Steerable catheter

Claim 2

A steerable dilatation catheter means comprising: a flexible catheter comprising a spring coil body de­fining a lumen, each of said catheter and said spring coil body having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of said spring coil body being closed, and said spring coil body having a flexible covering thereon, dilatation balloon means positioned concentrically around the distal end of said spring coil body, a deflection wire having proximal and distal ends and being substantially co-extensive with said spring coil bo­dy, the distal end of said deflection wire being attached to the distal end of said spring coil body, and control means attached to the proximal end of said catheter, the proximal end of said deflection wire exten­ding to the control means, the control means having enga­ging means which fixedly engages the proximal end of said deflection wire to cause said deflection wire to be dis­placed distally or proximally, said displacement causing the distal end of said catheter to bend out of or toward the line of its longitudinal axis, and the control means having rotation means to cause said deflection wire and said catheter to rotate together to cause the distal end of said catheter to rotate about its longitudinal axis.

Claim 3

The catheter means of Claim 1, wherein there is spa­cing between the flexible covering and said spring coil body sufficient to facilitate inflation of the dilatation balloon.

Claim 4

The catheter means of Claim 1 which comprises an an­chor wire having proximal and distal ends, the proximal and distal ends of the anchor wire being affixed to the proximal and distal ends, respectively, of the spring coil body.

Claim 5

The catheter means of Claim 1 which comprises an op­tical fiber having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the optical fiber being attached to the distal end of the catheter and the proximal end of the optical fiber extending through the control means.

Claim 6

The catheter means of Claim 4, wherein the optical fiber has a pressure sensing membrane at its distal end and means at its proximal end to convert a signal from the pressure sensing membrane into an electrical signal or pulse.

Claim 7

The catheter means of Claim 4, wherein the optical fiber is within the lumen defined by said spring coil body.

Claim 8

The catheter means of Claim 4, wherein the optical fiber is between said spring coil body and said flexible covering.

Claim 9

The catheter means of Claim 1 which comprises a fle­xible tip having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the flexible tip being attached to the distal end of the spring coil body.

Claim 10

The catheter means of Claim 8, wherein the flexible tip si a floppy wire comprised of spring wire.

Claim 11

The catheter means of Claim 9, wherein the wire com­prises radiopaque material selected from the group consis­ting of platinum, gold, tungsten, and tantalum.

Claim 12

The catheter means of Claim 1, wherein the flexible covering comprises polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, or polyvinyl chloride.

Claim 13

The catheter means of Claim 1, wherein the deflection wire is within the lumen defined by said spring coil body.

Claim 14

The catheter means of Claim 1, wherein the deflection wire is between said spring coil body and said flexible covering.

Claim 15

The catheter means of Claim 1, wherein the spring coil body comprises two or more spring coils.

Claim 16

The catheter means of Claim 14, wherein the spring coil body comprises two spring coils having respective smaller and larger diameters, the proximal end of the spring coil with the smaller diameter being bonded to the inside of the distal end of the spring coil with the lar­ger diameter.

Claim 17

The catheter means of Claim 1, wherein said spring coil body is less tightly wound for a predetermined length at a point substantially adjacent to the distal end of said spring coil body and within the dilatation balloon means.

Claim 18

The catheter means of Claim 16, wherein the dilatation balloon means is capable of being inflated by fluid enter­ing the dilatation balloon means through the less tightly wound coils in said predetermined length.

Claim 19

A steerable dilatation catheter means comprising: a flexible catheter comprising a spring coil body de­fining a lumen, each of said catheter and said spring coil body having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of said spring coil body being closed, and said spring coil body having a flexible covering thereon, dilatation balloon means positioned concentrically around the distal end of said spring coil wire, an anchor wire having proximal and distal ends, the proximal and distal ends of the anchor wire being affixed to the proximal and distal ends, respectively, of the spring coil body, and control means attached to the proximal end of said catheter, said control means having rotation means to cause said catheter and said anchor wire to rotate together to cause the distal end of said catheter to rotate about its longitudinal axis.

