73] Assignee: ITT Research Institute, Chicago, Ill.
[22] Filed: Nov. 24, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 201,912
2,819,718 1/1958 Goldman 128/350 R 3,521,620 7/1970 Cook 128/2.05 R 3,605,725 9/1971 Bentor... 128/348 X 3,500,820 3/1970 Almen 128/2 M Primary Examiner-Dalton L. Truluck AttorneyWilliam E. Anderson et al.
[451 Nov. 20, 1973 [5 7 ABSTRACT A tip on a catheter is bent to steer the distal end of the catheter by displacing a control fluid within an elongated fluid conduit to stretch one longitudinally extending side of the tip relative to an opposite longitudinally extending side of the tip. The stretched side bends about the shorter side with a radius of curvature larger than the radius of curvature for the shorter side of the tip. A longitudinal restraining means may be applied to the tip to assure that the tip always bends in the same direction with the fluid displacement. On the other hand, other catheters may be bent in several and predetermined directions by providing a plurality of discrete fluid control conduits and by establishing a fluid pressure differential in at least one of the conduits to cause its associated side to lengthen and bend relative to a portion of the tip associated with another control conduit. The catheter may be small in dimension, made inexpensively and restrained against expanding in diameter by a circumferential restraining means.
12 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures STEERABLE CATHETER This invention relates to catheters and more particularly to catheters having distal ends which may be deflected or bent to facilitate its introduction into or travel through channels within the human body.
Physicians currently use catheters to therapeutically explore the cardiovascular and veinous systems of the human body. The movement of a catheter through the blood vessels within the human body to probe deeply for a considerable depth or through branching vessels requires that the tip of the catheter be steerable, that is, bendable or deflectable to travel at an angle when a branch of the blood vessel is reached. Usually, the catheter has a lumen, i.e., a passageway therein, through which fluids or contrast media may be transmitted or a medical instrumentality may be inserted. It will be appreciated that the catheters must be extremely small in diameter to move through the blood vessels and that the controls therefore must also be relatively small if there is to be sufficient space remaining for the lumen.
One presently known form of cathether having a steerable tip at the distal end has several control wires running from the steerable tip to a proximal end at which steering means are provided for operating the control wires to bend the steerable tip. One shortcoming of control wires is that they add considerable stiffness to the catheter. Also, because the wire must be very small in diameter and often are curved and are frictionally retarded against movement while within the blood vessel, the wires sometimes fail when forces are exerted thereon to steer the same.
Steerable catheters heretofore have been relatively expensive and definitely are not so inexpensive that they may be discarded after use, as in the case with many disposable medical instruments.
In accordance with the present invention, the use of wires may be dispensed with and the catheter may be steered by a fluid displacement technique. That is, a displacement of fluid and a change of fluid pressure within control passages within the catheter is used to bend the tip to control its curvature for movement through the blood vessels. Also, in accordance with another aspect of the invention, the catheter may be made from plastic materials and at sufficiently low cost as to be a disposable instrument.
Accordingly, a general object of the invention is to provide a new and improved steerable catheter.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a steerable catheter embodying the novel features of the invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the steerable tip of the catheter of FIG. 1 bent by fluid displacement;
FIG. 3 is a view of the tip shown in FIG. 2 with the tip straightened;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the fabrication of the tip of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a multidirectional bendable tip constructed in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectioned perspective view of the tip of FIG. 5; and
FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of the invention.
As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the invention is embodied in a steerable catheter 11 comprising an elongated flexible tubular member 12 having a steerable tip 14 at its distal end. At the opposite end of the tubular member 12, a steering control means 17 is provided for displacing fluid within a control conduit means 19 (FIG. 2) associated with the tubular member 12 and extending to the steerable tip 14 at which the displacement of fluid results in one side of the steerable tip being lengthened relative to the other side of the tip with the result that the steerable tip bends.
More specifically, as best seen in FIG. 2, the steerable tip 14 is formed of a stretchable material which is free to lengthen when sufficient fluid force is applied to stretch one longitudinally extending portion or side 20 of the tip relative to another or opposite longitudinally extending area or side 21 causing the tip to bend with its lengthened side 20 having a larger curvature and with its shorter side 21 having a smaller curvature. The catheter illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 is a unidirectional catheter with the side 21 constrained against lengthening by an axial restraint means 23 while the other side is free to lengthen. Additionally, a circumferential restraining means 25 in the form of helically wrapped bands or tapes 26 wound in opposite directions constrain the tip against a substantial increase in diameter while the side 20 is lengthening. The catheter 11 illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 is termed a unidirectional catheter in that it bends in the same and only one direction; and hence it will be necessary to rotate the entire tubular member 12 to turn the tip 14 if it is not already positioned to bend toward the branch blood vessel into which it is to be inserted.
A multi-directional steerable catheter 27, such as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, may be bent at various directions and with varying amounts of curvature upon operation of the steerable control means 28 (FIG. 5) connected to several discrete lines 30, 31 and 32 of a fluid control means 29 which also comprises several fluid control tubes. By establishing a fluid pressure differential between the control tubes and by displacing fluid in at least one of the control tubes, a steerable tip 33 may be bent from a straight position, as shown in solid lines in FIG. 5, to the bent position, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 5. The bending is accomplished in general the same way as in the unidirectional catheter. That is, by displacing fluid to lengthen one side of the tip relative to an opposite side of the tip.
Referring first in greater detail to the unidirectional catheter 11 shown in FIGS. 1-4, it is formed with a pair of coaxial tubes comprising an inner, elongated flexible tube 39 and an outer concentric elongated flexible tube 41 formed of a flexible elastomeric material such as a plastic. The innermost tube 39 has a central lumen 43 through which test fluids or instrumentation may be inserted at a proximal end 45 of the catheter. To form the control conduit means 19 for the control fluid, the inner and outer tubes 39 and 41 are joined together at a fluid tight juncture 47 at a distal end 49 for the catheter to prevent the loss of control fluid which is introduced between interior surface 51 of the outer tube and exterior surface 53 of the innermost tube 39 and within an annular control conduit passageway 55 therebetween.
A longitudinal restraint means 23 will assure that the steerable tip 14 will bend in a predetermined and predictable direction; and in this instance, the restraint means is in the form of a longitudinally extending solid filament or cord 56 such as illustrated in H6. 4. The cord 56 is fastened to the outer side of the outer tube 41, for example, by being disposed between an inner wrap 57 of tape or cord 26 and an outer wrap 58 of a flat helically wound dacron tape or cords 26. The helically wound wraps 57 and of tape serve as a constraint against substantial enlargement of the tip diame ter with increased pressure of the fluid in the passageway 55. The longitudinal restraint cord 56 is disposed parallel to the longitudinal axes of the respective tubes 39 and 41 and extends substantially the length of the tip 14. To reduce the thickness of the overlapping cords, a substantially circular cross-sectioned cord 56 may be flattened into a more oval or flat cross section by passing it through a nip of a pair of rollers.
With an increase in fluid pressure in the control passageway 55, the pressure acts on the joined tube ends 47 and is longitudinally directed to cause the unrestrained side of the outer tube 41 to lengthen appreciably relative to its other side 2ll to which is bound the restraint cord 56. This cord is bendable but does not readily lengthen when placed in tension. The cord resists elongation and the cord 56 is bound to the underlying tape wraps 57 and thereby to the side 21 of the outer tube 41 by the outer tape wraps 58. Thus, when the tip bends, the restraining cord 56 will be at the inner smaller diameter curve, as best seen in FIG. 2, opposite the outer, larger diameter curve.
The steerable fluid control means 17 for displacing and increasing the fluid pressure within the fluid control passageway 55 may be in the form of a conventional syringe 61, as best seen in FIG. 1, which has its discharge end attached to a tube 63 which has its other end secured to the tubes 411 and 39 and disposed in fluid communication with the annular fluid control passageway 55 therebetween. The syringe has a central barrel 65 containing a supply of control liquid which is acted upon by a piston at the inner end of the plunger 67. Thus, a pressing inwardly on the plunger 67 increases the liquid pressure and displaces liquid from the syringe as the liquid acting on the tip end wall 47 forces the same forwardly with a stretching of the side 20 of the tube 41 and a bending about the constrained side 21, such as to the position shown in FIG. 2. With release of the syringe plunger 67, the liquid pressure will be reduced inside the control passageway and the stretched side 20 of the outer tube 41 will contract and straighten to return and straighten the tip.
To assure that the lumen -33 remains open and doesnt collapse during the bending of the tip 114,, an internal circumferential restraint in the form of a close wound coiled spring 7ll may be placed within the lumen 43 to support the interior wall of the inner tube 43. Preferably, the spring is helically wound and made of stainless steel and allows bending of the tip without collapsing the inner tube and closing the central lumen. That is, the coils of the spring resist the inward movement of the wall of tube 39 when the pressure of the fluid is increased during bending. Stainless steel is preferred for the spring to prevent contamination of the fluid being injected into the blood vessel.
Turning now for a more detailed discussion of the multi-directional catheter 27 described hereinafter in connection with FIGS. 5 and 6, it is provided with a fluid control means having a plurality of control pas sageways in the form of tubes 73, 74 and 75 (FIG. 6) bonded along the exterior of an inner tube 77 having an inner lumen 79 through which a contrasting fluid or instrument may be inserted. The control tubes 73, 74 and 75 are spaced circumferentially about the outer surface of the innermost tube and bonded thereto at equi-angularly spaced locations. The control tubes have closed ends located at distal end 81 of the bendable tip 33 against which pressurized liquid in the tube will exert longitudinally directed forces to stretch the control tube and the underlying portion of the inner tube 77.
To constrain the control tubes 73, 74 and 75 against enlarging appreciably in diameter when fluid is displaced therein, the control tubes are preferably overwrapped with oppositely disposed lays of helically wound tape 83, of a thin flat dacron material. The helical windings will allow bending and stretching of the inner tube 77 and control tubes 73, 74 and 75 but constrain the latter against substantial enlargement of the diameter thereof with increase in pressure of the liquid during bending of the tip. Preferably, the windings of tape are disposed side by side in each lay to prevent the bulging of an expanded tube between adjacent windings while still keeping the bulk of winding reduced. Preferably, an elastomeric coating 85 of plastic is applied to outer wraps of the tape 83 to impregnate the same and form a smooth outer wall of plastic for the catheter tip 33. For example, successive applications of urethane may be applied to impregnate the tape windings and to build a plastic coating for the tip.
An internal circumferential restraint in the form of a close wound coiled spring 78 may be placed within the lumen 79 to resist the inward movement of the wall of the inner tube 77 when the pressure of the fluid in the control tubes 73, 74 and 75 is increased during the bending of the tip 33. Preferably, the spring is helically wound and allows bending of the tip without collapsing the inner tube and closing the lumen. Stainless steel is the preferred material for the spring to prevent contamination of fluids being injected into the blood vessel.
The steering control means 28 for the multidirectional catheter 27 may be of several types. For example, the illustrated steering control means 28 comprises three syringes 91, 93 and 95 each attached to one of the tubular line 30, 31 and 32 leading to and connected in fluid communication with one of the control tubes 73, 74 and 75. By depressing inwardly on a plunger of one of the syringes, fluid within its syringe barrel 96 may be placed under increased pressure and displaced therefrom into its associated line and control tube to cause stretching of its control tube and its attached portion of the inner tube 77. A simultaneous operation of two of the syringes to increase liquid pressure within two control tubes causes the bending to occur along a path between the bending positions caused with operation of only a single one of the syringes. r
A more compact steering control means 28 more readily operable with one hand may be achieved by replacing the three individual syringes with one pistol grip handle having three plunger operating triggers or buttons incorporated therein for operation by each one of three fingers gripping the handle. Then, either one or a combination of two buttons may be depressed to increase pressure in attached fluid control lines 30,31 and 32 to cause the tip 33 of the multi-directional catheter 27 to bend and steer in the desired direction such as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 5.
