Patent ID: 6554794
Filing Date: 2003-04-29
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
A non-deforming catheter apparatus comprising:a deflection and translation mechanism; a hollow outer jacket having a deflectable distal portion and an at least partially embedded pull wire lumen and coupled at a proximal end to the deflection and translation mechanism; a tip coupled to a distal end of the outer jacket; an inner tube with lumen in the hollow of the outer jacket; at least one functional device disposed in the lumen having a distal end extendable from the tip of the catheter; a pull wire contained in the pull wire lumen having a distal end coupled to the tip and a proximal end coupled to the deflection mechanism, said pull wire effecting non-deforming deflection of the deflectable distal portion of the outer jacket and functional device therein by movement of the deflection mechanism, wherein the deflectable portion bends up to about 270 degrees; a coil embedded in the deflectable portion of the outer jacket; one or more notches in an outer surface of the outer jacket and aligned with the pull wire in which the pull wire lumen has a proximal end embedded in the inner tube and a distal end at least partially embedded in the deflectable distal portion of the outer jacket; and a relative movement compensation mechanism for maintaining alignment between the outer jacket and the functional device coupled to the deflection mechanism whereby movement of the deflection mechanism causes simultaneous movement of the relative movement compensation mechanism.