Patent ID: 6267746
Filing Date: 2001-07-31
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A steerable catheter comprising:a catheter body having a tubular wall, proximal and distal ends, and at least one lumen extending therethrough;a tip section comprising a flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen extending therethrough, the proximal end of the tip section being fixedly attached to the distal end of the catheter body;a control handle mounted at its distal end to the proximal end of the catheter body comprising:a housing having proximal and distal ends and a piston chamber;a piston having proximal and distal ends slidably mounted in the piston chamber of the housing, the distal end of the piston being fixedly attached to the proximal end of the catheter body, said piston being longitudinally movable relative to the housing between proximal and distal positions, said piston comprising a longitudinal groove having proximal and distal ends and extending along a portion of the length of the piston;a puller wire anchor slidably disposed within the longitudinal groove;a puller wire having proximal and distal ends extending from the control handle, through a lumen in the catheter body and into a lumen in the tip section, the proximal end of the puller wire being fixedly attached to the puller wire anchor in the control handle,means attached to the distal end of the puller wire for deflecting the tip section in a select direction in response to distal movement of the piston and catheter body relative to the puller wire anchor; andmeans for preventing distal movement of the puller wire anchor within the groove when the piston is moved distally.