The multi-directional catheter 27 having three control tubes 73, 74 and 75 has been found to be relatively stable and predictable as to its direction of tuming and may be operable with reasonable fluid operating pressures. Multi-directional catheter have been made with two control tubes (now shown) but they have not been found to possess the stability and the predictability in turning that the three tube multi-directional catheters possess. On the other hand, increasing the number of control tubes from three to four has been found to result in the necessity for a greater-operating fluid pressure to cause bending because of increased frictional losses due to the small size of the four individual control tubes. Thus, the catheter with three control tubes is preferred.
While the illustrated multi-directional catheter 27 is fabricated with separate fluid control tubes 73, 74 and 75 which are individually preformed and then secured by adhesive to the inner tube 77, reduced cost for the catheter may be achieved by integrally molding the innermost tube and control fluid passageways from a suitable plastic material. A one-piece molded catheter having fluid control passages may be sufficiently low in cost to be disposable.
In another smaller diameter embodiment of the invention, a steerable tip 101, as best seen in FIG. 7, comprises a flexible resilient tube 103 with a closed end 105 having a central control conduit means in the form of a hollow interior passageway 107 in the tube 103. A longitudinal restraint 109 is secured along the one side of the tube 103 by a circumferential restraint which is formed with opposed helical wraps of tape 111. The tube 103 extends to the proximal end of the catheter for connection to a syringe (not shown) of its associated steering control means. An outer concentric tube 113 having a larger diameter is joined to the inner tube 103 at a juncture wall 114 adjacent the steerable tip but rearwardly thereof to form an annular passageway 115 extending rearwardly to the proximal end of the tube. A series of apertures 117 are formed in the outer tube 113 adjacent the steerable tip for allowing contrast media or catheter test fluid to be ejected from the annular passageway 115. For example, such test fluids may be supplied from a syringe (not shown) and forced through a line extending therefrom to the annular passageway 115 whereby such testfluid may flow from the apertures 117 adjacent the steerable tip. The latter is bent when liquid under pressure from the steering control syringe is forced through the central passageway 107 in the inner conduit to stretch the side of the tip 101 opposite the longitudinal restraint 109. As the steerable tip does not include the outer tube 113, the outside diameter of the tip including the circumferential wraps 111 may be kept smaller.
From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention is directed to a fluid displacement steerable catheter which eliminates the stiffness and frictional resistance of control wires or the like used in prior art catheters. The fluid displacement catheter may be made with relatively inexpensive flexible, resilient plastic tubes or flexible, resilient elastomeric material molded in one piece. The desired degree and direction of bending of the tip may be attained by controlling the amount of fluid displaced and the pressure exerted on one longitudinal side of the tip relative to another longitudinal side thereof. Additionally, the catheter may be made with dimensions sufficiently small to pass through blood vessels and still provide a lumen for the injection of contrasting media or instrumentation into the human body.
While a preferred embodiment has been shown and described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure but, rather, it is intended to cover all modifications and alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
What is claimed is:
1. An elongated steerable catheter extending from a proximal to a distal end for passing through channels defined by walls in a body, said catheter comprising an elongated tube having a longitudinally extending passageway therein extending from the proximal end to a discharge opening adjacent the distal end, at least one control conduit means receiving a control fluid associated with the elongated tube and extending longitudinally from said proximal end to said distal end, said distal end of said tube being formed of a flexible, thin stretchable and contractible material for axial elongation with increase in pressure in said control conduit means and for contraction with reduction of said increase in pressure, said catheter having a predetermined overall length and a predetermined external cross-sectional dimension remaining substantially unchanged with increase of pressure in said control tube, and teer na m s Q ....lill? 9 EkliQQEQl fluid in said control conduit means to cause one portion of said elongated tube at the distal end of the catheter which is the least restrained by the walls of the channel to stretch and to lengthen further into said channel and relative to another portion of said elongated tube which is more restrained by engagement with the walls of said channels, said lengthened portion being free to bend about said another portion in proportion to the pressure of control fluid and at various locations dependent upon the location of the restraint of said another portion so that tip may bend with varying radii dependent upon the radii of the channel.
2. A catheter in accordance with claim 1 in which said control conduit means is an inner tube having a hollow central passageway and in which said elongated tube is an outer tubecoaxial with said inner tube and in which said passageway of said elongated tube is annular in cross section, said discharge opening of said elongated tube being radially directed and in said outer tube.
3. A catheter in accordance with claim 1 in which means are provided in said distal end of said tube passageway to hold the same against collapsing inwardly and closing said tube passageway when bending the catheter distal end.
4. A catheter in accordance with claim 3 in which said means to hold said tube passageway against collapsing is a coiled spring inserted into said lumen at said sqs flwr qfz.
STA catheter in accordance with claim 3 in which a said control conduit means comprises plurality of longitudinal extending control conduits are spaced circumferentially about said tube and in which said steering control means is connected to each of said control conduits to provide a pressure differential within and between said control conduits to stretch said one portion of said tube thereby causing said distal end to bend.
6. A catheter in accordance with claim 1 in which a circumferential restraining means holds said control conduit means from a substantial radially outward expansion with an increase of pressure in said control conduit.
7. A catheter in accordance with claim 6 in which said circumferential restraining means comprises helically wound wraps of opposite lays which permit lengthening of one portion of the distal end of the tube relative to the other portion.
8. An elongated steerable catheter extending from a proximal to a distal end, said catheter comprising an elongated tube having a longitudinally extending passageway therein extending from the proximal end to a discharge opening adjacent the distal end, an elongated control conduit for receiving a control fluid associated with the elongated tube and extending longitudinally from said proximal end to said distal end, a constraining means for constraining one portion of said tube at said distal end against lengthening longitudinally to the extent that another portion lengthens under fluid pressure in said control conduit, and steering control means for increasing the pressure of said control fluid in said control conduit to elongate said other portion of said tube relative to said one portion causing said distal end to bend with said other portion having a larger radius of curvature than the one portion of the tube.
9. An elongated catheter extending from a proximal end to a distal end which is steerable in multiple directions, said catheter comprising an elongated tube having a longitudinally extending passageway therein extending from the proximal end to a discharge opening adjacent the distal end, said distal end of said tube being stretchable and contractible, a plurality of discrete longitudinally extending control conduits spaced circumferentially about said tube and extending from said proximal end to said distal end, said control conduits being connected to said distal end of said steerable catheter at circumferentially spaced positions for stretching an associated portion of said distal end of said tube with establishment of a differential fluid pressure and displacement of fluid among said control conduits, and a steering control means having a plurality of selectively operable pressure increasing means each associated with one of said control conduits for increasing the pressure of fluid in its associated discrete control conduit for stretching its associated portion of the distal end of said tube, selective operations of said pressure increasing means establishing pressure differentials causing the tube distal end to bend in different directions.
10. A catheter in accordance with claim 9 in which said control conduits comprise three separate tubes each extending along and secured about an outer wall for said elongated tube and in which a restraining means is helically wound about said control tubes to limit the radially outward expansion thereof with an increase in fluid pressure within the respective ones of the control tubes.
11. A catheter in accordance with claim 10 in which means are provided in said distal end of said tube passageway to hold the same against collpsing inwardly and closing said tube passageway when bending the catheter distal end.
12. An elongated steerable catheter extending from a proximal to a distal end, said catheter comprising an elongated tube having a longitudinally extending passageway therein extending from the proximal end to a discharge opening adjacent the distal end, at least one control conduit means receiving a control fluid associated with the elongated tube and extending longitudinally from said proximal end to said distal end, steering control means for displacing said control fluid in said control conduit to cause one portion of said elongated tube at the distal end of the catheter to lengthen relative to another portion of said elongated tube causing the distal end to bend with the lengthened portion having a larger radius of curvature than the other portion of the elongated tube, means in said distal end of said tube passageway for holding the same against collapsing inwardly and closing said tube passageway when bending the catheter distal end, and a constraining means constraining said other portion of the tube against lengthening longitudinally to the extent that said one portion lengthens whereby the constrained other portion of the tube is at the smaller inside radius of curvature for the bent end of the catheter.
Patent No. 3 r 773 r 034 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Dated November. 20, 1973 MARVIN BURNS CHARLES THOMAS OGDEN and RICHARD A.
RODZEN Inventor(s It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said. Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:
On the first sheet of the patent, the Assignee should read --IIT Research Institute, Chicago, Illihois-.
Signed and sealed this 16th day of April 197A.
(SEAL) Attest:
EDWARD M.FIJETCHER,JR. C. MARSHALL 'DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents .b'lle No.307 0 USCOMM'DC 60876-P69 ".5. GOVIRNIENT PRINTING OFFICE Ill, O-JiC-Sll,
F ORM PC4050 (10-69)
Claims (12)
1. An elongated steerable catheter extending from a proximal to a distal end for passing through channels defined by walls in a body, said caTheter comprising an elongated tube having a longitudinally extending passageway therein extending from the proximal end to a discharge opening adjacent the distal end, at least one control conduit means receiving a control fluid associated with the elongated tube and extending longitudinally from said proximal end to said distal end, said distal end of said tube being formed of a flexible, thin stretchable and contractible material for axial elongation with increase in pressure in said control conduit means and for contraction with reduction of said increase in pressure, said catheter having a predetermined overall length and a predetermined external crosssectional dimension remaining substantially unchanged with increase of pressure in said control tube, and steering control means for displacing said control fluid in said control conduit to cause one portion of said elongated tube at the distal end of the catheter which is the least restrained by the walls of the channel to stretch and to lengthen further into said channel and relative to another portion of said elongated tube which is more restrained by engagement with the walls of said channels, said lengthened portion being free to bend about said another portion in proportion to the pressure of control fluid and at various locations dependent upon the location of the restraint of said another portion so that tip may bend with varying radii dependent upon the radii of the channel.
2. A catheter in accordance with claim 1 in which said control conduit means is an inner tube having a hollow central passageway and in which said elongated tube is an outer tube coaxial with said inner tube and in which said passageway of said elongated tube is annular in cross section, said discharge opening of said elongated tube being radially directed and in said outer tube.
3. A catheter in accordance with claim 1 in which means are provided in said distal end of said tube passageway to hold the same against collapsing inwardly and closing said tube passageway when bending the catheter distal end.
4. A catheter in accordance with claim 3 in which said means to hold said tube passageway against collapsing is a coiled spring inserted into said lumen at said distal end thereof.
5. A catheter in accordance with claim 3 in which a plurality of longitudinal extending control conduits are spaced circumferentially about said tube and in which said steering control means is connected to each of said control conduits to provide a pressure differential within and between said control conduits to stretch said one portion of said tube thereby causing said distal end to bend.
6. A catheter in accordance with claim 1 in which a circumferential restraining means holds said control conduit means from a substantial radially outward expansion with an increase of pressure in said control conduit.
7. A catheter in accordance with claim 6 in which said circumferential restraining means comprises helically wound wraps of opposite lays which permit lengthening of one portion of the distal end of the tube relative to the other portion.
