Tensioning mechanism for tension elements in catheter handles

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 tensioning device (4) has a bearing block (40) arranged on the adjusting device (2) and a spring element (41) which is supported by a first end section (41a) on the bearing block (40), wherein the tension element (3) can be fixed with a proximal end section (3a) to a second end section (41b) of the spring element (41) opposite the first end section (41a) of the spring element (41) and can be tensioned by the spring element (41).

Description

The present invention relates to a catheter handle for operating, in particular deflecting, a catheter shaft of a catheter.Such a handle or catheter is known from EP 2 956 198 B1.Such catheters include a catheter shaft that is elongated and has a proximal end and a distal deflectable portion, the proximal end of the catheter shaft being attached to the catheter handle. The catheter has at least one elongate tension element, in particular in the form of a tension wire, which extends along the catheter shaft and has a distal end section which is attached to the distal deflectable section of the catheter shaft. A proximal end portion of the puller wire is coupled to an actuator of the catheter handle, wherein the actuator is rotatable for applying a pulling force to the puller wire, and wherein the pulling force is transmitted via the puller wire to the distal deflectable portion of the catheter shaft so that the latter is correspondingly deflected, i.e., receives an adjustable curvature.For tensioning the pull wire it is also known to use a tensioning pin which is arranged in a tensioning block and is rotatable in order to wind up the pull wire and thus tension it. Furthermore, there are mechanisms in which the catheter shaft is moved with respect to the puller wire and the puller wire is thereby tensioned.Due to the clamping pin, there may be a risk that the pull wire will be bent. Furthermore, the mentioned clamping process is dependent on the user and thus more prone to errors.On this basis, the invention is based on the object of providing a catheter handle in which a tension element can be tensioned in an improved manner.This object is achieved by a catheter handle having the features of claim 1.According to claim 1, a catheter handle for deflecting a catheter shaft of a catheter is disclosed, comprisinga rotatably mounted adjusting device, to which a tension element of the catheter can be fastened, so that a tension can be exerted on the tension element when the adjusting device is rotated to deflect the catheter shaft, anda clamping device for clamping the tension element, wherein the tensioning device has a bearing block arranged on the adjusting device and a spring element which is supported by a first end section on the bearing block, wherein the tension element can be fixed by a proximal end section on a second end section of the spring element opposite the first end section of the spring element and can be tensioned by the spring element.Due to the solution according to the invention, the tension force exerted on the at least one tension element is substantially independent of the assembly, smaller deviations being compensated by the spring.Embodiments and further features and advantages of the invention are explained below with reference to the figures. The following are shown: FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of an embodiment of a catheter handle according to the invention, including an enlarged detail, showing a clamping device of the catheter handle.Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a catheter handle 1 according to the invention which can be used for operating / controlling an elongated catheter shaft 10 of a catheter of the type set forth in the opening paragraph. The catheter shaft 10 has a proximal end and a distal deflectable portion, the proximal end of the catheter shaft 10 being attached to the catheter handle 1. The catheter has at least one elongate tension element 3, in particular in the form of a tension wire, which extends along the catheter shaft 10 and has a distal end section which is attached to the distal deflectable section of the catheter shaft 10. A proximal end portion of the at least one pulling element 3 is coupled to the actuating device 2 of the catheter handle according to the invention (see detail of FIG. 1 ), which is described below. The actuator 2 is rotatably supported on a base 11 of the catheter handle 1, which is suitably connected to a grip portion 12 of the catheter handle 1 manually graspable by a user. The user can also actuate the actuating device 2. The catheter is similar to the catheter described in the prior art according to EP 2 956 198 B1.For exerting a tensile force on the tension element 3, the adjusting device 2 is preferably rotatable with respect to the handle or the base 11, wherein the tensile force is transmitted via the at least one tension element 3 to the distal deflectable section of the catheter shaft 10, so that the latter is deflected accordingly, i.e. receives an adjustable curvature.The catheter handle 1 further comprises a tensioning device 4 which is designed for tensioning the at least one tension element 3. The clamping device 4 has a bearing block 40 arranged on the adjusting device 2 and a spring element 41, in particular in the form of a helical spring, which is supported by a first end section 41 aon the bearing block 40, wherein the at least one tension element 3 is fixed by a proximal end section 3 ato a second end section 41 bof the spring element 10 opposite the first end section 41 aof the spring element 41. The spring element 41 is suitably prestressed and therefore exerts a correspondingly pre-definable clamping force F on the at least one tension element 3.According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the spring element 41 is braced on the bearing block 40 via an abutment 42, wherein the abutment 42 can in particular form an anti-kink protection, i.e. a tubular section which surrounds the at least one tension element 3, i.e. is seated above the at least one tension element 3 in front of the spring element 41. The spring element 41 can be fixed to the at least one tension element 3 in such a way that the spring element 41 is compressed when it is inserted into the bearing block 40 (optionally together with the abutment 42). The shortening directly defines, via the spring hardness of the spring element 41, the force F with which the at least one tension element 3 is tensioned.References included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedEP 2 956 198 B1 [0002, 0011]

Claims

Catheter handle (1) for deflecting a catheter shaft (10) of a catheter, having - a rotatably mounted actuating device (2) to which a tension element (3) of the catheter can be fastened, so that, when the actuating device (2) is rotated for deflecting the catheter shaft (10), a tension can be exerted on the tension element (3), and - a clamping device (4) for clamping the tension element (3), wherein the clamping device (4) has a bearing block (40) arranged on the actuating device (2) and a spring element (41) which is supported by a first end section (41a) on the bearing block (40), wherein the tension element (3) can be fixed by a proximal end section (3a) to a second end section (41b) of the spring element (41) opposite the first end section (41a) of the spring element (41) and can be tensioned by the spring element (41).

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