Structure for use as part of a medical device

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to an articulating structure for use as at least part of a medical device. In one aspect, the invention features an articulating structure comprising an inner member, a sleeve, a pull wire, and an outer member. The inner member defines at least one channel on the outer surface of the inner member, the at least one channel extending along a length of the inner ember. The inner member further defines at least one lumen extending through the inner member. The sleeve is disposed in the at least one channel. The pull wire extends within a lumen of the sleeve. The outer member is disposed over the inner member and defines a lumen through which the inner member extends.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A medical device with an articulating structure, the structure comprising:
 an outer member including an interior lumen and a distal-most end face;   an inner member disposed in the interior lumen of the outer member, the inner member including at least one interior channel and at least one exterior channel; and   a pull-wire in each at least one exterior channel of the inner member, each pull-wire including a wire body disposed in said exterior channel, and a tip with a proximal-facing surface that extends radially outwardly from said wire body, the proximal-facing surface of each tip being directly secured to the distal-most end face of the outer member to transfer forces between the pull-wire and outer member.   
     
     
         17 . The device of claim  1 , wherein an exterior surface of each pull-wire is directly attached to a portion of the outer member. 
     
     
         18 . The device of claim  1 , further comprising a sleeve disposed in each at least one exterior channel, wherein each pull-wire is disposed in the sleeve, and the sleeve is configured to fix a position of the pull-wire relative to said exterior channel. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the sleeve comprises a wound element including one of a flat wire or a round wire. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the inner member comprises a plastic and the outer member comprises a metal. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the inner member comprises a first plastic and the outer member comprises a second plastic. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the first plastic is more flexible than the second plastic. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the outer member includes a plurality of slots arranged to promote bending of the outer member responsive to the forces transferred between the pull-wire and outer member. 
     
     
         24 . The medical device of  claim 16 , wherein a distal-most end face of the inner member is coplanar with the distal-most end face of the outer member. 
     
     
         25 . A medical device with an articulating structure, the structure comprising:
 an outer member extending along a central axis of the device, the outer member including an interior lumen and a distal-most end face;   an inner member extending along the central axis within interior lumen of the outer member, the inner member including at least one interior channel and at least one pair of exterior channels disposed oppositely about the central axis; and   a pull-wire including a wire body disposed in each exterior channel and a tip with a proximal-facing surface that extends outwardly from said wire body in a direction transverse to the central axis, the proximal-facing surface of each tip being directly secured to the outer member so as to transfer forces between the pull-wires and outer member.   
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein an exterior surface of each pull-wire is attached to a portion of the outer member at one or more locations along the central axis. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein each pull-wire is disposed in a sleeve configured to fix a position of the pull-wire relative to the inner member. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein each pull-wire is independently operable to bend the outer member. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the outer member includes a plurality of slots arranged to promote bending of the outer member responsive to the forces transferred between the pull-wires and outer member. 
     
     
         30 . A medical device extending along a central axis between a distal end and a proximal end, the device including an articulating structure adjacent the distal end, the structure comprising:
 an outer member including an interior lumen, a distal-most end face, and a plurality of slots disposed proximal of the distal-most end face;   an inner member disposed in the interior lumen of the outer member, the inner member including al least one interior channel and a least one exterior channel; and   a pull-wire including a wire body disposed in each at least one exterior channel, and a tip with a proximal-facing surface extending outwardly from the wire body for attachment to the distal-most end face of the outer member,   wherein the proximal-facing surface of each tip is directly secured to the distal-most end face of the outer member to transfer forces between the pull-wire and outer member, and the plurality of slots are arranged to promote bending of the outer member of the device responsive to the transferred forces.   
     
     
         31 . The medical device of  claim 30 , wherein the outer member comprises a first material and the inner member comprises a second material more flexible than the first material. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein the inner member comprises a plastic, and the outer member comprises a metal or a different plastic. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 32 , wherein the each pull-wire wire is disposed within a sleeve. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 33 , wherein the sleeve is configured to fix a position of the pull-wire relative to the at least one exterior channel. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 34 , wherein the sleeve is a woven element.