97 results about "Steering Wire" patented technology

A reduced area imaging device is provided for use in medical or dental instruments such as an endoscope. The imaging device is provided in various configurations, and connections between the imaging device elements and a video display may be achieved by wired or wireless connections. A connector assembly located near the imaging device interconnects the imaging device to an image / power cable extending through the endoscope. The connector provides strain relief and stabilization for electrically interconnecting the imager to the cable. The connector also serves as the structure for anchoring the distal ends of steering wires extending through the body of the endoscopic device. The connector includes a strain relief member mounted over a body of the connector. The connector allows a steering wire capability without enlarging the profile of the distal tip of the endoscopic device.

An expandable introducer sheath provided with a steering mechanism is disclosed. The introducer sheath is configured for providing a prosthesis delivery system percutaneous access to a patient's vasculature. The introducer sheath includes a sheath component defining a central lumen and having a longitudinally-extending, radially-expandable portion. The sheath component also includes a steering wire slidably disposed within a wall thereof that longitudinally extends along the radially-expandable portion. When the steering wire is in a slackened configuration, the steering wire permits a width of the radially-expandable portion to increase. When the steering wire is in a taut configuration, the steering wire permits a distal portion of the sheath component to be manipulated or bent in order to align a distal port of the introducer sheath, for instance, with an ostium of a branch vessel.

A steerable multi-polar lead shaft assembly includes a core member extending longitudinally through the shaft assembly, a plurality electrically conductive elements disposed within the core member, a plurality of steering wires circumferentially distributed about the core member. A control mechanism for a steerable catheter, such as the steerable multi-polar lead assembly, includes a mounting portion adapted to engage a steerable shaft, a stem extending from the mounting portion, a swivel joint arranged at a proximal end of the stem, a control yoke rotatably mounted on the swivel joint, adapted to engage a plurality of steering wires of the steerable catheter, and a handle connected with the yoke, adapted for direct manipulation by a user.

Methods and apparatus for obtaining endoluminal access are provided comprising a steerable endoluminal guide having a variable pivot for altering steering dynamics. In one variation, variable pivoting is achieved by advancing a member having a hard or substantially rigid section to various depths within a lumen of the guide. The hard section resists deformation, thereby reducing or precluding pivoting of the guide proximal of the distal-most depth of hard section insertion. In another variation, the guide comprises one or more pivot wires that terminate at a segment of the guide disposed proximal of the guide's distal outlet. In such a variation, the steering pivot of the guide may be altered by applying tension to at least one pivot wire, while concurrently applying tension to a steering wire that terminates more distally than the pivot wire, and that is radially offset from the pivot wire about the circumference of the guide. In another variation, one or more stiffening elements are translated over or alongside one or more steering wires to alter the guide's pivot.

An apparatus including an elongate body having a lumen extending therethrough and a steering wire, having a distal portion defining a non-circular cross-section, associated with the distal portion of the elongate body.

A dual braided catheter shaft includes an inner helical braid and outer helical braid than encapsulate an axially extending steering wire there between. In one embodiment, the shaft includes an inner polymer jacket, an inner braid formed on the inner jacket, a steering wire disposed along an outside surface of the inner braid, an outer braid formed over the inner braid and steering wire assembly and an outer jacket formed on the outer braid. The braiding parameters of the inner and outer braids can be varied along the length of the catheter to provide varying mechanical properties.

Devices for accessing the pericardial space surrounding the heart. In at least one embodiment of a delivery catheter for use in accessing a pericardial space surrounding the external surface of a heart, the delivery catheter comprises comprising an elongated tube comprising a wall extending from a proximal end of the tube to a distal end of the tube, a first lumen, and a steering channel extending from a proximal end of the tube to a distal end of the tube, the steering channel forming an orifice at the distal end of the tube, and a steering wire system at least partially located in the steering channel, the steering wire system comprising at least two steering wires attached to the wall of the tube within the steering channel and a controller attached to a proximal end of each of the at least two steering wires, wherein the first lumen extends from approximately the proximal end of the tube to or near the distal end of the tube, the first lumen having a bend, relative to the tube, at or near the distal end of the tube and an outlet through the wall of the tube at or near the distal end of the tube.

An apparatus including an elongate body having a lumen extending therethrough and a steering wire associated with the distal portion of the elongate body.

