Manual actuator for a catheter system for treating a vascular occlusion

Abstract

Disclosed herein is manual actuator for retracting and advancing a therapeutic working element of an intravascular catheter system via an actuation shaft or one or more pulling wires. The manual actuator includes a hollow cylindrical bracing member having an open proximal end and a distal end, and a hollow cylindrical retracting member, the retracting member being slidable, in a telescoping fashion, into the open proximal end of the bracing member. An actuation shaft is secured near to the proximal end of the retracting member and the distal end of the actuation shaft is secured to the therapeutic working element. Alternatively, at least one pulling wire is secured proximal to the proximal end of the retracting member. The distal end of the pulling wire is secured to the therapeutic working element. At least one resilient connecting member has a proximal end attached proximate the proximal end of the retracting member, and a distal end attached proximate the distal end of the bracing member. When a manually applied external force is applied by the physician to the resilient connecting members, the resilient connecting members urge the retracting member in a proximal direction with respect to the bracing member, and retracting the actuation shaft to thereby operate the working element of the catheter system. Alternatively, the retracting member is urged in the proximal direction by the manually applied external force and the pulling wires transmit this force to the therapeutic working element.