C. R. Bard, Inc.

Debbie E Stevens-Wright

Gary S Falwell

Charles A Gibson

Russell W Bowden

Richard B Stevens

John R Fagan

Dino Francesco Cuscuna

Sarkis Karakozian

A steerable catheter includes control handle having a generally tubular housing with a longitudinal slot therein in which an axially or longitudinally movable two-part slideblock resides, and a generally cylindrical, rotatably mounted thumbwheel surrounding a distal portion of the tubular housing, for controlling the axial translation of the slideblock. The pullwire passes into the distal end of the control handle and is only secured to the proximal part of the two-part slideblock so as to prevent the user from placing the pullwire under compression. A tip radius adjusting wire is attached to and extends distally from a slide actuator in the control handle into and through the main catheter shaft portion. The free distal end of the tip radius adjusting wire is selectably locatable at different positions. The radius of curvature of the tip portion, when deflected, depends upon how far distally into the deflectable tip portion the radius adjusting wire has been advanced by the user. The electrode catheter thus has a deflectable tip whose radius of curvature is adjustable over a relatively wide range.

Steerable electrode catheter

A bidirectional steering catheter comprising a distal electrode assembly, a flexible tip assembly, an elongated shaft having a central lumen running the length of the shaft, and a handle/actuator. A plurality of ring electrodes are attached to the surface of the flexible tip assembly. Signal wires running the length of the catheter are electrically connected to each ring electrode. At least two pull cables having first and second ends extend distally through the central lumen. The first end of each pull cable is attached to the handle/actuator. The second end of each pull cable is attached to the distal electrode assembly, such that the distal electrode assembly may be moved between a first and a second position within a single plane by manipulating the handle/actuator. At least two reinforcement members are located inside the flexible tip assembly. Each reinforcement member has a proximal section, a middle section and a distal section. Each proximal section has a larger diameter than each middle section, thus being stiffer than the middle section. This variable stiffness along the length of the each reinforcement member distributes stresses evenly along the length of the tip assembly.

Bidirectional steering catheter

A steerable catheter includes control handle having a generally tubular housing with a longitudinal slot therein in which an axially or longitudinally movable two-part slideblock resides, and a generally cylindrical, rotatably mounted thumbwheel surrounding a distal portion of the tubular housing, for controlling the axial translation of the slideblock. The pullwire passes into the distal end of the control handle and is only secured to the proximal part of the two-part slideblock so as to prevent the user from placing the pullwire under compression. A tip radius adjusting wire is attached to and extends distally from a slide actuator in the control handle into and through the main catheter shaft portion. The free distal end of the tip radius adjusting wire is selectably Iocatable at different positions. The radius of curvature of the tip portion, when deflected, depends upon how far distally into the deflectable tip portion the radius adjusting wire has been advanced by the user. The electrode catheter thus has a deflectable tip whose radius of curvature is adjustable over a relatively wide range.

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Lowell, MA, United States of America

Debbie E Stevens-Wright