Patent ID: 8021327
Filing Date: 2011-09-20
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A bi-directional catheter comprising: an elongated catheter body having proximal and distal ends; a catheter tip section at the distal end of the catheter body and having proximal and distal ends and first and second diametrically-opposed off-axis lumens; a tip electrode at the distal end of the catheter tip section; a control handle at the proximal end of the catheter body, the control handle having a longitudinal axis and comprising at least a steering assembly having a lever arm rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the steering assembly including at least two pulleys rotatably mounted on opposing portions of the lever arm; first and second puller wires, each puller wire having proximal and distal ends and extending from the control handle through the catheter body, wherein the first puller wire extends into the first lumen in the tip section and the second puller wire extends into the second lumen in the tip section, and wherein the distal end of each puller wire is anchored to the tip section; and a first stop member that defines a first stop position for the first puller wire and a second stop member that defines a second stop position for the second puller wire; wherein each puller wire is trained on a respective pulley and rotation of the lever arm results in proximal movement of one of said pulleys relative to the control handle thereby drawing proximally at least a segment of its respective puller wire for deflecting the tip section in the direction of the off-axis lumen in which that puller wire extends; and wherein each stop position is adjustable proximally and distally within the control handle.