Claim 20

A steerable dilatation catheter means comprising: a flexible catheter comprising a spring coil body de­fining a lumen, each of said catheter and said spring coil body having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of said spring coil body being closed, and said spring coil body having a flexible covering thereon, dilatation balloon means positioned concentrically around the distal end of said spring coil wire, an anchor wire having proximal and distal ends, the proximal and distal ends of the anchor wire being affixed to the proximal and distal ends, respectively, of the spring coil body, and control means attached to the proximal end of said catheter, said control means having rotation means to cause said catheter and said anchor wire to rotate together to cause the distal end of said catheter to rotate about its longitudinal axis.

Claim 21

The catheter means of Claim 18, wherein there is spa­cing between the flexible covering and said spring coil body sufficient to facilitate inflation of the dilatation balloon.

Claim 22

The catheter means of Claim 18 which comprises an op­tical fiber having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the optical fiber being attached to the distal end of the catheter and the proximal end of the optical fiber extending through the control means.

Claim 23

The catheter means of Claim 20, wherein the optical fiber has a pressure sensing membrane at its distal end and means at its proximal end to convert a signal from the pressure sensing membrane into an electrical signal or pulse.

Claim 24

The catheter means of Claim 20, wherein the optical fiber is within the lumen defined by said spring coil bo­dy.

Claim 25

The catheter means of Claim 20, wherein the optical fiber is between said spring coil body and said flexible covering.

Claim 26

The catheter means of Claim 18 which comprises a fle­xible tip having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the flexible tip being attached to the distal end of the spring coil body.

Claim 27

The catheter means of Claim 24, wherein the flexible tip is a floppy wire comprised of spring wire.

Claim 28

The catheter means of Claim 25, wherein the wire com­prises radiopaque material selected from the group consist­ing of platinum, gold, tungsten, and tantalum.

Claim 29

The catheter means of Claim 18, wherein the flexible covering comprises polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, or polyvinyl chloride.

Claim 30

The catheter means of Claim 18, wherein the spring coil body comprises two or more spring coils.

Claim 31

The catheter means of Claim 28, wherein the spring coil body comprises two spring coils having respective smaller and larger diameters, the proximal end of the spring coil with the smaller diameter being bonded to the inside of the distal end of the spring coil with the lar­ger diameter.

Claim 32

The catheter means of Claim 18, wherein said spring coil body is less tightly wound for a predetermined length at a point substantially adjacent to the distal end of said spring coil body.

Claim 33

The catheter means of Claim 30, wherein the dilatation balloon is capable of being inflated by fluid entering the dilatation balloon through the less tightly wound coils in said predetermined length.

Claim 34

A steerable dilatation catheter means comprising: a flexible catheter comprising a spring coil body de­fining a lumen, said spring coil body having proximal and distal ends, a flexible tip having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of said flexible tip being positio­ned a short distance from the distal end of said spring coil body to form a discontinuity, and a flexible cover­ing, said flexible covering extending from the proximal end of said spring coil body along the length of said spring coil body across said discontinuity to the proximal end of said flexible tip, dilatation balloon means positioned concentrically around said discontinuity, a deflection wire having proximal and distal ends, said deflection wire extending substantially co-extensi­vely with said spring coil body, the distal end of said deflection wire being attached to the proximal end of said flexible tip, and control means attached to the proximal end of said spring coil body and having engaging means which fixedly engages the proximal end of said deflection wire to cause said deflection wire to be displaced distally or proximal­ly, said displacement causing the distal end of said cat­heter to bend out of or toward the line of its longitudi­nal axis, and the control means having rotation means to cause said deflection wire and said catheter to rotate together to cause the distal end of said catheter to rota­te about its longitudinal axis.