8. An elongated steerable catheter extending from a proximal to a distal end, said catheter comprising an elongated tube having a longitudinally extending passageway therein extending from the proximal end to a discharge opening adjacent the distal end, an elongated control conduit for receiving a control fluid associated with the elongated tube and extending longitudinally from said proximal end to said distal end, a constraining means for constraining one portion of said tube at said distal end against lengthening longitudinally to the extent that another portion lengthens under fluid pressure in said control conduit, and steering control means for increasing the pressure of said control fluid in said control conduit to elongate said other portion of said tube relative to said one portion causing said distal end to bend with said other portion having a larger radius of curvature than the one portion of the tube. Pg,17
9. An elongated catheter extending from a proximal end to a distal end which is steerable in multiple directions, said catheter comprising an elongated tube having a longitudinally extending passageway therein extending from the proximal end to a discharge opening adjacent the distal end, said distal end of said tube being stretchable and contractible, a plurality of discrete longitudinally extending control conduits spaced circumferentially about said tube and extending from said proximal end to said distal end, said control conduits being connected to said distal end of said steerable catheter at circumferentially spaced positions for stretching an associated portion of said distal end of said tube with establishment of a differential fluid pressure and displacement of fluid among said control conduits, and a steering control means having a plurality of selectively operable pressure increasing means each associated with one of said control conduits for increasing the pressure of fluid in its associated discrete control conduit for stretching its associated portion of the distal end of said tube, selective operations of said pressure increasing means establishing pressure differentials causing the tube distal end to bend in different directions.
10. A catheter in accordance with claim 9 in which said control conduits comprise three separate tubes each extending along and secured about an outer wall for said elongated tube and in which a restraining means is helically wound about said control tubes to limit the radially outward expansion thereof with an increase in fluid pressure within the respective ones of the control tubes.
11. A catheter in accordance with claim 10 in which means are provided in said distal end of said tube passageway to hold the same against collpsing inwardly and closing said tube passageway when bending the catheter distal end.
12. An elongated steerable catheter extending from a proximal to a distal end, said catheter comprising an elongated tube having a longitudinally extending passageway therein extending from the proximal end to a discharge opening adjacent the distal end, at least one control conduit means receiving a control fluid associated with the elongated tube and extending longitudinally from said proximal end to said distal end, steering control means for displacing said control fluid in said control conduit to cause one portion of said elongated tube at the distal end of the catheter to lengthen relative to another portion of said elongated tube causing the distal end to bend with the lengthened portion having a larger radius of curvature than the other portion of the elongated tube, means in said distal end of said tube passageway for holding the same against collapsing inwardly and closing said tube passageway when bending the catheter distal end, and a constraining means constraining said other portion of the tube against lengthening longitudinally to the extent that said one portion lengthens whereby the constrained other portion of the tube is at the smaller inside radius of curvature for the bent end of the catheter.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US20191271A | 1971-11-24 | 1971-11-24 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3773034A true US3773034A (en) | 1973-11-20 |
Family
ID=22747803
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US00201912A Expired - Lifetime US3773034A (en) | 1971-11-24 | 1971-11-24 | Steerable catheter |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3773034A (en) |
Cited By (169)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4169464A (en) * | 1977-12-16 | 1979-10-02 | Cordis Corporation | Catheter for selective catheterization of aortic branches |
US4248234A (en) * | 1979-03-08 | 1981-02-03 | Critikon, Inc. | Catheter with variable flexural modulus and method of using same |
EP0029185A1 (en) * | 1979-11-16 | 1981-05-27 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Plastic tube |
US4403985A (en) * | 1981-05-12 | 1983-09-13 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Department Of Health And Human Services | Jet controlled catheter |
US4543090A (en) * | 1983-10-31 | 1985-09-24 | Mccoy William C | Steerable and aimable catheter |
US4586923A (en) * | 1984-06-25 | 1986-05-06 | Cordis Corporation | Curving tip catheter |
US4601705A (en) * | 1983-10-31 | 1986-07-22 | Mccoy William C | Steerable and aimable catheter |
EP0192576A1 (en) * | 1985-02-22 | 1986-08-27 | Medicorp Research Laboratories Corporation | Steerable endovascular probe |
US4615472A (en) * | 1985-06-19 | 1986-10-07 | Intravascular Surgical Instruments, Inc. | Catheter placement device |
FR2584288A1 (en) * | 1985-07-08 | 1987-01-09 | Bazenet Jean Pierre | OESOPHAGIC PROBE TYPE INTRACORPOREAL PROBE AND DEVICE FOR MOUNTING BALLOONS OF SUCH A PROBE |
US4650466A (en) * | 1985-11-01 | 1987-03-17 | Angiobrade Partners | Angioplasty device |
WO1987001600A1 (en) * | 1985-09-20 | 1987-03-26 | Raychem Corporation | Guiding catheter |
US4664113A (en) * | 1984-05-30 | 1987-05-12 | Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. | Steerable dilatation catheter with rotation limiting device |
US4696544A (en) * | 1985-11-18 | 1987-09-29 | Olympus Corporation | Fiberscopic device for inspection of internal sections of construction, and method for using same |
EP0251437A2 (en) * | 1986-06-05 | 1988-01-07 | Catheter Research, Inc. | Steerable and aimable catheter |
US4753223A (en) * | 1986-11-07 | 1988-06-28 | Bremer Paul W | System for controlling shape and direction of a catheter, cannula, electrode, endoscope or similar article |
US4759748A (en) * | 1986-06-30 | 1988-07-26 | Raychem Corporation | Guiding catheter |
US4767400A (en) * | 1987-10-27 | 1988-08-30 | Cordis Corporation | Porous ventricular catheter |
US4819634A (en) * | 1984-05-14 | 1989-04-11 | Surgical Systems & Instruments | Rotary-catheter for atherectomy system |
US4822345A (en) * | 1986-08-14 | 1989-04-18 | Danforth John W | Controllable flexibility catheter |
US4838859A (en) * | 1987-05-19 | 1989-06-13 | Steve Strassmann | Steerable catheter |
EP0330712A1 (en) * | 1988-03-02 | 1989-09-06 | Paul W. Bremer | System for controlling shape and direction of a catheter,cannula,electrode,endoscope or similar article |
US4886067A (en) * | 1989-01-03 | 1989-12-12 | C. R. Bard, Inc. | Steerable guidewire with soft adjustable tip |
US4909787A (en) * | 1986-08-14 | 1990-03-20 | Danforth John W | Controllable flexibility catheter with eccentric stiffener |
US4921484A (en) * | 1988-07-25 | 1990-05-01 | Cordis Corporation | Mesh balloon catheter device |
US4921482A (en) * | 1989-01-09 | 1990-05-01 | Hammerslag Julius G | Steerable angioplasty device |
US4932419A (en) * | 1988-03-21 | 1990-06-12 | Boston Scientific Corporation | Multi-filar, cross-wound coil for medical devices |
US4934340A (en) * | 1989-06-08 | 1990-06-19 | Hemo Laser Corporation | Device for guiding medical catheters and scopes |
WO1990007355A1 (en) * | 1989-01-09 | 1990-07-12 | Hammerslag Julius G | Steerable medical device |
US4944727A (en) * | 1986-06-05 | 1990-07-31 | Catheter Research, Inc. | Variable shape guide apparatus |
US4951677A (en) * | 1988-03-21 | 1990-08-28 | Prutech Research And Development Partnership Ii | Acoustic imaging catheter and the like |
EP0393834A2 (en) * | 1989-03-16 | 1990-10-24 | Samuel Shiber | Rotary catheter for atherectomy system |
US4981478A (en) * | 1988-09-06 | 1991-01-01 | Advanced Cardiovascular Systems | Composite vascular catheter |
US5037391A (en) * | 1989-01-09 | 1991-08-06 | Pilot Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. | Steerable angioplasty device |
US5055101A (en) * | 1983-10-31 | 1991-10-08 | Catheter Research, Inc. | Variable shape guide apparatus |
US5065769A (en) * | 1988-11-23 | 1991-11-19 | Boston Scientific Corporation | Small diameter guidewires of multi-filar, cross-wound coils |
US5090956A (en) * | 1983-10-31 | 1992-02-25 | Catheter Research, Inc. | Catheter with memory element-controlled steering |
US5092847A (en) * | 1990-04-06 | 1992-03-03 | Sherwood Medical Company | Enteral feeding tube stylet |
US5108368A (en) * | 1990-01-04 | 1992-04-28 | Pilot Cardiovascular System, Inc. | Steerable medical device |
US5114402A (en) * | 1983-10-31 | 1992-05-19 | Catheter Research, Inc. | Spring-biased tip assembly |
US5123421A (en) * | 1991-01-16 | 1992-06-23 | C. R. Bard, Inc. | Liquid activated steerable catheter guidewire |
US5125896A (en) * | 1990-10-10 | 1992-06-30 | C. R. Bard, Inc. | Steerable electrode catheter |
US5195968A (en) * | 1990-02-02 | 1993-03-23 | Ingemar Lundquist | Catheter steering mechanism |
US5199950A (en) * | 1990-12-07 | 1993-04-06 | Willy Rusch Ag | Medical instrument |
US5203772A (en) * | 1989-01-09 | 1993-04-20 | Pilot Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. | Steerable medical device |
US5251640A (en) * | 1992-03-31 | 1993-10-12 | Cook, Incorporated | Composite wire guide shaft |
US5254088A (en) * | 1990-02-02 | 1993-10-19 | Ep Technologies, Inc. | Catheter steering mechanism |
DE4219807A1 (en) * | 1992-06-17 | 1993-12-23 | Aesculap Ag | Bendable applicator for light radiation for medical purposes |
US5308324A (en) * | 1989-01-09 | 1994-05-03 | Pilot Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. | Steerable medical device |
US5314428A (en) * | 1992-12-28 | 1994-05-24 | Marotta Louis C | Hydraulically flexing catheter |
US5318525A (en) * | 1992-04-10 | 1994-06-07 | Medtronic Cardiorhythm | Steerable electrode catheter |
DE4332667C1 (en) * | 1993-09-25 | 1994-09-22 | Aesculap Ag | Guide catheter for medical purposes which can be flexed |
US5368035A (en) * | 1988-03-21 | 1994-11-29 | Boston Scientific Corporation | Ultrasound imaging guidewire |
US5372138A (en) * | 1988-03-21 | 1994-12-13 | Boston Scientific Corporation | Acousting imaging catheters and the like |
US5389073A (en) * | 1992-12-01 | 1995-02-14 | Cardiac Pathways Corporation | Steerable catheter with adjustable bend location |
US5397304A (en) * | 1992-04-10 | 1995-03-14 | Medtronic Cardiorhythm | Shapable handle for steerable electrode catheter |
US5480382A (en) * | 1989-01-09 | 1996-01-02 | Pilot Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. | Steerable medical device |
US5490859A (en) * | 1992-11-13 | 1996-02-13 | Scimed Life Systems, Inc. | Expandable intravascular occlusion material removal devices and methods of use |