The present invention relates to methodology of and apparatus for accurately positioning devices for performing endoscopic cannulation, papillotomy and sphincterotomy and similar procedures. The sphincterotome with a steerable or adjustable distal segment of the present invention allows the physician to control the position of the distal tip of the device independently of the endoscope and adjust for inconsistencies in the device and the anatomy. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a threaded portion of a cable assembly cooperates with a torque transmission element and a cog to enable the operator to rotate a cutting wire into a desired position relative to the catheter. Alternate embodiments allow the operator to fix the depth of a needle knife while allowing, if desired, accurate rotational positioning of the associated catheter. Threaded stabilizing elements, pivot elements and a steering wire may be used together or individually to accomplish these features. Presently available products that may be modified according to the present invention include, but are not limited to, Boston Scientific Sphincterotomes and Needle Knives.

A catheter capable of articulating in two and three directions is provided. Articulation at the distal tip of the catheter is facilitated by applying selective tension on a steering wire disposed in a lumen that resides peripheral to a central working lumen. Tension on the steering wire through the peripheral lumen causes the catheter tip to bend while the central working lumen resists compression.

Steering engagement catheter devices, systems, and methods of using the same for accessing tissue, including the internal and external tissues of the heart, are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, a steering engagement catheter is provided, comprising an elongated tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a first wall positioned circumferentially along a length of the elongated tube, the elongated tube configured such that a delivery catheter is capable of at least partial insertion into the elongated tube, at least one steering wire having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the steering wire coupled to the first wall of the elongated tube at or near the distal end of the elongated tube, and a controller operably coupled to the at least one steering wire at or near the proximal end of the at least one steering wire.

A robotic catheter device cartridge may include a finger or a slider block generally disposed in a channel and engaged with a steering wire. The steering wire may control movement of a component having the steering wire engaged thereto when the finger or the slider block is linearly driven in a predetermined direction. The cartridge may be a transseptal cartridge having a transseptal needle connected thereto, a catheter cartridge having a catheter connected thereto, or a sheath cartridge having a sheath connected thereto.

An apparatus including an elongate body having a lumen extending therethrough and a steering wire associated with the distal portion of the elongate body.

A discectomy tool comprising:a) a cannula having an outer surface having a longitudinal bore therein, a proximal end and a distal end;b) a steering wire disposed in the longitudinal bore;c) a flexible, hollow transmission shaft disposed in the cannula, the shaft having a throughbore, a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and an outer surface having a thread extending therefrom;d) an irrigation source fluidly connected to the throughbore;e) a cutting tip attached to the distal end portion of the transmission shaft.

A guiding catheter includes an elongate shaft with a central lumen and a mechanically expandable sealing membrane mounted about the distal end of the shaft. An expansion wire is slidably disposed in a dedicated lumen within the catheter, the expansion wire having an expandable distal portion with a pre-formed expanded shape capable of expanding the sealing membrane into sealing engagement with the wall of an artery to provide occlusion of blood flowing through the artery. In one embodiment, a steering wire is slidably disposed in a dedicated lumen within the catheter and is fixed adjacent the shaft distal end. Pushing or pulling the steering wire deflects the distal end of the catheter. In another embodiment, the guiding catheter has a pre-formed curve adjacent the distal end of the shaft.

A methodology of and apparatus for accurately positioning devices for performing endoscopic cannulation, papillotomy and sphincterotomy and similar procedures. The sphincterotome with a steerable or adjustable distal segment of the present invention allows the physician to control the position of the distal tip of the device independently of the endoscope and adjust for inconsistencies in the device and the anatomy. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a threaded portion of a cable assembly cooperates with a torque transmission element and a cog to enable the operator to rotate a cutting wire into a desired position relative to the catheter. Alternate embodiments allow the operator to fix the depth of a needle knife while allowing, if desired, accurate rotational positioning of the associated catheter. Threaded stabilizing elements, pivot elements and a steering wire may be used together or individually to accomplish these features.

A reduced area imaging device is provided for use in medical or dental instruments such as an endoscope. The imaging device is provided in various configurations, and connections between the imaging device elements and a video display may be achieved by wired or wireless connections. A connector assembly located near the imaging device interconnects the imaging device to an image / power cable extending through the endoscope. The connector provides strain relief and stabilization for electrically interconnecting the imager to the cable. The connector also serves as the structure for anchoring the distal ends of steering wires extending through the body of the endoscopic device. The connector includes a strain relief member mounted over a body of the connector. The connector allows a steering wire capability without enlarging the profile of the distal tip of the endoscopic device.

A guiding catheter includes an elongate shaft with a central lumen and a mechanically expandable sealing membrane mounted about the distal end of the shaft. An expansion wire is slidably disposed in a dedicated lumen within the catheter, the expansion wire having an expandable distal portion with a pre-formed expanded shape capable of expanding the sealing membrane into sealing engagement with the wall of an artery to provide occlusion of blood flowing through the artery. In one embodiment, a steering wire is slidably disposed in a dedicated lumen within the catheter and is fixed adjacent the shaft distal end. Pushing or pulling the steering wire deflects the distal end of the catheter. In another embodiment, the guiding catheter has a pre-formed curve adjacent the distal end of the shaft.

