Patent ID: 6551271
Filing Date: 2003-04-22
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A bidirectional steerable catheter comprising:an elongated, flexible tubular catheter body having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therethrough; a tip section at the distal end of the catheter body, the tip section having proximal and distal ends and comprising a flexible plastic tubing having at least first and second off-axis lumens extending therethrough; a control handle at the proximal end of the catheter body; a first puller wire extending through the lumen of the catheter body and the first off-axis lumen of the tip section, and having a distal end anchored in the tip section at an anchor position and a proximal end anchored to the control handle; a second puller wire extending through the lumen of the catheter body and the second off-axis lumen of the tip section, and having a distal end anchored in the tip section at an anchor position and a proximal end anchored to the control handle; a first compression coil extending through the lumen of the catheter body in surrounding relation to the first puller wire, the first compression coil having a distal end anchored in the catheter body or in the first off-axis lumen of the tip section at a first anchor position; and a second compression coil extending through the lumen of the catheter body in surrounding relation to the second puller wire and into the second off-axis lumen, the second compression coil having a distal end anchored in the second off-axis lumen of the tip section at a second anchor position that is distal to the first anchor position and proximal to the anchor position of the first puller wire.