US5501694A (en) * | 1992-11-13 | 1996-03-26 | Scimed Life Systems, Inc. | Expandable intravascular occlusion material removal devices and methods of use |
WO1996013228A1 (en) * | 1994-10-27 | 1996-05-09 | Schneider (Usa) Inc. | Stent delivery device |
US5542924A (en) * | 1992-11-02 | 1996-08-06 | Catheter Imaging Systems | Method of forming a catheter having a multiple durometer |
US5546948A (en) * | 1990-08-21 | 1996-08-20 | Boston Scientific Corporation | Ultrasound imaging guidewire |
US5562619A (en) * | 1993-08-19 | 1996-10-08 | Boston Scientific Corporation | Deflectable catheter |
US5792157A (en) * | 1992-11-13 | 1998-08-11 | Scimed Life Systems, Inc. | Expandable intravascular occlusion material removal devices and methods of use |
WO1998037923A2 (en) | 1997-02-26 | 1998-09-03 | John Unsworth | System for guiding devices in body lumens |
US5810790A (en) * | 1996-11-19 | 1998-09-22 | Ebling; Wendell V. | Catheter with viewing system and port connector |
USD398986S (en) | 1996-01-16 | 1998-09-29 | Catheter Imaging Systems, Inc. | Handle interface for steerable catheter |
US5814062A (en) * | 1994-12-22 | 1998-09-29 | Target Therapeutics, Inc. | Implant delivery assembly with expandable coupling/decoupling mechanism |
US5833631A (en) * | 1996-06-28 | 1998-11-10 | Target Therapeutics, Inc. | Fiber tip guidewire |
US5836868A (en) * | 1992-11-13 | 1998-11-17 | Scimed Life Systems, Inc. | Expandable intravascular occlusion material removal devices and methods of use |
US5846221A (en) * | 1996-02-09 | 1998-12-08 | Catheter Imaging Systems, Inc. | Steerable catheter having disposable module and sterilizable handle and method of connecting same |
US5857996A (en) * | 1992-07-06 | 1999-01-12 | Catheter Imaging Systems | Method of epidermal surgery |
USD405881S (en) | 1996-01-16 | 1999-02-16 | Catheter Imaging Systems, Inc. | Handle for steerable catheter |
US5897567A (en) * | 1993-04-29 | 1999-04-27 | Scimed Life Systems, Inc. | Expandable intravascular occlusion material removal devices and methods of use |
JP2889279B2 (en) | 1989-07-14 | 1999-05-10 | 株式会社東芝 | Actuator |
US6007531A (en) * | 1995-11-21 | 1999-12-28 | Catheter Imaging Systems, Inc. | Steerable catheter having disposable module and sterilizable handle and method of connecting same |
JP3003702B2 (en) | 1987-11-13 | 2000-01-31 | 株式会社東芝 | Actuator |
US6033378A (en) * | 1990-02-02 | 2000-03-07 | Ep Technologies, Inc. | Catheter steering mechanism |
US6468203B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2002-10-22 | Neoguide Systems, Inc. | Steerable endoscope and improved method of insertion |
US20020156452A1 (en) * | 1996-02-16 | 2002-10-24 | Pursley Matt D. | Method and apparatus for curving catheter with soft distal end |
US20020161281A1 (en) * | 2000-04-03 | 2002-10-31 | Ross Jaffe | Endoscope having a guide tube |
US6517527B2 (en) * | 1998-09-30 | 2003-02-11 | C. R. Bard, Inc. | Transthoracic drug delivery device |
US6565528B1 (en) | 1999-05-07 | 2003-05-20 | Scimed Life Systems, Inc. | Apparatus and method for delivering therapeutic and diagnostic agents |
US20030114872A1 (en) * | 1999-11-05 | 2003-06-19 | Scimed Life Systems, Inc. | Method and apparatus for demand injury in stimulating angiogenesis |
US6610007B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2003-08-26 | Neoguide Systems, Inc. | Steerable segmented endoscope and method of insertion |
US6641553B1 (en) | 1999-06-02 | 2003-11-04 | Boston Scientific Corporation | Devices and methods for delivering a drug |
US6676104B2 (en) * | 2000-05-19 | 2004-01-13 | Premetec Ab | Device for controlling the flow of liquid using a tube |
US6676679B1 (en) | 1999-11-05 | 2004-01-13 | Boston Scientific Corporation | Method and apparatus for recurrent demand injury in stimulating angiogenesis |
US6695808B2 (en) | 2000-03-23 | 2004-02-24 | Scimed Life Systems, Inc. | Pressure sensor for therapeutic delivery device and method |
DE4435644B4 (en) * | 1993-10-05 | 2004-05-13 | Pentax Corp. | Fluid operated endoscope bending section |
US6748258B1 (en) | 1999-11-05 | 2004-06-08 | Scimed Life Systems, Inc. | Method and devices for heart treatment |
US20040116851A1 (en) * | 2002-12-16 | 2004-06-17 | Intraluminal Therapeutics, Inc. | Deflecting catheter |
US20040133168A1 (en) * | 2002-12-23 | 2004-07-08 | Salcudean Septimiu E. | Steerable needle |
US6800056B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2004-10-05 | Neoguide Systems, Inc. | Endoscope with guiding apparatus |
US20050004516A1 (en) * | 2003-07-02 | 2005-01-06 | Guy Vanney | Steerable and shapable catheter employing fluid force |
US20050004440A1 (en) * | 2003-07-02 | 2005-01-06 | Guy Vanney | Ablation catheter electrode arrangement |
US6858005B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2005-02-22 | Neo Guide Systems, Inc. | Tendon-driven endoscope and methods of insertion |
US20050187467A1 (en) * | 2004-01-21 | 2005-08-25 | Martin Kleen | Catheter |
US20050203371A1 (en) * | 2004-01-21 | 2005-09-15 | Martin Kleen | Catheter device |
US20050261607A1 (en) * | 2003-04-10 | 2005-11-24 | Intraluminal Therapeutics, Inc. | Shapeable intraluminal device and method therefor |
US6974411B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2005-12-13 | Neoguide Systems, Inc. | Endoscope with single step guiding apparatus |
US6984203B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2006-01-10 | Neoguide Systems, Inc. | Endoscope with adjacently positioned guiding apparatus |
US20060089535A1 (en) * | 2002-07-11 | 2006-04-27 | Dan Raz | Piston-actuated endoscopic steering system |
US20060270975A1 (en) * | 2005-05-31 | 2006-11-30 | Prorhythm, Inc. | Steerable catheter |
US20060270976A1 (en) * | 2005-05-31 | 2006-11-30 | Prorhythm, Inc. | Steerable catheter |
US7147633B2 (en) | 1999-06-02 | 2006-12-12 | Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. | Method and apparatus for treatment of atrial fibrillation |
US20070060997A1 (en) * | 2005-09-15 | 2007-03-15 | Jan De Boer | Multi-lumen steerable catheter |
US20070100235A1 (en) * | 2005-10-31 | 2007-05-03 | Wilson-Cook Medical Inc. | Steerable catheter devices and methods of articulating catheter devices |
US7214223B2 (en) | 2000-03-24 | 2007-05-08 | Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. | Photoatherolytic catheter apparatus and method |
US20080015547A1 (en) * | 2005-07-14 | 2008-01-17 | Beisel Robert F | Stylet free flexible-tip epidural catheter and method of making |
US20080033415A1 (en) * | 2006-03-17 | 2008-02-07 | Rieker Gregory B | Method and apparatus to prevent esophageal damage |
EP1896106A1 (en) * | 2005-06-20 | 2008-03-12 | Cathrx Ltd | Sleeve steering and reinforcement |
US20080154288A1 (en) * | 2002-01-09 | 2008-06-26 | Neoguide Systems, Inc. | Apparatus and method for endoscopic colectomy |
US20080243064A1 (en) * | 2007-02-15 | 2008-10-02 | Hansen Medical, Inc. | Support structure for robotic medical instrument |
US20080249465A1 (en) * | 2007-04-06 | 2008-10-09 | John Kenneth Ryder | Fixed wire dilatation catheter with an elongateable distal end |
WO2009054491A1 (en) | 2007-10-27 | 2009-04-30 | Kaneka Corporation | Catheter |
US7534204B2 (en) | 2003-09-03 | 2009-05-19 | Guided Delivery Systems, Inc. | Cardiac visualization devices and methods |
US20090137932A1 (en) * | 2005-06-29 | 2009-05-28 | Per Lagercrantz | Heart tracking device |
US20090163851A1 (en) * | 2007-12-19 | 2009-06-25 | Holloway Kenneth A | Occlusive material removal device having selectively variable stiffness |
US7588582B2 (en) | 2002-06-13 | 2009-09-15 | Guided Delivery Systems Inc. | Methods for remodeling cardiac tissue |
US7588554B2 (en) | 2000-06-26 | 2009-09-15 | Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. | Method and apparatus for treating ischemic tissue |
US20100010437A1 (en) * | 2008-07-11 | 2010-01-14 | Miles Robin R | Steerable catheter with distending lumen-actuated curling catheter tip |
US7666193B2 (en) | 2002-06-13 | 2010-02-23 | Guided Delivery Sytems, Inc. | Delivery devices and methods for heart valve repair |
US20100070007A1 (en) * | 2008-09-17 | 2010-03-18 | National Ict Australia Limited | Knitted electrode assembly and integrated connector for an active implantable medical device |
US7753924B2 (en) | 2003-09-04 | 2010-07-13 | Guided Delivery Systems, Inc. | Delivery devices and methods for heart valve repair |
US7753858B2 (en) | 2002-06-13 | 2010-07-13 | Guided Delivery Systems, Inc. | Delivery devices and methods for heart valve repair |
US7753922B2 (en) | 2003-09-04 | 2010-07-13 | Guided Delivery Systems, Inc. | Devices and methods for cardiac annulus stabilization and treatment |
US7758637B2 (en) | 2003-02-06 | 2010-07-20 | Guided Delivery Systems, Inc. | Delivery devices and methods for heart valve repair |
US20100331623A1 (en) * | 2001-02-02 | 2010-12-30 | Sauer Jude S | System for endoscopic suturing |
US7883538B2 (en) | 2002-06-13 | 2011-02-08 | Guided Delivery Systems Inc. | Methods and devices for termination |
USRE42625E1 (en) | 1990-03-13 | 2011-08-16 | The Regents Of The University Of California | Endovascular electrolytically detachable wire and tip for the formation of thrombus in arteries, veins, aneurysms, vascular malformations and arteriovenous fistulas |
USRE42662E1 (en) | 1990-03-13 | 2011-08-30 | The Regents Of The University Of California | Endovascular electrolytically detachable wire and tip for the formation of thrombus in arteries, veins, aneurysms, vascular malformations and arteriovenous fistulas |
USRE42756E1 (en) | 1990-03-13 | 2011-09-27 | The Regents Of The University Of California | Endovascular electrolytically detachable wire and tip for the formation of thrombus in arteries, veins, aneurysms, vascular malformations and arteriovenous fistulas |
US8066766B2 (en) | 2002-06-13 | 2011-11-29 | Guided Delivery Systems Inc. | Methods and devices for termination |
US8083879B2 (en) | 2005-11-23 | 2011-12-27 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Non-metallic, multi-strand control cable for steerable instruments |
US8182418B2 (en) | 2008-02-25 | 2012-05-22 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Systems and methods for articulating an elongate body |
US8287555B2 (en) | 2003-02-06 | 2012-10-16 | Guided Delivery Systems, Inc. | Devices and methods for heart valve repair |
US8388680B2 (en) | 2006-10-18 | 2013-03-05 | Guided Delivery Systems, Inc. | Methods and devices for catheter advancement and delivery of substances therethrough |
US8517923B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2013-08-27 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Apparatus and methods for facilitating treatment of tissue via improved delivery of energy based and non-energy based modalities |
US8568299B2 (en) | 2006-05-19 | 2013-10-29 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Methods and apparatus for displaying three-dimensional orientation of a steerable distal tip of an endoscope |
US20130317542A1 (en) * | 2012-05-25 | 2013-11-28 | Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. | Steerable delivery system |
US8641727B2 (en) | 2002-06-13 | 2014-02-04 | Guided Delivery Systems, Inc. | Devices and methods for heart valve repair |
US20140041665A1 (en) * | 2011-04-28 | 2014-02-13 | Yonsei University Wonju Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation | Curvature-adjustable endotracheal tube |