A robotic catheter rotatable device cartridge may include a housing member attachable to a drive mechanism for rotating the cartridge and a catheter attached to the cartridge along an axial direction of the catheter. A slider block may be generally slidable relative to the housing and engaged with one or more steering wires for controlling movement of the catheter in a transverse direction relative to the axial direction. The catheter may include the steering wire(s) engaged therewith and movable in the transverse direction when the slider block is linearly driven in a predetermined direction.

A guiding catheter assembly and a method for using the assembly for treating a stenotic lesion. The guiding catheter assembly includes a guiding catheter having an occluder balloon mounted distally thereon. A flexible leader is slidably disposed through a primary lumen of the guiding catheter and has a tapered distal portion extending distally of the guiding catheter. The guiding catheter may have a preformed curve at the distal end. An embodiment of the guiding catheter may also comprise at least one steering wire disposed within a steering lumen in the guiding catheter, the steering wire being operable to deflect the distal end of the guiding catheter.

It is so constructed that electric power for actuating auxiliary equipments provided on a steering body may be obtained from an instrument panel wire harness by way of a control unit connected to the auxiliary equipments and having control function for controlling a specified one of the auxiliary equipments according to a detection signal outputted from the specified auxiliary equipment concerning the specified auxiliary equipment, and the detection signal outputted from the auxiliary equipment or a control signal outputted from the auxiliary equipment may be respectively transmitted to the instrument panel wire harness by way of the control unit.

A steerable multi-polar lead shaft assembly includes a core member extending longitudinally through the shaft assembly, a plurality electrically conductive elements disposed within the core member, a plurality of steering wires circumferentially distributed about the core member. A control mechanism for a steerable catheter, such as the steerable multi-polar lead assembly, includes a mounting portion adapted to engage a steerable shaft, a stem extending from the mounting portion, a swivel joint arranged at a proximal end of the stem, a control yoke rotatably mounted on the swivel joint, adapted to engage a plurality of steering wires of the steerable catheter, and a handle connected with the yoke, adapted for direct manipulation by a user.

A steerable catheter has a body with an outer surface and an inner surface defining a central lumen. The outer surface and inner surface define a wall of the body, which has a plurality of steering lumen and control lumen extending longitudinally therethrough. The body includes a body material. The steering lumen and control lumen have a control lumen lining and steering lumen lining, respectively, with a higher durometer than the body material. A steering wire is positioned within the steering lumen and a control wire is positioned within the control lumen.

The invention belongs to the technical field of power metering product facilities and in particular discloses automatic wire-feeding, sealing and calibrating equipment and an automatic wire-feeding, sealing and detecting method of a power metering device. The equipment comprises a rack, and an electric energy meter conveying device, an electric energy meter positioning device, a charging mechanical arm, a threading hole detection device, a wire feeding device, a wire sealing guide positioning device, a directional wire clamping device, a wire pulling device, a steering wire clamping device, a wire shearing device, a seal feeding device, a seal pressing device, an unqualified product conveying device, a discharging mechanical arm, an automatic calibrating device and a horizontal movement mechanical arm, which are arranged on the rack. The equipment can automatically and intelligently feed a wire to the power metering device and has metering seal and automatic calibration functions, the wire-feeding, sealing and calibrating efficiency and accuracy of the power metering device can be effectively improved, an operating worker can be liberated from heavy physical labor, and the labor cost of an enterprise is greatly reduced.

The invention discloses a sleeve motor steer-by-wire device and a control method. The steer-by-wire device comprises a steering wheel, a steering pipe column connected with the steering wheel, a leftside wheel steering transmission mechanism connected with a left side wheel, a right side wheel steering transmission mechanism connected with a right side wheel and a mechanical steering transmissionmechanism connected with the steering pipe column through an electromagnetic clutch. The steering pipe column is connected with a road sensing / assistant power motor through a reducer, the steeringdevice further comprises a steer-by-wire execution mechanism, the steer-by-wire execution mechanism comprises a first sleeve motor, a second sleeve motor and a planetary roller screw mechanism drivenby the first sleeve motor and / or the second sleeve motor. The sleeve motor steer-by-wire device adopts the double sleeve motors and the planetary roller screw mechanism, and sufficiently utilizes the axial spaces of a rack and a tie rod protective sleeve to reduce the radial sizes of the motors, is high in transmission efficiency, and liable to improve the driving consistency of the double sleeve motors when working with a heavy load.