Guiding member with deflectable tip

Claim 2

A guide member for vascular catheters having a deflectable tip comprising: a) an elongated core element having a tapered distal portion; b) disposed about the tapered distal portion of the core element, a helical coil element which has an expanded coil section at an intermediate location proximal to the distal end of the coil element and which is secured to the core element at a location distal to the expanded coil section; c) disposed within the helical coil element adjacent an inner side thereof, an elongated reference element which is secured to the adjacent inner side at a first location proximal to the expanded coil section and at a second location distal to the expanded coil section; and d) means for axially moving the core element with respect to the coil element along the longitudinal axis thereof, such longitudinal movement causing the expanded coil section to change the spacing between the turns of the expanded coil section resulting in the deflection of the distal tip of the guide member.

Claim 3

The guide member of claim 1 wherein the distal end of the reference element is secured to a rounded plug provided in the distal end thereof.

Claim 4

The guide member of claim 1 wherein the distal end of the reference element is secured to the coil element at a location intermediate between the expanded section and the distal tip thereof.

Claim 5

The guide member of any one of the preceding claims wherein an outer, diametrically rigid tubular element is disposed about the core element and the distal portion thereof is secured to the proximal portion of the coil element proximal to the expanded portion thereof.

Claim 6

The guide member of claim 4 wherein the means for moving the core element comprises a generally elongated handle having proximal and distal portions, the proximal portion having a plurality of legs which angle radially outwardly and a collar slidably mounted about the legs, the distal portion having a cammed surface over which the distal ends of the legs slide when the collar is moved distally, the proximal end of the core element being secured to the proximal portion of the handle and the proximal portion of the outer tubular element being secured to the distal portion of the handle which has the coil secured to the distal end thereof.

Claim 7

The guide member of any one of the preceding claims wherein the expanded coil section has a length of about 0.1 to about 0.75 cm.

Claim 8

The guide member of claim 6 wherein the expanded coil section is expanded at least 50% of the stacked coil length thereof.

Claim 9

The guide member of claim 7 wherein the expanded coil section is expanded from 50% to about 100% of the stacked coil length thereof.

Claim 10

The guide member of claim 8 wherein the expanded coil section is expanded from about 70% to about 100% of the stacked coil length thereof.

Claim 11

The guide member of claim 6 wherein the expanded coil section has a length of about 0.2 to about 0.4 cm.

Claim 12

A steerable dilatation catheter having a deflectable tip, comprising: a) an outer tubular member having an inflatable balloon near the distal end thereof; b) an inner tubular member having an inner lumen therein disposed within the outer tubular member and defining an annular passageway between the inner and outer tubular members to direct inflation liquid to the interior of the inflatable balloon; c) an elongated core element having a tapered distal portion and being disposed within the inner lumen of the inner tubular member along a substantial length thereof with a distal portion of the core element extending out of the distal end of the inner tubular member; d) disposed about the tapered distal portion of the core element, a helical coil element which has an expanded coil section at an intermediate location between the distal and proximal ends thereof and which is secured to the core element at a location distal to the expanded coil section and proximal to the distal end of the coil element; e) disposed within the helical coil element adjacent to an inner side thereof, a reference element secured to the coil at a first location proximal to the expanded coil section and at a second location distal to the expanded coil section; and f) means for moving the core element with respect to the coil element along the longitudinal axis thereof, such longitudinal movement causing distance between the turns in the expanded coil section to change resulting in the deflection of the distal tip of the catheter.

Claim 13

A steerable dilatation catheter having a deflectable tip, comprising: a) an outer tubular member having an inflatable balloon near the distal end thereof; b) an inner tubular member having an inner lumen therein disposed within the outer tubular member and defining an annular passageway between the inner and outer tubular members to direct inflation liquid to the interior of the inflatable balloon; c) an elongated core element having a tapered distal portion and being disposed within the inner lumen of the inner tubular member along a substantial length thereof with a distal portion of the core element extending out of the distal end of the inner tubular member; d) disposed about the tapered distal portion of the core element, a helical coil element which has an expanded coil section at an intermediate location between the distal and proximal ends thereof and which is secured to the core element at a location distal to the expanded coil section and proximal to the distal end of the coil element; e) disposed within the helical coil element adjacent to an inner side thereof, a reference element secured to the coil at a first location proximal to the expanded coil section and at a second location distal to the expanded coil section; and f) means for moving the core element with respect to the coil element along the longitudinal axis thereof, such longitudinal movement causing distance between the turns in the expanded coil section to change resulting in the deflection of the distal tip of the catheter.

Claim 14

The steerable dilatation catheter of claim 11 wherein the inner tubular member has an inner diameter of not more than about 0.003 inch greater than the diameter of the core element over a substantial length thereof.

Claim 15

The steerable dilatation catheter of claim 11 wherein the expanded coil section has a length of about 0.1 to about 0.75 cm.

Claim 16

The steerable dilatation catheter of claim 13 wherein the expanded coil section is expanded at least 50% of the stacked length thereof.

Claim 17

The steerable dilatation catheter of claim 13 wherein the expanded coil section is expanded from 50% to about 100% of the stacked length thereof.

Claim 18

The steerable dilatation catheter of claim 11 wherein the inner lumen of the inner tubular member is lined with a lubricous material.

Claim 19

The steerable dilatation catheter of claim 11 wherein a distal portion of the inner tubular member is formed from polyimide and a proximal portion of the inner tubular member is formed from a hypotube.

Claim 20

The steerable dilatation catheter of claim 11 wherein the means for longitudinally moving the core element with respect to the coil element comprises a manipulator secured to an arm of an adapter through which the core passes, the manipulator comprising a tubular extension secured to the proximal end of the adapter arm through which the core element passes, an insert slidably disposed in the tubular extension, and a knob on the proximal end of the insert with the proximal portion of the core element secured to the knob.

Claim 21

The steerable dilatation catheter of claim 13 wherein the expanded coil section has a length of about 0.2 to about 0.4 cm.