US8790367B2 (en) | 2008-02-06 | 2014-07-29 | Guided Delivery Systems Inc. | Multi-window guide tunnel |
US8795298B2 (en) | 2008-10-10 | 2014-08-05 | Guided Delivery Systems Inc. | Tether tensioning devices and related methods |
US8882657B2 (en) | 2003-03-07 | 2014-11-11 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Instrument having radio frequency identification systems and methods for use |
US8888688B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2014-11-18 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Connector device for a controllable instrument |
WO2015045429A1 (en) * | 2013-09-24 | 2015-04-02 | 公立大学法人広島市立大学 | Elastic tube, control device, and medical equipment |
US9173646B2 (en) | 2009-01-20 | 2015-11-03 | Guided Delivery Systems Inc. | Diagnostic catheters, guide catheters, visualization devices and chord manipulation devices, and related kits and methods |
US9211396B2 (en) | 2010-02-23 | 2015-12-15 | Covidien Lp | Devices and methods for vascular recanalization |
US9220398B2 (en) | 2007-10-11 | 2015-12-29 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | System for managing Bowden cables in articulating instruments |
US9636107B2 (en) | 2002-06-13 | 2017-05-02 | Ancora Heart, Inc. | Devices and methods for heart valve repair |
US9636106B2 (en) | 2008-10-10 | 2017-05-02 | Ancora Heart, Inc. | Termination devices and related methods |
US9808599B2 (en) | 2013-12-20 | 2017-11-07 | Microvention, Inc. | Device delivery system |
US9848954B2 (en) | 2013-12-20 | 2017-12-26 | Corbin E. Barnett | Surgical system and related methods |
US9861350B2 (en) | 2010-09-03 | 2018-01-09 | Ancora Heart, Inc. | Devices and methods for anchoring tissue |
US20180036501A1 (en) * | 2016-08-08 | 2018-02-08 | Yu-Jui Liu | Nasogastric tube |
US9949829B2 (en) | 2002-06-13 | 2018-04-24 | Ancora Heart, Inc. | Delivery devices and methods for heart valve repair |
US10058321B2 (en) | 2015-03-05 | 2018-08-28 | Ancora Heart, Inc. | Devices and methods of visualizing and determining depth of penetration in cardiac tissue |
US10058235B2 (en) | 2011-03-01 | 2018-08-28 | Sanovas Intellectual Property, Llc | Steerable catheter |
US10349821B2 (en) | 2011-03-01 | 2019-07-16 | Sanovas Intellectual Property, Llc | Cleaning system for medical imaging device |
US10363392B2 (en) | 2008-05-07 | 2019-07-30 | Ancora Heart, Inc. | Deflectable guide |
US10512392B2 (en) | 2008-02-06 | 2019-12-24 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Segmented instrument having braking capabilities |
US10667914B2 (en) | 2016-11-18 | 2020-06-02 | Ancora Heart, Inc. | Myocardial implant load sharing device and methods to promote LV function |
US10980973B2 (en) | 2015-05-12 | 2021-04-20 | Ancora Heart, Inc. | Device and method for releasing catheters from cardiac structures |
WO2021084319A1 (en) * | 2019-10-30 | 2021-05-06 | Rapid Medical Ltd. | Rotationally torquable endovascular device with variable flexibility tip |
US11096563B2 (en) | 2005-11-22 | 2021-08-24 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Method of determining the shape of a bendable instrument |
US11389172B2 (en) | 2016-09-29 | 2022-07-19 | Rapid Medical Ltd. | Rotationally torquable endovascular device with variable flexibility tip |
US11672524B2 (en) | 2019-07-15 | 2023-06-13 | Ancora Heart, Inc. | Devices and methods for tether cutting |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2819718A (en) * | 1953-07-16 | 1958-01-14 | Isidore H Goldman | Drainage tube |
US3168092A (en) * | 1961-06-15 | 1965-02-02 | Silverman Daniel | Medical probing instrument having flexible, extrudable tubing adapted to be extraverted under pressure into a body cavity |
US3500820A (en) * | 1965-07-05 | 1970-03-17 | Torsten Hakan Oskar Almen | Medical probe for injecting x-ray contrast medium into the body |
US3521620A (en) * | 1967-10-30 | 1970-07-28 | William A Cook | Vascular coil spring guide with bendable tip |
US3605725A (en) * | 1968-08-07 | 1971-09-20 | Medi Tech Inc | Controlled motion devices |
US3665928A (en) * | 1969-10-06 | 1972-05-30 | Louis R M Del Guercio | Self propelled catheter |
-
1971
- 1971-11-24 US US00201912A patent/US3773034A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2819718A (en) * | 1953-07-16 | 1958-01-14 | Isidore H Goldman | Drainage tube |
US3168092A (en) * | 1961-06-15 | 1965-02-02 | Silverman Daniel | Medical probing instrument having flexible, extrudable tubing adapted to be extraverted under pressure into a body cavity |
US3500820A (en) * | 1965-07-05 | 1970-03-17 | Torsten Hakan Oskar Almen | Medical probe for injecting x-ray contrast medium into the body |
US3521620A (en) * | 1967-10-30 | 1970-07-28 | William A Cook | Vascular coil spring guide with bendable tip |
US3605725A (en) * | 1968-08-07 | 1971-09-20 | Medi Tech Inc | Controlled motion devices |
US3665928A (en) * | 1969-10-06 | 1972-05-30 | Louis R M Del Guercio | Self propelled catheter |
Cited By (298)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4169464A (en) * | 1977-12-16 | 1979-10-02 | Cordis Corporation | Catheter for selective catheterization of aortic branches |
US4248234A (en) * | 1979-03-08 | 1981-02-03 | Critikon, Inc. | Catheter with variable flexural modulus and method of using same |
EP0029185A1 (en) * | 1979-11-16 | 1981-05-27 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Plastic tube |
US4403985A (en) * | 1981-05-12 | 1983-09-13 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Department Of Health And Human Services | Jet controlled catheter |
US4543090A (en) * | 1983-10-31 | 1985-09-24 | Mccoy William C | Steerable and aimable catheter |
US4601705A (en) * | 1983-10-31 | 1986-07-22 | Mccoy William C | Steerable and aimable catheter |
US5114402A (en) * | 1983-10-31 | 1992-05-19 | Catheter Research, Inc. | Spring-biased tip assembly |
US5090956A (en) * | 1983-10-31 | 1992-02-25 | Catheter Research, Inc. | Catheter with memory element-controlled steering |
US5055101A (en) * | 1983-10-31 | 1991-10-08 | Catheter Research, Inc. | Variable shape guide apparatus |
US4819634A (en) * | 1984-05-14 | 1989-04-11 | Surgical Systems & Instruments | Rotary-catheter for atherectomy system |
US4664113A (en) * | 1984-05-30 | 1987-05-12 | Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. | Steerable dilatation catheter with rotation limiting device |
US4586923A (en) * | 1984-06-25 | 1986-05-06 | Cordis Corporation | Curving tip catheter |
US4685473A (en) * | 1985-02-22 | 1987-08-11 | Medicorp Research Laboratories Corporation | Orientable cardiovascular sound |
FR2577789A1 (en) * | 1985-02-22 | 1986-08-29 | Gilles Karcher | ORIENTABLE ENDOVASCULAR PROBE |
EP0192576A1 (en) * | 1985-02-22 | 1986-08-27 | Medicorp Research Laboratories Corporation | Steerable endovascular probe |
US4758222A (en) * | 1985-05-03 | 1988-07-19 | Mccoy William C | Steerable and aimable catheter |
EP0199870A2 (en) * | 1985-05-03 | 1986-11-05 | Catheter Research, Inc. | Steerable and aimable catheter |
EP0199870A3 (en) * | 1985-05-03 | 1987-09-02 | William C. Mccoy | Steerable and aimable catheter |
US4615472A (en) * | 1985-06-19 | 1986-10-07 | Intravascular Surgical Instruments, Inc. | Catheter placement device |
EP0214063A1 (en) * | 1985-07-08 | 1987-03-11 | Bazenet, Jean Pierre | Intracorporal probe and device for mounting balloons on the same |
FR2584288A1 (en) * | 1985-07-08 | 1987-01-09 | Bazenet Jean Pierre | OESOPHAGIC PROBE TYPE INTRACORPOREAL PROBE AND DEVICE FOR MOUNTING BALLOONS OF SUCH A PROBE |
WO1987001600A1 (en) * | 1985-09-20 | 1987-03-26 | Raychem Corporation | Guiding catheter |
US4650466A (en) * | 1985-11-01 | 1987-03-17 | Angiobrade Partners | Angioplasty device |
US4696544A (en) * | 1985-11-18 | 1987-09-29 | Olympus Corporation | Fiberscopic device for inspection of internal sections of construction, and method for using same |
EP0251437A3 (en) * | 1986-06-05 | 1988-11-23 | William C. Mccoy | Steerable and aimable catheter |
US4944727A (en) * | 1986-06-05 | 1990-07-31 | Catheter Research, Inc. | Variable shape guide apparatus |
EP0251437A2 (en) * | 1986-06-05 | 1988-01-07 | Catheter Research, Inc. | Steerable and aimable catheter |
US4759748A (en) * | 1986-06-30 | 1988-07-26 | Raychem Corporation | Guiding catheter |
US4822345A (en) * | 1986-08-14 | 1989-04-18 | Danforth John W | Controllable flexibility catheter |
US4909787A (en) * | 1986-08-14 | 1990-03-20 | Danforth John W | Controllable flexibility catheter with eccentric stiffener |
US4753223A (en) * | 1986-11-07 | 1988-06-28 | Bremer Paul W | System for controlling shape and direction of a catheter, cannula, electrode, endoscope or similar article |
US4838859A (en) * | 1987-05-19 | 1989-06-13 | Steve Strassmann | Steerable catheter |
US4767400A (en) * | 1987-10-27 | 1988-08-30 | Cordis Corporation | Porous ventricular catheter |
JP3003702B2 (en) | 1987-11-13 | 2000-01-31 | 株式会社東芝 | Actuator |
EP0330712A1 (en) * | 1988-03-02 | 1989-09-06 | Paul W. Bremer | System for controlling shape and direction of a catheter,cannula,electrode,endoscope or similar article |
US6572553B2 (en) | 1988-03-21 | 2003-06-03 | Scimed Life Systems, Inc. | Medical imaging device |
US6364840B1 (en) | 1988-03-21 | 2002-04-02 | Boston Scientific Corporation | Acoustic imaging catheter and the like |
US4951677A (en) * | 1988-03-21 | 1990-08-28 | Prutech Research And Development Partnership Ii | Acoustic imaging catheter and the like |
US5372138A (en) * | 1988-03-21 | 1994-12-13 | Boston Scientific Corporation | Acousting imaging catheters and the like |
US6585655B2 (en) | 1988-03-21 | 2003-07-01 | Scimed Life Systems, Inc. | Medical imaging device |
US5368035A (en) * | 1988-03-21 | 1994-11-29 | Boston Scientific Corporation | Ultrasound imaging guidewire |
US5524630A (en) * | 1988-03-21 | 1996-06-11 | Crowley; Robert J. | Acoustic imaging catheter and the like |
US5715825A (en) * | 1988-03-21 | 1998-02-10 | Boston Scientific Corporation | Acoustic imaging catheter and the like |
US5421338A (en) * | 1988-03-21 | 1995-06-06 | Boston Scientific Corporation | Acoustic imaging catheter and the like |
US20030208119A1 (en) * | 1988-03-21 | 2003-11-06 | Crowley Robert J. | Medical imaging device |
US4932419A (en) * | 1988-03-21 | 1990-06-12 | Boston Scientific Corporation | Multi-filar, cross-wound coil for medical devices |
US7037271B2 (en) | 1988-03-21 | 2006-05-02 | Boston Scientific Corporation | Medical imaging device |
US6165127A (en) * | 1988-03-21 | 2000-12-26 | Boston Scientific Corporation | Acoustic imaging catheter and the like |
US4921484A (en) * | 1988-07-25 | 1990-05-01 | Cordis Corporation | Mesh balloon catheter device |
US4981478A (en) * | 1988-09-06 | 1991-01-01 | Advanced Cardiovascular Systems | Composite vascular catheter |
US5065769A (en) * | 1988-11-23 | 1991-11-19 | Boston Scientific Corporation | Small diameter guidewires of multi-filar, cross-wound coils |
US4886067A (en) * | 1989-01-03 | 1989-12-12 | C. R. Bard, Inc. | Steerable guidewire with soft adjustable tip |
US5308324A (en) * | 1989-01-09 | 1994-05-03 | Pilot Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. | Steerable medical device |
US5203772A (en) * | 1989-01-09 | 1993-04-20 | Pilot Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. | Steerable medical device |
US4921482A (en) * | 1989-01-09 | 1990-05-01 | Hammerslag Julius G | Steerable angioplasty device |
WO1990007355A1 (en) * | 1989-01-09 | 1990-07-12 | Hammerslag Julius G | Steerable medical device |
