Steerable Catheter Handle with Single-Slide Bidirectional Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steerable catheter control mechanisms lack ease of use, precision, and are complex to manufacture, with limited control over catheter deflection and excessive complexity in bi-directional steering.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable control mechanism with a single slide assembly and control knob that allows bi-directional control of two control wires, featuring a direction reversing element and a slack limiting device to enhance precision and reduce complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a slider mechanism is used for controlling catheter steering, then the device can be operated, but it is awkward to grasp and provides limited control precision
Solution Approach 1:
The control mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: a thumb-operated control for primary steering direction and a rotary dial for fine-tuning adjustments. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in a specific aspect of control, with the thumb control providing coarse positioning and the rotary dial enabling precise incremental adjustments, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and control precision.
Solution Approach 2:
A rotary dial mechanism serves as an intermediary between the user's thumb control input and the final catheter deflection. This intermediary component translates small rotational movements into precise wire tension adjustments, amplifying the user's control input and enabling minute manipulations that would be difficult to achieve with a simple slider mechanism alone.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a bi-directional steerable control handle with adjustment knob is used, then bidirectional control is achieved, but the device becomes complex and difficult to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the bidirectional control functionality into a single integrated handle assembly where both control wires are manipulated through one unified structure. The handle incorporates a single carriage that can tension either wire through rotational movement, combining what would traditionally require separate control mechanisms into one manufacturable unit, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining bi-directional control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control handle is designed as a universal mechanism that can tension either control wire through the same structural components. The single carriage and wire routing system serve multiple functions: guiding both wires, providing tensioning capability for either wire, and enabling bidirectional steering. This multi-functionality reduces the number of specialized parts needed, simplifying manufacturing while achieving full bi-directional control.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and systems are disclosed that incorporate a steerable catheter control handle for bi-directional control of a steerable catheter. The steerable catheter control handle includes a slide assembly positioned within the inner housing and operable to translate linearly therein. The control handle further includes a proximal portion of at least two control wires being positioned through the slide assembly wherein one of the at least two control wires is indirectly coupled to the slide assembly via a direction reversing element. The steerable catheter control handle has a control knob rotatably coupled to the housing for linearly translating the slide assembly, thereby enabling the slide assembly to manipulate each of the at least two control wires, effecting a change in deflection of said catheter. The slide assembly further comprises a slide limiting mechanism to restrict linear translation of the slide assembly.