Patent ID: 7351214
Filing Date: 2008-04-01
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A steerable balloon catheter having a deflectable tip which comprises: an inner elongated flexible hollow tubing having proximal and distal portions; a flexible helical coil having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of said helical coil is attached to the distal portion of the inner elongated flexible hollow tubing; an elongated deflection member having proximal and distal portions and being slidably disposed within said inner elongated flexible hollow tubing and within said helical coil, the distal portion of said deflection member being flattened to form a deflection ribbon which extends in a plane; a retaining ribbon having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the retaining ribbon is attached to the distal portion of the inner elongated flexible hollow tubing and the retaining ribbon is oriented to extend in a plane which is generally parallel to the plane of the deflection ribbon; an attachment member engaging the distal end of the helical coil, the distal portion of the deflection member, and the distal end of the retaining ribbon so that longitudinal movement of the deflection member in a distal direction causes the distal end of the helical coil to be deflected in one direction and longitudinal movement of the deflection member in a proximal direction causes the distal end of the helical coil to deflect in another opposite direction; the attachment member takes the form of a rounded bead which contacts the distal end of the helical coil to define a curved surface at the distal end of the coil; the deflection ribbon engages the rounded bead at a location offset from the center of the curved surface of the rounded bead; the distal end of the retaining ribbon engages the rounded bead at a location offset from the center of the curved surface of the rounded bead; said deflection ribbon and said retaining ribbon being joined together to form a generally U-shaped configuration; an outer elongated flexible tubing surrounding the inner elongated hollow tubing so as to define a passageway between the outer tubing and the inner elongated flexible hollow tubing; and an inflatable balloon mounted on the outer flexible tubing and communicating with the passageway between the outer tubing and the inner hollow tubing.