US5037391A (en) * | 1989-01-09 | 1991-08-06 | Pilot Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. | Steerable angioplasty device |
US4998916A (en) * | 1989-01-09 | 1991-03-12 | Hammerslag Julius G | Steerable medical device |
US5480382A (en) * | 1989-01-09 | 1996-01-02 | Pilot Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. | Steerable medical device |
EP0680730A3 (en) * | 1989-03-16 | 1996-01-24 | Samuel Shiber | Rotary catheter for atherectomy system. |
EP0393834A3 (en) * | 1989-03-16 | 1991-01-09 | Samuel Shiber | Rotary catheter for atherectomy system |
EP0393834A2 (en) * | 1989-03-16 | 1990-10-24 | Samuel Shiber | Rotary catheter for atherectomy system |
US4934340A (en) * | 1989-06-08 | 1990-06-19 | Hemo Laser Corporation | Device for guiding medical catheters and scopes |
JP2889279B2 (en) | 1989-07-14 | 1999-05-10 | 株式会社東芝 | Actuator |
US5108368A (en) * | 1990-01-04 | 1992-04-28 | Pilot Cardiovascular System, Inc. | Steerable medical device |
US6033378A (en) * | 1990-02-02 | 2000-03-07 | Ep Technologies, Inc. | Catheter steering mechanism |
US5254088A (en) * | 1990-02-02 | 1993-10-19 | Ep Technologies, Inc. | Catheter steering mechanism |
US5195968A (en) * | 1990-02-02 | 1993-03-23 | Ingemar Lundquist | Catheter steering mechanism |
US5395327A (en) * | 1990-02-02 | 1995-03-07 | Ep Technologies, Inc. | Catheter steering mechanism |
US5531686A (en) * | 1990-02-02 | 1996-07-02 | Ep Technologies, Inc. | Catheter steering mechanism |
US5336182A (en) * | 1990-02-02 | 1994-08-09 | Ep Technologies, Inc. | Catheter steering mechanism |
USRE42662E1 (en) | 1990-03-13 | 2011-08-30 | The Regents Of The University Of California | Endovascular electrolytically detachable wire and tip for the formation of thrombus in arteries, veins, aneurysms, vascular malformations and arteriovenous fistulas |
USRE42625E1 (en) | 1990-03-13 | 2011-08-16 | The Regents Of The University Of California | Endovascular electrolytically detachable wire and tip for the formation of thrombus in arteries, veins, aneurysms, vascular malformations and arteriovenous fistulas |
USRE42756E1 (en) | 1990-03-13 | 2011-09-27 | The Regents Of The University Of California | Endovascular electrolytically detachable wire and tip for the formation of thrombus in arteries, veins, aneurysms, vascular malformations and arteriovenous fistulas |
US5092847A (en) * | 1990-04-06 | 1992-03-03 | Sherwood Medical Company | Enteral feeding tube stylet |
US5546948A (en) * | 1990-08-21 | 1996-08-20 | Boston Scientific Corporation | Ultrasound imaging guidewire |
US5125896A (en) * | 1990-10-10 | 1992-06-30 | C. R. Bard, Inc. | Steerable electrode catheter |
US5199950A (en) * | 1990-12-07 | 1993-04-06 | Willy Rusch Ag | Medical instrument |
US5123421A (en) * | 1991-01-16 | 1992-06-23 | C. R. Bard, Inc. | Liquid activated steerable catheter guidewire |
US5251640A (en) * | 1992-03-31 | 1993-10-12 | Cook, Incorporated | Composite wire guide shaft |
US5397304A (en) * | 1992-04-10 | 1995-03-14 | Medtronic Cardiorhythm | Shapable handle for steerable electrode catheter |
US5318525A (en) * | 1992-04-10 | 1994-06-07 | Medtronic Cardiorhythm | Steerable electrode catheter |
DE4219807A1 (en) * | 1992-06-17 | 1993-12-23 | Aesculap Ag | Bendable applicator for light radiation for medical purposes |
US5857996A (en) * | 1992-07-06 | 1999-01-12 | Catheter Imaging Systems | Method of epidermal surgery |
US6464682B1 (en) | 1992-07-06 | 2002-10-15 | Catheter Imaging Systems, Inc. | Method of epidural surgery |
US6470209B2 (en) | 1992-07-06 | 2002-10-22 | Catheter Imaging Systems, Inc. | System for enhancing visibility in the epidural space |
US6925323B2 (en) | 1992-07-06 | 2005-08-02 | Phillip Jack Snoke | System for enhancing visibility in the epidural space |
US6010493A (en) * | 1992-07-06 | 2000-01-04 | Catheter Imaging Systems | Method of epidural surgery |
US5542924A (en) * | 1992-11-02 | 1996-08-06 | Catheter Imaging Systems | Method of forming a catheter having a multiple durometer |
US5501694A (en) * | 1992-11-13 | 1996-03-26 | Scimed Life Systems, Inc. | Expandable intravascular occlusion material removal devices and methods of use |
US5836868A (en) * | 1992-11-13 | 1998-11-17 | Scimed Life Systems, Inc. | Expandable intravascular occlusion material removal devices and methods of use |
US5490859A (en) * | 1992-11-13 | 1996-02-13 | Scimed Life Systems, Inc. | Expandable intravascular occlusion material removal devices and methods of use |
US5792157A (en) * | 1992-11-13 | 1998-08-11 | Scimed Life Systems, Inc. | Expandable intravascular occlusion material removal devices and methods of use |
US5389073A (en) * | 1992-12-01 | 1995-02-14 | Cardiac Pathways Corporation | Steerable catheter with adjustable bend location |
US5314428A (en) * | 1992-12-28 | 1994-05-24 | Marotta Louis C | Hydraulically flexing catheter |
US5897567A (en) * | 1993-04-29 | 1999-04-27 | Scimed Life Systems, Inc. | Expandable intravascular occlusion material removal devices and methods of use |
US5865800A (en) * | 1993-08-19 | 1999-02-02 | Boston Scientific Corporation | Deflectable catheter |
US5562619A (en) * | 1993-08-19 | 1996-10-08 | Boston Scientific Corporation | Deflectable catheter |
EP0645158A3 (en) * | 1993-09-25 | 1996-02-07 | Aesculap Ag | Bendable guide catheter for medical purposes. |
DE4332667C1 (en) * | 1993-09-25 | 1994-09-22 | Aesculap Ag | Guide catheter for medical purposes which can be flexed |
EP0645158A2 (en) * | 1993-09-25 | 1995-03-29 | Aesculap Ag | Bendable guide catheter for medical purposes |
DE4435644B4 (en) * | 1993-10-05 | 2004-05-13 | Pentax Corp. | Fluid operated endoscope bending section |
WO1996013228A1 (en) * | 1994-10-27 | 1996-05-09 | Schneider (Usa) Inc. | Stent delivery device |
US6849081B2 (en) | 1994-12-22 | 2005-02-01 | Scimed Life Systems, Inc. | Implant delivery assembly with expandable coupling/decoupling mechanism |
US5814062A (en) * | 1994-12-22 | 1998-09-29 | Target Therapeutics, Inc. | Implant delivery assembly with expandable coupling/decoupling mechanism |
US20050154417A1 (en) * | 1994-12-22 | 2005-07-14 | Scimed Life Systems, Inc. | Implant delivery assembly with expandable coupling/decoupling mechanism |
US6007531A (en) * | 1995-11-21 | 1999-12-28 | Catheter Imaging Systems, Inc. | Steerable catheter having disposable module and sterilizable handle and method of connecting same |
US6017322A (en) * | 1995-11-21 | 2000-01-25 | Catheter Imaging Systems, Inc. | Steerable catheter having disposable module and sterilizable handle and method of connecting same |
US5860953A (en) * | 1995-11-21 | 1999-01-19 | Catheter Imaging Systems, Inc. | Steerable catheter having disposable module and sterilizable handle and method of connecting same |
USD405881S (en) | 1996-01-16 | 1999-02-16 | Catheter Imaging Systems, Inc. | Handle for steerable catheter |
USD398986S (en) | 1996-01-16 | 1998-09-29 | Catheter Imaging Systems, Inc. | Handle interface for steerable catheter |
US5846221A (en) * | 1996-02-09 | 1998-12-08 | Catheter Imaging Systems, Inc. | Steerable catheter having disposable module and sterilizable handle and method of connecting same |
US20020156452A1 (en) * | 1996-02-16 | 2002-10-24 | Pursley Matt D. | Method and apparatus for curving catheter with soft distal end |
US5833631A (en) * | 1996-06-28 | 1998-11-10 | Target Therapeutics, Inc. | Fiber tip guidewire |
US5810790A (en) * | 1996-11-19 | 1998-09-22 | Ebling; Wendell V. | Catheter with viewing system and port connector |
US5904657A (en) * | 1997-02-26 | 1999-05-18 | Unsworth; John D. | System for guiding devices in body lumens |
WO1998037923A2 (en) | 1997-02-26 | 1998-09-03 | John Unsworth | System for guiding devices in body lumens |
US6517527B2 (en) * | 1998-09-30 | 2003-02-11 | C. R. Bard, Inc. | Transthoracic drug delivery device |
US6733488B2 (en) | 1998-09-30 | 2004-05-11 | C.R. Bard, Inc. | Transthoracic drug delivery device |
US20050171474A1 (en) * | 1999-05-07 | 2005-08-04 | Scimed Life Systems | Apparatus and method for delivering therapeutic and diagnostic agents |
US7211041B2 (en) | 1999-05-07 | 2007-05-01 | Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. | Apparatus and method for delivering therapeutic and diagnostic agents |
US6565528B1 (en) | 1999-05-07 | 2003-05-20 | Scimed Life Systems, Inc. | Apparatus and method for delivering therapeutic and diagnostic agents |
US7147633B2 (en) | 1999-06-02 | 2006-12-12 | Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. | Method and apparatus for treatment of atrial fibrillation |
US6641553B1 (en) | 1999-06-02 | 2003-11-04 | Boston Scientific Corporation | Devices and methods for delivering a drug |
US8187251B2 (en) | 1999-06-02 | 2012-05-29 | Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. | Methods of treating cardiac arrhythmia |
US20040254451A1 (en) * | 1999-11-05 | 2004-12-16 | Scimed Life Systems | Method and devices for heart treatment |
US6748258B1 (en) | 1999-11-05 | 2004-06-08 | Scimed Life Systems, Inc. | Method and devices for heart treatment |
US7392077B2 (en) | 1999-11-05 | 2008-06-24 | Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. | Method for treating a patient at risk of loss of cardiac function by cardiac ischemia |
US20030114872A1 (en) * | 1999-11-05 | 2003-06-19 | Scimed Life Systems, Inc. | Method and apparatus for demand injury in stimulating angiogenesis |
US6676679B1 (en) | 1999-11-05 | 2004-01-13 | Boston Scientific Corporation | Method and apparatus for recurrent demand injury in stimulating angiogenesis |
US6695808B2 (en) | 2000-03-23 | 2004-02-24 | Scimed Life Systems, Inc. | Pressure sensor for therapeutic delivery device and method |
US20040225298A1 (en) * | 2000-03-23 | 2004-11-11 | Tom Curtis P. | Pressure sensor for therapeutic delivery device and method |
US7211063B2 (en) | 2000-03-23 | 2007-05-01 | Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. | Pressure sensor for therapeutic delivery device and method |
US7214223B2 (en) | 2000-03-24 | 2007-05-08 | Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. | Photoatherolytic catheter apparatus and method |
US7044907B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2006-05-16 | Neoguide Systems, Inc. | Steerable endoscope and improved method of insertion |
US20020193661A1 (en) * | 2000-04-03 | 2002-12-19 | Amir Belson | Steerable endoscope and improved method of insertion |
US6869396B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2005-03-22 | Neoguide Systems, Inc. | Steerable endoscope and improved method of insertion |
US6890297B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2005-05-10 | Neo Guide Systems, Inc. | Steerable endoscope and improved method of insertion |
US8641602B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2014-02-04 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Steerable endoscope and improved method of insertion |
US8721530B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2014-05-13 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Tendon-driven endoscope and methods of use |
US6837846B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2005-01-04 | Neo Guide Systems, Inc. | Endoscope having a guide tube |
US8827894B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2014-09-09 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Steerable endoscope and improved method of insertion |
