초록 ▼

A catheter employing fluid force to steer and/or shape the catheter. In one particular implementation, the catheter includes at least one actuating lumen operably associated with the shaft of the catheter. The at least one actuating lumen is in fluid communication with a valve or other fluid control

A catheter employing fluid force to steer and/or shape the catheter. In one particular implementation, the catheter includes at least one actuating lumen operably associated with the shaft of the catheter. The at least one actuating lumen is in fluid communication with a valve or other fluid control means at its proximal end. The at least one actuating lumen extends along the length of the catheter shaft and terminates at some point along the length of the shaft. Upon introduction of fluid into the actuating lumen, the fluid creates a force which causes the catheter to bend. As such, fluid may be used to steer and/or shape the catheter.

대표청구항 ▼

I claim: 1. A method of steering and shaping a catheter for examination, diagnosis, or treatment of target tissue, the catheter comprising a tubular body comprising a proximal end region and a distal end, said tubular body defining a plurality of steering lumens including a first steering lumen and

I claim: 1. A method of steering and shaping a catheter for examination, diagnosis, or treatment of target tissue, the catheter comprising a tubular body comprising a proximal end region and a distal end, said tubular body defining a plurality of steering lumens including a first steering lumen and a second steering lumen, wherein said first steering lumen extends from said proximal end region and terminates at a first termination point at a first longitudinal distance from said proximal end region of said tubular catheter body, and said second steering lumen extends from said proximal end region and terminates at a second termination point at a second longitudinal distance from said proximal end region of said tubular catheter body, wherein said first and second termination points are at different radial locations around the circumference of said tubular catheter body, and wherein said first steering lumen comprises a first inlet port adapted to be coupled to a first fluid source, and wherein said second steering lumen comprises a second inlet port adapted to be coupled to a second fluid source; and an active region adjacent to said distal end of said catheter, wherein said first and second steering lumens extend adjacent to said active region; the method comprising the steps of (a) inserting said distal end of said catheter into a blood vessel within a patient's body containing the target tissue; (b) introducing steering fluid through said first inlet port and into said first steering lumen; (c) introducing steering fluid through said second inlet port and into said second steering lumen; and (d) steering said active region adjacent to the target tissue using fluid-force-induced bending moments by (i) creating a first fluid-force-induced bending moment by regulating a first flow rate and a first pressure of said steering fluid in said first steering lumen; and (ii) creating a second fluid-force-induced bending moment by regulating a second flow rate and a second pressure of said steering fluid in said second steering lumen. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the catheter comprises a third steering lumen. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the third steering lumen extends from said proximal end region and terminates at a third termination point at a third longitudinal distance from said proximal end region of said tubular catheter body. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the third termination point is at the same radial location around the circumference of said tubular catheter body as either the first or second termination point. 5. The method of claim 3, wherein the first, second and third termination points are at different radial locations around the circumference of said tubular catheter body. 6. The method of claim 3, wherein the catheter comprises a fourth steering lumen. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the fourth steering lumen extends from said proximal end region and terminates at a fourth termination point at a fourth longitudinal distance from said proximal end region of said tubular catheter body. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the fourth termination point is at the same radial location around the circumference of said tubular catheter body as any one of the first, second and third termination points. 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the first, second, third and fourth termination points are at different radial locations around the circumference of said tubular catheter body. 10. A method of steering and shaping a catheter for examination, diagnosis, or treatment of target tissue, the catheter comprising a body defining a catheter longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end region and a distal end; an active region adjacent to said distal end of said catheter body; a longitudinally-extending ablation fluid supply lumen adapted to deliver ablation fluid from said catheter body proximal end region to said active region; and a plurality of longitudinally-extending, sealed actuating lumens, wherein each sealed actuating lumen has a proximal region and a distal region, wherein each sealed actuating lumen proximal region further comprises an inlet port in fluid communication with a source of steering fluid, wherein each sealed actuating lumen distal region is adjacent to said active region, and wherein each of said plurality of sealed actuating lumens extends adjacent to said ablation fluid supply lumen along a longitudinal axis that is offset from said catheter longitudinal axis, and wherein said plurality of sealed actuating lumens further comprises a first actuating lumen extending distally to a first termination point along said catheter body; a second actuating lumen extending distally to a second termination point alone said catheter body; a third actuating lumen extending distally to a third termination point along said catheter body; and a fourth actuating lumen extending distally to a fourth termination point along said catheter body, wherein at least one of said first, second, third and fourth termination points is at a different longitudinal distance from said catheter body proximal end region as the other termination points; the method comprising the steps of (a) inserting said distal end of said catheter body into a blood vessel within a patient's body containing the target tissue; (b) introducing steering fluid through said inlet ports and into said plurality of sealed actuating lumens; and (c) regulating a flow rate and pressure of said steering fluid in said plurality of sealed actuating lumens to steer said active region adjacent to the target tissue using fluid-force-induced bending moments generated by (i) regulating a first flow rate and a first pressure of said steering fluid in said first actuating lumen; (ii) regulating a second flow rate and a second pressure of said steering fluid in said second actuating lumen; (iii) regulating a third flow rate and a third pressure of said steering fluid in said third actuating lumen; and (vi) regulating a fourth flow rate and a fourth pressure of said steering fluid in said fourth actuating lumen: wherein this step further comprises selectively controlling the pressure of fluid in said first, second, third, and fourth actuating lumens to steer and shape said catheter thereby creating fluid-force-induced bending moments at different points along the length of said catheter body. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein at least two of said first, second, third and fourth termination points are at different longitudinal distances from said catheter body proximal end region as the other two termination points. 12. The method of claim 10, wherein said first, second, third and fourth termination points are at different longitudinal distances from said catheter body proximal end region.