Patent ID: 7377906
Filing Date: 2008-05-27
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 first and second diametrically-opposed off-axis lumens; 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 structure 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 structure, 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; wherein each puller wire is trained on a respective pulley and rotation of the lever structure 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.