Claim 35

A steerable dilatation catheter means comprising: a flexible catheter comprising a spring coil body de­fining a lumen, said spring coil body having proximal and distal ends, a flexible tip having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of said flexible tip being positio­ned a short distance from the distal end of said spring coil body to form a discontinuity, and a flexible cover­ing, said flexible covering extending from the proximal end of said spring coil body along the length of said spring coil body across said discontinuity to the proximal end of said flexible tip, dilatation balloon means positioned concentrically around said discontinuity, a deflection wire having proximal and distal ends, said deflection wire extending substantially co-extensi­vely with said spring coil body, the distal end of said deflection wire being attached to the proximal end of said flexible tip, and control means attached to the proximal end of said spring coil body and having engaging means which fixedly engages the proximal end of said deflection wire to cause said deflection wire to be displaced distally or proximal­ly, said displacement causing the distal end of said cat­heter to bend out of or toward the line of its longitudi­nal axis, and the control means having rotation means to cause said deflection wire and said catheter to rotate together to cause the distal end of said catheter to rota­te about its longitudinal axis.

Claim 36

The catheter means oc Claim 32, wherein there is spacing between the flexible covering and said spring coil body sufficient to facilitate inflation of the dila­tation balloon.

Claim 37

The catheter means of Claim 32 which comprises an anchor wire having proximal and distal ends, the proximal and distal ends of the anchor wire being affixed to the proximal and distal ends, respectively, of the spring coil body.

Claim 38

The catheter means of Claim 32 which comprises an op­tical fiber having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the optical fiber being attached to the distal end of the catheter and the proximal end of the optical fiber extending through the control means.

Claim 39

The catheter means of Claim 35, wherein the optical fiber has a pressure sensing membrane at its distal end and means at its proximal end to convert a signal from the pressure sensing membrane into an electrical signal or pulse.

Claim 40

The catheter means of Claim 35, wherein the optical fiber is within the lumen defined by said spring coil bo­dy.

Claim 41

The catheter means of Claim 35, wherein the optical fiber is between said spring coil body and said flexible covering.

Claim 42

The catheter means of Claim 32, wherein the flexible tip is a floppy wire comprised of spring wire.

Claim 43

The catheter means of Claim 39, wherein the wire comprises radiopaque material selected from the group consisting of platinum, gold, tungsten, and tantalum.

Claim 44

The catheter means of Claim 32, wherein the flexible covering comprises polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, or polyvinyl chloride.

Claim 45

The catheter means of Claim 32, wherein the deflec­tion wire is within the lumen defined by said spring coil body.

Claim 46

The catheter means of Claim 32, wherein the deflec­tion wire is between said spring coil body and said fle­xible covering.

Claim 47

The catheter means of Claim 32, wherein the spring coil body comprises two or more spring coils.

Claim 48

A steerable catheter means comprising: a flexible catheter comprising a spring coil body de­fining a lumen, each of said catheter and said spring coil body having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of said spring coil body being open, a deflection wire having proximal and distal ends and being substantially co-extensive with said spring coil bo­dy, the distal end of said deflection wire being attached to the distal end of said spring coil body, and control means attached to the proximal end of said catheter, the proximal end of said deflection wire exten­ding to the control means, the control means having enga­ging means which fixedly engages the proximal end of said deflection wire to cause said deflection wire to be dis­placed distally or proximally, said displacement causing the distal end of said catheter to bend out of or toward the line of its longitudinal axis, and the control means having rotation means to cause said deflection wire and said catheter to rotate together to cause the distal end of said catheter to rotate about its longitudinal axis.

Claim 49

A steerable catheter means comprising: a flexible catheter comprising a spring coil body de­fining a lumen, each of said catheter and said spring coil body having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of said spring coil body being open, a deflection wire having proximal and distal ends and being substantially co-extensive with said spring coil bo­dy, the distal end of said deflection wire being attached to the distal end of said spring coil body, and control means attached to the proximal end of said catheter, the proximal end of said deflection wire exten­ding to the control means, the control means having enga­ging means which fixedly engages the proximal end of said deflection wire to cause said deflection wire to be dis­placed distally or proximally, said displacement causing the distal end of said catheter to bend out of or toward the line of its longitudinal axis, and the control means having rotation means to cause said deflection wire and said catheter to rotate together to cause the distal end of said catheter to rotate about its longitudinal axis.

Claim 50

The catheter means of Claim 45 which comprises an an­chor wire having proximal and distal ends, the proximal and distal ends of the anchor wire being affixed to the proximal and distal ends, respectively, of the spring coil body.