US8834354B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2014-09-16 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Steerable endoscope and improved method of insertion |
US8517923B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2013-08-27 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Apparatus and methods for facilitating treatment of tissue via improved delivery of energy based and non-energy based modalities |
US8845524B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2014-09-30 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Steerable segmented endoscope and method of insertion |
US6974411B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2005-12-13 | Neoguide Systems, Inc. | Endoscope with single step guiding apparatus |
US6984203B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2006-01-10 | Neoguide Systems, Inc. | Endoscope with adjacently positioned guiding apparatus |
US8888688B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2014-11-18 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Connector device for a controllable instrument |
US6800056B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2004-10-05 | Neoguide Systems, Inc. | Endoscope with guiding apparatus |
US9138132B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2015-09-22 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Steerable endoscope and improved method of insertion |
US7087013B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2006-08-08 | Neoguide Systems, Inc. | Steerable segmented endoscope and method of insertion |
US8226546B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2012-07-24 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Steerable endoscope and improved method of insertion |
US6468203B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2002-10-22 | Neoguide Systems, Inc. | Steerable endoscope and improved method of insertion |
US8062212B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2011-11-22 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Steerable endoscope and improved method of insertion |
US9427282B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2016-08-30 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Apparatus and methods for facilitating treatment of tissue via improved delivery of energy based and non-energy based modalities |
US20020161281A1 (en) * | 2000-04-03 | 2002-10-31 | Ross Jaffe | Endoscope having a guide tube |
US20040019254A1 (en) * | 2000-04-03 | 2004-01-29 | Amir Belson | Steerable segmented endoscope and method of insertion |
US20030004399A1 (en) * | 2000-04-03 | 2003-01-02 | Amir Belson | Steerable endoscope and improved method of insertion |
US11026564B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2021-06-08 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Apparatus and methods for facilitating treatment of tissue via improved delivery of energy based and non-energy based modalities |
US20030191367A1 (en) * | 2000-04-03 | 2003-10-09 | Amir Belson | Steerable segmented endoscope and method of insertion |
US9808140B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2017-11-07 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Steerable segmented endoscope and method of insertion |
US10105036B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2018-10-23 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Connector device for a controllable instrument |
US6858005B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2005-02-22 | Neo Guide Systems, Inc. | Tendon-driven endoscope and methods of insertion |
US10327625B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2019-06-25 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Apparatus and methods for facilitating treatment of tissue via improved delivery of energy based and non-energy based modalities |
US10736490B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2020-08-11 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Connector device for a controllable instrument |
US10893794B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2021-01-19 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Steerable endoscope and improved method of insertion |
US6610007B2 (en) | 2000-04-03 | 2003-08-26 | Neoguide Systems, Inc. | Steerable segmented endoscope and method of insertion |
US6676104B2 (en) * | 2000-05-19 | 2004-01-13 | Premetec Ab | Device for controlling the flow of liquid using a tube |
US7588554B2 (en) | 2000-06-26 | 2009-09-15 | Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. | Method and apparatus for treating ischemic tissue |
US20100331623A1 (en) * | 2001-02-02 | 2010-12-30 | Sauer Jude S | System for endoscopic suturing |
US8361090B2 (en) | 2002-01-09 | 2013-01-29 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Apparatus and method for endoscopic colectomy |
US9421016B2 (en) | 2002-01-09 | 2016-08-23 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Apparatus and method for endoscopic colectomy |
US8696694B2 (en) | 2002-01-09 | 2014-04-15 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Apparatus and method for endoscopic colectomy |
US10349816B2 (en) | 2002-01-09 | 2019-07-16 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Apparatus and method for endoscopic colectomy |
US20080154288A1 (en) * | 2002-01-09 | 2008-06-26 | Neoguide Systems, Inc. | Apparatus and method for endoscopic colectomy |
US9468528B2 (en) | 2002-06-13 | 2016-10-18 | Guided Delivery Systems, Inc. | Devices and methods for heart valve repair |
US9949829B2 (en) | 2002-06-13 | 2018-04-24 | Ancora Heart, Inc. | Delivery devices and methods for heart valve repair |
US8641727B2 (en) | 2002-06-13 | 2014-02-04 | Guided Delivery Systems, Inc. | Devices and methods for heart valve repair |
US10092402B2 (en) | 2002-06-13 | 2018-10-09 | Ancora Heart, Inc. | Devices and methods for heart valve repair |
US7588582B2 (en) | 2002-06-13 | 2009-09-15 | Guided Delivery Systems Inc. | Methods for remodeling cardiac tissue |
US7883538B2 (en) | 2002-06-13 | 2011-02-08 | Guided Delivery Systems Inc. | Methods and devices for termination |
US10624741B2 (en) | 2002-06-13 | 2020-04-21 | Ancora Heart, Inc. | Delivery devices and methods for heart valve repair |
US10898328B2 (en) | 2002-06-13 | 2021-01-26 | Ancora Heart, Inc. | Devices and methods for heart valve repair |
US9072513B2 (en) | 2002-06-13 | 2015-07-07 | Guided Delivery Systems Inc. | Methods and devices for termination |
US7666193B2 (en) | 2002-06-13 | 2010-02-23 | Guided Delivery Sytems, Inc. | Delivery devices and methods for heart valve repair |
US8287557B2 (en) | 2002-06-13 | 2012-10-16 | Guided Delivery Systems, Inc. | Methods and devices for termination |
US9226825B2 (en) | 2002-06-13 | 2016-01-05 | Guided Delivery Systems, Inc. | Delivery devices and methods for heart valve repair |
US8066766B2 (en) | 2002-06-13 | 2011-11-29 | Guided Delivery Systems Inc. | Methods and devices for termination |
US9636107B2 (en) | 2002-06-13 | 2017-05-02 | Ancora Heart, Inc. | Devices and methods for heart valve repair |
US7753858B2 (en) | 2002-06-13 | 2010-07-13 | Guided Delivery Systems, Inc. | Delivery devices and methods for heart valve repair |
US20060089535A1 (en) * | 2002-07-11 | 2006-04-27 | Dan Raz | Piston-actuated endoscopic steering system |
US6951554B2 (en) | 2002-12-16 | 2005-10-04 | Intraluminal Therapeutics Inc. | Deflecting catheter |
US20040116851A1 (en) * | 2002-12-16 | 2004-06-17 | Intraluminal Therapeutics, Inc. | Deflecting catheter |
US20040133168A1 (en) * | 2002-12-23 | 2004-07-08 | Salcudean Septimiu E. | Steerable needle |
US7662128B2 (en) * | 2002-12-23 | 2010-02-16 | Salcudean Septimiu E | Steerable needle |
US8287555B2 (en) | 2003-02-06 | 2012-10-16 | Guided Delivery Systems, Inc. | Devices and methods for heart valve repair |
US7758637B2 (en) | 2003-02-06 | 2010-07-20 | Guided Delivery Systems, Inc. | Delivery devices and methods for heart valve repair |
US8882657B2 (en) | 2003-03-07 | 2014-11-11 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Instrument having radio frequency identification systems and methods for use |
US9980778B2 (en) | 2003-03-07 | 2018-05-29 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Instrument having radio frequency identification systems and methods for use |
US10959807B2 (en) | 2003-03-07 | 2021-03-30 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Systems and methods for determining the state of motion of an instrument |
US7303533B2 (en) | 2003-04-10 | 2007-12-04 | Intraluminal Therapeutics, Inc. | Shapeable intraluminal device and method therefor |
US20050261607A1 (en) * | 2003-04-10 | 2005-11-24 | Intraluminal Therapeutics, Inc. | Shapeable intraluminal device and method therefor |
US7951094B2 (en) | 2003-04-10 | 2011-05-31 | The Spectranetics Corporation | Shapeable intraluminal device and method therefor |
US20080077051A1 (en) * | 2003-04-10 | 2008-03-27 | Johansen Jerald A | Shapeable intraluminal device and method therefor |
US7101362B2 (en) * | 2003-07-02 | 2006-09-05 | St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc. | Steerable and shapable catheter employing fluid force |
US7789877B2 (en) * | 2003-07-02 | 2010-09-07 | St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc. | Ablation catheter electrode arrangement |
US20050004440A1 (en) * | 2003-07-02 | 2005-01-06 | Guy Vanney | Ablation catheter electrode arrangement |
US20050004516A1 (en) * | 2003-07-02 | 2005-01-06 | Guy Vanney | Steerable and shapable catheter employing fluid force |
US7534204B2 (en) | 2003-09-03 | 2009-05-19 | Guided Delivery Systems, Inc. | Cardiac visualization devices and methods |
US7753924B2 (en) | 2003-09-04 | 2010-07-13 | Guided Delivery Systems, Inc. | Delivery devices and methods for heart valve repair |
US7922762B2 (en) | 2003-09-04 | 2011-04-12 | Guided Delivery Systems Inc. | Devices and methods for cardiac annulus stabilization and treatment |
US7753922B2 (en) | 2003-09-04 | 2010-07-13 | Guided Delivery Systems, Inc. | Devices and methods for cardiac annulus stabilization and treatment |
US8343173B2 (en) | 2003-09-04 | 2013-01-01 | Guided Delivery Systems Inc. | Delivery devices and methods for heart valve repair |
US7957790B2 (en) * | 2004-01-21 | 2011-06-07 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Catheter |
US20050203371A1 (en) * | 2004-01-21 | 2005-09-15 | Martin Kleen | Catheter device |
US20050187467A1 (en) * | 2004-01-21 | 2005-08-25 | Martin Kleen | Catheter |
US20060270976A1 (en) * | 2005-05-31 | 2006-11-30 | Prorhythm, Inc. | Steerable catheter |
US20060270975A1 (en) * | 2005-05-31 | 2006-11-30 | Prorhythm, Inc. | Steerable catheter |
EP1896106A4 (en) * | 2005-06-20 | 2010-06-02 | Cathrx Ltd | Sleeve steering and reinforcement |
EP1896106A1 (en) * | 2005-06-20 | 2008-03-12 | Cathrx Ltd | Sleeve steering and reinforcement |
JP2008546455A (en) * | 2005-06-20 | 2008-12-25 | カソリック リミテッド | Sleeve steering and reinforcement |
US20090137932A1 (en) * | 2005-06-29 | 2009-05-28 | Per Lagercrantz | Heart tracking device |
US8211090B2 (en) * | 2005-06-29 | 2012-07-03 | St. Jude Medical Ab | Heart tracking device |
US20080015547A1 (en) * | 2005-07-14 | 2008-01-17 | Beisel Robert F | Stylet free flexible-tip epidural catheter and method of making |
US7695466B2 (en) * | 2005-07-14 | 2010-04-13 | Beisel Robert F | Stylet free flexible-tip epidural catheter and method of making |
