초록 ▼

A bidirectional steering catheter comprising a distal electrode assembly, a flexible tip assembly, an elongated shaft having a central lumen running the length of the shaft, and a handle/actuator. A plurality of ring electrodes are attached to the surface of the flexible tip assembly. Signal wires r

A bidirectional steering catheter comprising a distal electrode assembly, a flexible tip assembly, an elongated shaft having a central lumen running the length of the shaft, and a handle/actuator. A plurality of ring electrodes are attached to the surface of the flexible tip assembly. Signal wires running the length of the catheter are electrically connected to each ring electrode. At least two pull cables having first and second ends extend distally through the central lumen. The first end of each pull cable is attached to the handle/actuator. The second end of each pull cable is attached to the distal electrode assembly, such that the distal electrode assembly may be moved between a first and a second position within a single plane by manipulating the handle/actuator. At least two reinforcement members are located inside the flexible tip assembly. Each reinforcement member has a proximal section, a middle section and a distal section. Each proximal section has a larger diameter than each middle section, thus being stiffer than the middle section. This variable stiffness along the length of the each reinforcement member distributes stresses evenly along the length of the tip assembly.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A bidirectional steering catheter comprising:a distal electrode assembly having a distal end and a proximal end;a flexible tip assembly attached to the proximal end of the distal electrode assembly;an elongated shaft having a distal and proximal end, the distal end of the

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A bidirectional steering catheter comprising:a distal electrode assembly having a distal end and a proximal end;a flexible tip assembly attached to the proximal end of the distal electrode assembly;an elongated shaft having a distal and proximal end, the distal end of the elongated shaft attached to the flexible tip assembly, and the elongated shaft having a central lumen running the length of the shaft;a handle/actuator attached to the proximal end of the elongated shaft;at least two pull cables having first and second ends, each pull cable being attached at its first end to the handle/actuator and extending distally through the central lumen within the elongated shaft and the flexible tip assembly, each pull cable being further attached at its second end to the distal electrode assembly, such that the distal electrode assembly may be moved between a first and a second position within a single plane by manipulating the handle/actuator; andat least two reinforcement members located inside the flexible tip assembly, wherein each reinforcement member has a proximal section, a middle section and a distal section, the proximal section being of greater stiffness than the middle section, such that the length of each reinforcement member has a variable stiffness that distributes stresses evenly along the length of the tip assembly.