Clamping mechanism with reduced bending load

Abstract

Catheter handle (1) for deflecting a catheter shaft (10) of a catheter, comprising - a rotatably mounted adjusting device (2) to which a pulling element (3) of the catheter can be fastened, so that when the adjusting device (2) is rotated, a pull can be exerted on the pulling element (3) to deflect the catheter shaft (10), and - a tensioning device (4) for tensioning the tension element (3), wherein - the clamping device (4) is rotatably mounted on the adjusting device (2), wherein in particular the tension element (3) can be fastened to the adjusting device (2) via the clamping device (4), and / or - the tensioning device (4) has a kink protection device (5) to relieve the tension element (3).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a catheter handle for operating, in particular deflecting, a catheter shaft of a catheter.

[0002] Such a handle or catheter is known from EP 2 956 198 B 1.

[0003] Such catheters have a catheter shaft that is elongated and has a proximal end and a distal deflectable portion, wherein the proximal end of the catheter shaft is attached to the catheter handle. The catheter has at least one elongated pulling element, in particular in the form of a pulling wire, that extends along the catheter shaft and has a distal end portion that is attached to the distal deflectable portion of the catheter shaft. A proximal end portion of the pulling wire is coupled to an adjusting device of the catheter handle, wherein the adjusting device is rotatable to exert a pulling force on the pulling wire, and wherein the pulling force is transmitted via the pulling wire to the distal deflectable portion of the catheter shaft, so that the latter is deflected accordingly, i.e., is given an adjustable curvature.

[0004] For tensioning the pull wire, it is also known to use a tension pin which is arranged in a tension block and is rotatable in order to wind up the pull wire and thus tension it.

[0005] However, when moving the deflection mechanism, alternating stress can easily cause fracture at the bending point (entrance to the pin's clamping block). To prevent this, a pull rope or thread is used, which must then be connected to the pull wire.

[0006] Based on this, the invention is based on the object of providing a catheter handle in which a traction element can be tensioned in such a way that an increased risk of kinking is avoided and an additional wall for rolling up the traction element is dispensed with. In known catheter handles or adjusting devices, the traction wire or the associated traction cable rests against such a wall (so-called "guide wall") to prevent excessive curvature / bending of the traction wire / traction cable.

[0007] This object is achieved by a catheter handle having the features of claim 1.

[0008] According to claim 1, a catheter handle for deflecting a catheter shaft of a catheter is disclosed, comprising - a rotatably mounted adjusting device to which a pulling element of the catheter can be attached, so that when the adjusting device rotates, a pull can be exerted on the pulling element to deflect the catheter shaft, and - a tensioning device for tensioning the tension element, whereby - the clamping device is rotatably mounted on the adjusting device, wherein in particular the tension element can be fastened to the adjusting device via the clamping device, and / or - the tensioning device has a kink protection to relieve the tension element.

[0009] Due to the rotatable bearing, the tensioning device is advantageously aligned with the tension element, thus eliminating the need for the aforementioned wall or an additional thread / rope. Alternatively, if a kink protection device is used, this can take over the function of the aforementioned wall.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the tension element is elongated and flexible, so that it can be bent, in particular deflected, transversely to its longitudinal direction. The tension element can be a rope, a wire, a fiber, a thread, or the like. The tension element can also be a combination of such structures.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the adjusting device for rotatably supporting the clamping device has a bearing block in which a clamping body of the clamping device is rotatably supported.

[0012] Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the clamping body has an outer surface configured such that the clamping body can be secured by means of a tool. In particular, the outer surface can be designed as a square or hexagonal shape, for example, to be secured by means of an open-end wrench.

[0013] Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tensioning device comprises a clamping pin rotatably arranged in the clamping body, through which the tensioning element can be guided and wound onto the clamping pin by rotating the clamping pin, thereby tensioning it. Preferably, the clamping pin is designed to be self-locking, so that the tension cannot be arbitrarily adjusted, particularly when the clamping body rotates.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the alternative aspect of the invention relating to said anti-kink device, the anti-kink device extends from the outlet of a clamping block of the clamping device, so that the tension element attached to the clamping block, starting from the clamping block, first runs through the outlet and then through the anti-kink device, which preferably forms a flexible, elongated sleeve that surrounds the tension element or forms a channel therefor and can be reinforced, for example, by a helix. According to one embodiment of the invention, a tensioning screw is arranged in the clamping block, by means of which the tension element can be tensioned. According to one embodiment, the clamping block is preferably rigidly attached to the adjusting device.

[0015] In the following, embodiments as well as further features and advantages of the invention will be explained with reference to the figures. They show: Fig. 1A-D details of an embodiment of a catheter handle according to the invention, and Fig. 2A-D Details of an embodiment of a kink protection of a catheter handle according to the invention.