US20070060997A1 (en) * | 2005-09-15 | 2007-03-15 | Jan De Boer | Multi-lumen steerable catheter |
JP2009513308A (en) * | 2005-10-31 | 2009-04-02 | ウィルソン−クック・メディカル・インコーポレーテッド | Steerable catheter device and method for articulating the catheter device |
WO2007053625A1 (en) | 2005-10-31 | 2007-05-10 | Wilson-Cook Medical Inc. | Steerable catheter devices and methods of articulating catheter devices |
US7608056B2 (en) | 2005-10-31 | 2009-10-27 | Wilson-Cook Medical Inc. | Steerable catheter devices and methods of articulating catheter devices |
AU2006308824C1 (en) * | 2005-10-31 | 2013-01-17 | Cook Medical Technologies Llc | Steerable catheter devices and methods of articulating catheter devices |
AU2006308824B2 (en) * | 2005-10-31 | 2012-08-23 | Cook Medical Technologies Llc | Steerable catheter devices and methods of articulating catheter devices |
US20070100235A1 (en) * | 2005-10-31 | 2007-05-03 | Wilson-Cook Medical Inc. | Steerable catheter devices and methods of articulating catheter devices |
US11617499B2 (en) | 2005-11-22 | 2023-04-04 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | System for determining the shape of a bendable instrument |
US11096563B2 (en) | 2005-11-22 | 2021-08-24 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Method of determining the shape of a bendable instrument |
US8083879B2 (en) | 2005-11-23 | 2011-12-27 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Non-metallic, multi-strand control cable for steerable instruments |
US20080033415A1 (en) * | 2006-03-17 | 2008-02-07 | Rieker Gregory B | Method and apparatus to prevent esophageal damage |
US8454588B2 (en) | 2006-03-17 | 2013-06-04 | The Board Of Trustees Of The Leland Stanford Junior University | Method and apparatus to prevent esophageal damage |
US9357901B2 (en) | 2006-05-19 | 2016-06-07 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Methods and apparatus for displaying three-dimensional orientation of a steerable distal tip of an endoscope |
US10426412B2 (en) | 2006-05-19 | 2019-10-01 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Methods and apparatus for displaying three-dimensional orientation of a steerable distal tip of an endoscope |
US8568299B2 (en) | 2006-05-19 | 2013-10-29 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Methods and apparatus for displaying three-dimensional orientation of a steerable distal tip of an endoscope |
US8388680B2 (en) | 2006-10-18 | 2013-03-05 | Guided Delivery Systems, Inc. | Methods and devices for catheter advancement and delivery of substances therethrough |
US20080249536A1 (en) * | 2007-02-15 | 2008-10-09 | Hansen Medical, Inc. | Interface assembly for controlling orientation of robotically controlled medical instrument |
US20080262480A1 (en) * | 2007-02-15 | 2008-10-23 | Stahler Gregory J | Instrument assembly for robotic instrument system |
US20080243064A1 (en) * | 2007-02-15 | 2008-10-02 | Hansen Medical, Inc. | Support structure for robotic medical instrument |
US20080262513A1 (en) * | 2007-02-15 | 2008-10-23 | Hansen Medical, Inc. | Instrument driver having independently rotatable carriages |
US8852223B2 (en) * | 2007-04-06 | 2014-10-07 | Cordis Corporation | Fixed wire dilatation catheter with an elongateable distal end |
US20080249465A1 (en) * | 2007-04-06 | 2008-10-09 | John Kenneth Ryder | Fixed wire dilatation catheter with an elongateable distal end |
US9220398B2 (en) | 2007-10-11 | 2015-12-29 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | System for managing Bowden cables in articulating instruments |
WO2009054491A1 (en) | 2007-10-27 | 2009-04-30 | Kaneka Corporation | Catheter |
US9283354B2 (en) * | 2007-10-27 | 2016-03-15 | Kaneka Corporation | Catheter |
JP5234548B2 (en) * | 2007-10-27 | 2013-07-10 | 株式会社カネカ | catheter |
EP2216067A4 (en) * | 2007-10-27 | 2011-11-09 | Kaneka Corp | Catheter |
US20100249824A1 (en) * | 2007-10-27 | 2010-09-30 | Kaneka Corporation | Catheter |
EP2216067A1 (en) * | 2007-10-27 | 2010-08-11 | Kaneka Corporation | Catheter |
US20090163851A1 (en) * | 2007-12-19 | 2009-06-25 | Holloway Kenneth A | Occlusive material removal device having selectively variable stiffness |
US9706996B2 (en) | 2008-02-06 | 2017-07-18 | Ancora Heart, Inc. | Multi-window guide tunnel |
US10952594B2 (en) | 2008-02-06 | 2021-03-23 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Segmented instrument having braking capabilities |
US8790367B2 (en) | 2008-02-06 | 2014-07-29 | Guided Delivery Systems Inc. | Multi-window guide tunnel |
US10542987B2 (en) | 2008-02-06 | 2020-01-28 | Ancora Heart, Inc. | Multi-window guide tunnel |
US10512392B2 (en) | 2008-02-06 | 2019-12-24 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Segmented instrument having braking capabilities |
US8182418B2 (en) | 2008-02-25 | 2012-05-22 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Systems and methods for articulating an elongate body |
US8608647B2 (en) | 2008-02-25 | 2013-12-17 | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Systems and methods for articulating an elongate body |
US10363392B2 (en) | 2008-05-07 | 2019-07-30 | Ancora Heart, Inc. | Deflectable guide |
US20100010437A1 (en) * | 2008-07-11 | 2010-01-14 | Miles Robin R | Steerable catheter with distending lumen-actuated curling catheter tip |
US8897888B2 (en) | 2008-09-17 | 2014-11-25 | Saluda Medical Pty Limited | Knitted electrode assembly and integrated connector for an active implantable medical device |
US20100070007A1 (en) * | 2008-09-17 | 2010-03-18 | National Ict Australia Limited | Knitted electrode assembly and integrated connector for an active implantable medical device |
US8923984B2 (en) | 2008-09-17 | 2014-12-30 | Saluda Medical Pty Limited | Knitted electrode assembly for an active implantable medical device |
US9636106B2 (en) | 2008-10-10 | 2017-05-02 | Ancora Heart, Inc. | Termination devices and related methods |
US8795298B2 (en) | 2008-10-10 | 2014-08-05 | Guided Delivery Systems Inc. | Tether tensioning devices and related methods |
US10625047B2 (en) | 2009-01-20 | 2020-04-21 | Ancora Heart, Inc. | Anchor deployment devices and related methods |
US11202883B2 (en) | 2009-01-20 | 2021-12-21 | Ancora Heart, Inc. | Diagnostic catheters, guide catheters, visualization devices and chord manipulation devices, and related kits and methods |
US9173646B2 (en) | 2009-01-20 | 2015-11-03 | Guided Delivery Systems Inc. | Diagnostic catheters, guide catheters, visualization devices and chord manipulation devices, and related kits and methods |
US9616197B2 (en) | 2009-01-20 | 2017-04-11 | Ancora Heart, Inc. | Anchor deployment devices and related methods |
US10625046B2 (en) | 2009-01-20 | 2020-04-21 | Ancora Heart, Inc. | Diagnostic catheters, guide catheters, visualization devices and chord manipulation devices, and related kits and methods |
US10300256B2 (en) | 2010-02-23 | 2019-05-28 | Covidien Lp | Devices and methods for vascular recanalization |
US9211396B2 (en) | 2010-02-23 | 2015-12-15 | Covidien Lp | Devices and methods for vascular recanalization |
US9931495B2 (en) | 2010-02-23 | 2018-04-03 | Covidien Lp | Devices and methods for vascular recanalization |
US9861350B2 (en) | 2010-09-03 | 2018-01-09 | Ancora Heart, Inc. | Devices and methods for anchoring tissue |
US10349821B2 (en) | 2011-03-01 | 2019-07-16 | Sanovas Intellectual Property, Llc | Cleaning system for medical imaging device |
US10058235B2 (en) | 2011-03-01 | 2018-08-28 | Sanovas Intellectual Property, Llc | Steerable catheter |
US9364628B2 (en) * | 2011-04-28 | 2016-06-14 | Yonsei University Wonju Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation | Curvature-adjustable endotracheal tube |
US20140041665A1 (en) * | 2011-04-28 | 2014-02-13 | Yonsei University Wonju Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation | Curvature-adjustable endotracheal tube |
US20130317542A1 (en) * | 2012-05-25 | 2013-11-28 | Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. | Steerable delivery system |
WO2015045429A1 (en) * | 2013-09-24 | 2015-04-02 | 公立大学法人広島市立大学 | Elastic tube, control device, and medical equipment |
US10849701B2 (en) | 2013-12-20 | 2020-12-01 | Corbin Barnett | Surgical system and related methods |
US9848954B2 (en) | 2013-12-20 | 2017-12-26 | Corbin E. Barnett | Surgical system and related methods |
US9808599B2 (en) | 2013-12-20 | 2017-11-07 | Microvention, Inc. | Device delivery system |
US11744992B2 (en) | 2013-12-20 | 2023-09-05 | Microvention, Inc. | Segmented embolic system |
US10682497B2 (en) | 2013-12-20 | 2020-06-16 | Microvention, Inc. | Steerable guidewire system |
US10722687B2 (en) | 2013-12-20 | 2020-07-28 | Microvention, Inc. | Segmented embolic system |
US10980529B2 (en) | 2015-03-05 | 2021-04-20 | Ancora Heart, Inc. | Devices and methods of visualizing and determining depth of penetration in cardiac tissue |
US10058321B2 (en) | 2015-03-05 | 2018-08-28 | Ancora Heart, Inc. | Devices and methods of visualizing and determining depth of penetration in cardiac tissue |
US10980973B2 (en) | 2015-05-12 | 2021-04-20 | Ancora Heart, Inc. | Device and method for releasing catheters from cardiac structures |
US20180036501A1 (en) * | 2016-08-08 | 2018-02-08 | Yu-Jui Liu | Nasogastric tube |
US11389172B2 (en) | 2016-09-29 | 2022-07-19 | Rapid Medical Ltd. | Rotationally torquable endovascular device with variable flexibility tip |
US10667914B2 (en) | 2016-11-18 | 2020-06-02 | Ancora Heart, Inc. | Myocardial implant load sharing device and methods to promote LV function |
US11672524B2 (en) | 2019-07-15 | 2023-06-13 | Ancora Heart, Inc. | Devices and methods for tether cutting |
WO2021084319A1 (en) * | 2019-10-30 | 2021-05-06 | Rapid Medical Ltd. | Rotationally torquable endovascular device with variable flexibility tip |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US3773034A (en) | Steerable catheter | |
US4586923A (en) | Curving tip catheter | |
US5470314A (en) | Perfusion balloon catheter with differential compliance | |
US7588555B2 (en) | Bi-directional catheter assembly and method therefor | |
US11219749B2 (en) | Balloon catheter systems and methods | |
US5634475A (en) | Guidewire delivery assist device and system | |
EP1942975B1 (en) | Steerable catheter devices and methods of articulating catheter devices | |
US4762130A (en) | Catheter with corkscrew-like balloon | |
US5060660A (en) | Steerable extendable guidewire with adjustable tip | |
US4716757A (en) | Guide wire tip shaping tool and method | |
US5497785A (en) | Catheter advancing guidewire and method for making same | |
US5399164A (en) | Catheter having a multiple durometer | |
US5344397A (en) | Cholangiogram catheter | |
US5897536A (en) | Catheter having a controllable stiffness and adapted for use with various contrast media | |
US20040059257A1 (en) | Deflectable guiding apparatus | |
US11103679B2 (en) | Steerable catheters and methods for making them | |
JPH0747046B2 (en) | Straight inverted catheter with inner body extension | |
CN106102814B (en) | Catheter tube | |
JPH0679000A (en) | Operatable catheter device | |
CN110193132A (en) | A kind of foley's tube | |
US11253678B2 (en) | Multi-curvature catheter and medical device for surgery | |
JPS63500990A (en) | guiding catheter | |
US11577050B2 (en) | Medical device | |
WO2020208961A1 (en) | Balloon catheter | |
JP2002224221A (en) | Catheter for endoscope |