Claim 51

The catheter means of Claim 45 which comprises an op­tical fiber having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the optical fiber being attached to the distal end of the catheter and the proximal end of the optical fiber extending through the control means.

Claim 52

The catheter means of Claim 47, wherein the optical fiber has a pressure sensing membrane at its distal end and means at its proximal end to convert a signal from the pressure sensing membrane into an electrical signal or pulse.

Claim 53

The catheter means of Claim 47, wherein the optical fiber is within the lumen defined by said spring coil bo­dy.

Claim 54

The catheter means of Claim 45, wherein said spring coil body has a flexible covering comprising polytetra­fluoroethylene, polyethylene, or polyvinyl chloride.

Claim 55

The catheter means of Claim 50, wherein the optical fiber is between said spring coil body and said flexible covering.

Claim 56

The catheter means of Claim 50, wherein the deflec­tion wire is between said spring coil body and said fle­xible covering.

Claim 57

The catheter means of Claim 45, wherein the deflec­tion wire is within the lumen defined by said spring coil body.

Claim 58

The catheter means of Claim 45, wherein the spring coil body comprises two or more spring coils.

Claim 59

The catheter means of Claim 54, wherein the spring coil body comprises two spring coils having respective smaller and larger diameters, the proximal end of the spring coil with the smaller diameter being bonded to the inside of the distal end of the spring coil with the larger diameter.

Claim 60

The catheter means of Claim 45, wherein said spring coil body is less tightly wound for a predetermined length at a point substantially adjacent to the distal end of said spring coil body.

Claim 61

The catheter means of Claim 50, wherein the flexible covering forms an atraumatic, annular tip at the distal end of the spring coil body.

Claim 62

A steerable catheter means comprising: a flexible catheter comprising a spring coil body de­fining a lumen, each of said catheter and said spring coil body having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of said spring coil body being open, and said spring coil bo­dy having a flexible covering thereon, an anchor wire having proximal and distal ends, the proximal and distal ends of the anchor wire being affixed to the proximal and distal ends, respectively, of the spring coil body, and control means attached to the proximal end of said catheter, said control means having rotation means to cau­se said catheter and said anchor wire to rotate together to cause the distal end of said catheter to rotate about its longitudinal axis.

Claim 63

A steerable catheter means comprising: a flexible catheter comprising a spring coil body de­fining a lumen, each of said catheter and said spring coil body having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of said spring coil body being open, and said spring coil bo­dy having a flexible covering thereon, an anchor wire having proximal and distal ends, the proximal and distal ends of the anchor wire being affixed to the proximal and distal ends, respectively, of the spring coil body, and control means attached to the proximal end of said catheter, said control means having rotation means to cau­se said catheter and said anchor wire to rotate together to cause the distal end of said catheter to rotate about its longitudinal axis.

Claim 64

The catheter means of Claim 58 which comprises an op­tical fiber having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the optical fiber being attached to the distal end of the catheter and the proximal end of the optical fiber extending through the control means.

Claim 65

The catheter means of Claim 59, wherein the optical fiber has a pressure sensing membrane at its distal end and means at its proximal end to convert a signal from the pressure sensing membrane into an electrical signal or pulse.

Claim 66

The catheter means of Claim 59, wherein the optical fiber is within the lumen defined by said spring coil body.

Claim 67

The catheter means of Claim 59, wherein the optical fiber is between said spring coil body and said flexible covering.

Claim 68

The catheter means of Claim 58, wherein the flexible covering comprises polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, or polyvinyl chloride.

Claim 69

The catheter means of Claim 58, wherein the spring coil body comprises two or more spring coils.

Claim 70

The catheter means of Claim 64, wherein the spring coil body comprises two spring coils having respective smaller and larger diameters, the proximal end of the spring coil with the smaller diameter being bonded to the inside of the distal end of the spring coil with the lar­ger diameter.

Claim 71

The catheter means of Claim 58, wherein said spring coil body is less tightly wound for a predetermined length at a point substantially adjacent to the distal end of said spring coil body.