Rotary catheter drive unit containing seal-sets

Abstract

A rotary catheter drive unit containing a motor and a seal-set, an output shaft of the motor being power transmittingly connected to a flexible shaft that is rotatably disposed through the seal-set, the seal-set comprising a bearing and an adjacent seal defining a first and a second concentric bores, respectively, the first bore being slightly larger than a diameter of the shaft so that it rotatably and accurately supports the shaft, the second bore being slightly smaller than the diameter so that it seals around the shaft, the bearing aligning the shaft, so that it is concentric with the second bore, by deflecting the shaft to compensate for eccentricity and misalignment of the second bore relative to the output shaft of the motor.

1 . A rotary catheter drive unit containing a motor and a seal-set,
 an output shaft of said motor being power transmittingly connected to a flexible shaft that is rotatably disposed through said seal-set,   said seal-set comprising a bearing and an adjacent seal defining a first and a second concentric bores, respectively,   said first bore being slightly larger than a diameter of said shaft so that it rotatably and accurately supports said shaft,   said second bore being slightly smaller than said diameter so that it seals around said shaft,   said bearing aligning said shaft, so that it is concentric with said second bore, by deflecting said shaft to compensate for eccentricity and misalignment of the second bore relative to said output shaft of said motor.   
     
     
         2 . A rotary catheter drive unit as in  claim 1  containing one seal-set distally relative to said motor and a second seal set seal-set proximally relative to said motor, wherein said flexible shaft passes through both said seal-sets and said motor. 
     
     
         3 . A rotary catheter drive unit as in  claim 2  wherein said shaft is hollow, extends out of a proximal end of said housing and is slideable and rotatable over a guidewire,
 a slideable proximal extension of said housing containing a seal adapted to cross and exposes an open distal end of said hollow shaft when said proximal extension is slid distally and, vice versa said seal adapted to cross said distal end 
 of said hollow shaft when said proximal extension is slid proximally and close. 
 
     
     
         4 . A process of manufacturing a seal-set comprising the following steps:
 affixing a bearing having a first bore to a seal material,   inserting a drill slightly smaller than a diameter of said bore so that said bore rotatably and accurately supports said drill,   rotating and advancing said drill to cut a second bore in said seal material that is slightly smaller and concentric relative to said first bore.   
     
     
         5 . A process of manufacturing a seal-set wherein said drill is hollow shaft with a sharp tip. 
     
     
         6 . A process of manufacturing a seal-set wherein said drill is a single point cutter. 
     
     
         7 . A process of manufacturing a seal-set wherein said drill is hypodermic needle.