[0016] Fig. 1A shows in connection with the Fig. 1B and Fig. 1D Details of an embodiment of a catheter handle 1 that can be used to operate / control an elongated catheter shaft 10 of a catheter of the type initially described. The catheter shaft 10 has a proximal end and a distal deflectable portion, wherein the proximal end of the catheter shaft 10 is attached to the catheter handle 1. The catheter has at least one elongated pulling element 3, in particular in the form of a pull wire, which extends along the catheter shaft 10 and has a distal end portion attached to the distal deflectable portion of the catheter shaft 10. A proximal end portion of the pulling element 3 is coupled to the actuating device 2 of the catheter handle according to the invention, which is described below.The adjusting device 2 is rotatably mounted on a base 11 of the catheter handle 1, which is suitably connected to a gripping portion 12 of the catheter handle 1, which can be manually grasped by a user. The catheter is similar to the catheter described in the prior art according to EP 2 956 198 B1.

[0017] The adjusting device 2 is preferably rotatable relative to the handle or base 11 for exerting a tensile force on the tensile element 3, wherein the tensile force is transmitted via the tensile element 3 to the distal deflectable section of the catheter shaft 10, so that the latter is deflected accordingly, i.e., is given an adjustable curvature. Furthermore, the catheter handle 1 has a tensioning device 4 designed to tension the tensile element 3. According to a first aspect of the invention, the tensioning device 4 is rotatably mounted on the adjusting device 2, wherein in particular the tensile element 3 can be fastened to the adjusting device 2 or coupled to it via the tensioning device 4.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the adjusting device 2 for rotatably supporting the clamping device 4 has a bearing block 40 in which a clamping body 41 of the clamping device 4 is rotatably mounted (cf. Fig. 1B). The clamping body 41 may have opposite ends 41d, 41e which are mounted in the bearing block 40 (cf. Fig. 1B), in particular via a plain bearing. The bearing arrangement may be loose.

[0019] Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the clamping body 41 has an outer side 41a which is designed such that the clamping body 41 can be held by means of a tool, as can be seen from the Fig. 1B is recognizable.

[0020] Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the clamping device 4 has a clamping pin 42 rotatably arranged in the clamping body 41 (cf. Fig. 1B). For this purpose, the tensioning body 41 has an opening 41c for receiving the tensioning pin 42, as well as a lateral opening 41b communicating with the opening 41c, from which the tensioning element 3 can emerge to extend to the catheter shaft 10. The tensioning element 3 can also be guided through a through-opening 42b of the tensioning pin 42, so that the tensioning element 3 can be wound onto the tensioning pin 42 and thus tensioned by rotating the tensioning pin 42 in the opening 41c of the tensioning body 41. To receive the wound-up section of the tensioning element 3, the tensioning pin 42 can have a circumferential recess 42c in the region of the through-opening 42b. The tensioning pin 42 can further have a recess 42a on one end face, into which a tool for rotating the tensioning pin 42 can engage.Preferably, the clamping pin 42 is designed to be self-locking, so that the tension of the tension element 3 cannot be adjusted arbitrarily, in particular when the clamping body 41 rotates in the bearing block 40 (e.g. when the adjusting device 2 is rotated).

[0021] Due to the inventive mounting of the tensioning device 4 in the bearing block 40 of the adjusting device 2, the tensioning device 4 aligns itself with the tension element 3 when the adjusting device 2 is rotated, so that the tension element 3 is protected from harmful buckling.

[0022] The Fig. 2A-2D show details of a further aspect of the invention of a catheter handle 1 according to the invention, which can also be used to operate / control a catheter of the type mentioned above.

[0023] It is then provided that the tensioning device 4 has a kink protection 5 to relieve the tension element 3 (cf. e.g. Fig. 2A). Fig. Figure 2B shows the protective effect of the anti-kink device when turning the adjusting device 2 of the catheter handle 1.

[0024] According to one embodiment, it is provided in this regard that the kink protection 5 extends from the outlet 6a of a clamping block 6 of the clamping device 4 (cf. Fig. 2C), so that the tension element 3 fixed to the clamping block 6, starting from the clamping block 6, first runs through the outlet 6a and then through the anti-kink protection 5, which preferably forms a flexible, elongated sheath that surrounds the tension element 3 and can be reinforced, for example, by a coil 5a. According to one embodiment of the invention, a tensioning screw 6b is arranged in the clamping block 6, by means of which the tension element 3 can be tensioned. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 2 956 198

[0002] EP 2 956 198 B1

[0016]

Claims

[1] Catheter handle (1) for deflecting a catheter shaft (10) of a catheter, comprising - a rotatably mounted adjusting device (2) to which a pulling element (3) of the catheter can be fastened, so that when the adjusting device (2) is rotated, a pull can be exerted on the pulling element (3) to deflect the catheter shaft (10), and - a tensioning device (4) for tensioning the tension element (3), wherein - the clamping device (4) is rotatably mounted on the adjusting device (2), wherein in particular the tension element (3) can be fastened to the adjusting device (2) via the clamping device (4), and / or - the tensioning device (4) has a kink protection device (5) to relieve the tension element (3).

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