Medical catheter assembly with deflection pull ring and distal tip interlock

Abstract

A catheter assembly comprises a deflectable catheter shaft comprising a distal end and a lumen extending therethrough. The catheter assembly further comprises least one pull wire comprising a distal portion comprising a side and a distal end, wherein the side comprises a first side portion and a second side portion. The catheter assembly further comprises a distal pull assembly operatively coupled to the at least one pull wire. The distal pull assembly comprises a longitudinal axis, a first surface, and a second surface. The first side portion of the at least one pull wire is adjacent to the first surface of the distal pull assembly, and the second side portion of the at least one pull wire is adjacent to the second surface of the distal pull assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A catheter assembly comprising:
 a deflectable catheter shaft comprising a distal end and a lumen extending therethrough;   at least one pull wire comprising a distal portion comprising:
 a side, wherein the side comprises a first side portion and a second side portion; and 
 a distal end; and 
   a distal pull assembly operatively coupled to the at least one pull wire, the distal pull assembly comprising:
 a longitudinal axis; 
 a first surface; and 
 a second surface, wherein the first side portion of the at least one pull wire is adjacent to the first surface of the distal pull assembly and wherein the second side portion of the at least one pull wire is adjacent to the second surface of the distal pull assembly. 
   
     
     
         2 . The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second surface of the distal pull assembly is substantially transverse to the first surface of the distal pull assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface comprises a radially facing surface. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second surface comprises a substantially distally facing surface. 
     
     
         5 . The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a distal tip at the distal end of the catheter shaft and including a tip element and a mounting shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pull wire extends through the catheter shaft along the longitudinal axis of the distal pull assembly toward the distal end and then extends at least in part in a direction that is non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the distal pull assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pull wire extends through the catheter shaft along the longitudinal axis of the pull assembly toward the distal end and then at least a portion of the pull wire extends distal of the second surface of the distal pull assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein pulling of the at least one pull wire directly imparts force to the distal pull assembly to bend the catheter shaft. 
     
     
         9 . The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter assembly comprises two pull wires attached to diametrically opposite locations on the distal pull assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pull wire is flat along at least a portion of its length. 
     
     
         11 . The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the at least one pull wire is adjacent to an outer surface of the distal pull assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pull wire is configured such that when force is applied to the at least one pull wire in a proximal direction, the pull assembly deflects. 
     
     
         13 . The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first side portion of the at least one pull wire contacts the first surface of the distal pull assembly and wherein the second side portion of the at least one pull wire contacts the second surface of the distal pull assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first side portion of the at least one pull wire is in engagement with the first surface of the distal pull assembly and wherein the second side portion of the at least one pull wire is in engagement with the second surface of the distal pull assembly. 
     
     
         15 . A catheter assembly comprising:
 a deflectable catheter shaft comprising a distal end and a lumen extending therethrough;   at least one pull wire comprising a distal portion comprising:
 a side, wherein the side comprises a first side portion and a second side portion; and 
 a distal end; and 
   a distal pull assembly comprising:
 a longitudinal axis; 
 a first surface comprising a radially facing surface; and 
 a second surface comprising at least in part a substantially distally facing surface, wherein the first side portion of the at least one pull wire is adjacent to the first surface of the distal pull assembly and wherein the second side portion of the at least one pull wire is adjacent to the second surface of the distal pull assembly, 
   wherein the at least one pull wire extends through the catheter shaft along the longitudinal axis of the distal pull assembly toward the distal end and then extends at least in part in a direction that is non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the distal pull assembly,   wherein at least a portion of the at least one pull wire extends distal of the second surface of the distal pull assembly, and   wherein the at least one pull wire and the distal pull assembly are configured such that pulling of the at least one pull wire directly imparts force to the distal pull assembly to bend the catheter shaft.