Robotic catheter device cartridge

Abstract

A robotic catheter device cartridge may include a finger or a slider block generally disposed in a channel and engaged with a steering wire. The steering wire may control movement of a component having the steering wire engaged thereto when the finger or the slider block is linearly driven in a predetermined direction. The cartridge may be a transseptal cartridge having a transseptal needle connected thereto, a catheter cartridge having a catheter connected thereto, or a sheath cartridge having a sheath connected thereto.

1 .- 48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . A robotic catheter device cartridge comprising:
 one of a first finger and a first slider block generally disposed in a channel and engaged with a steering wire, the steering wire controlling deflection of a distal end of a component having the steering wire engaged thereto when the first finger or the first slider block is linearly driven in a predetermined direction, wherein the first finger or the first slider block of the cartridge is configured for engagement with and disengagement from a corresponding second finger or a corresponding second slider block of a manipulation base, wherein the second finger or the second slider block of the manipulation base is configured to linearly drive the first finger or the first slider block of the cartridge, wherein the second finger or the second slider block of the manipulation base is configured to tension the steering wire when actuated in a first direction, and wherein the second finger or the second slider block is configured to be unable to pull the steering wire in the second direction.   
     
     
         50 . The robotic catheter device cartridge according to  claim 49 , wherein the cartridge is a catheter cartridge, the component is a catheter connected thereto, and the manipulation base is a catheter manipulation base. 
     
     
         51 . The robotic catheter device cartridge according to  claim 49 , wherein the cartridge is a sheath cartridge, the component is a sheath connected thereto, and the manipulation base is a sheath manipulation base. 
     
     
         52 . The robotic catheter device cartridge according to  claim 49 , wherein the first finger or the first slider block is linearly driveable to pull the steering wire generally linearly along a length of the steering wire. 
     
     
         53 . The robotic catheter device cartridge according to  claim 52 , wherein the linear driveability of the first finger or the first slider block generally eliminates any backlash or discontinuities during driving thereof. 
     
     
         54 . The robotic catheter device cartridge according to  claim 49 , wherein the cartridge is magnetically connectable to a manipulation base for releasably connecting the cartridge. 
     
     
         55 . A robotic catheter device cartridge comprising:
 a first element of the cartridge configured to be linearly driven by a second element of a manipulation base, at least one of the first and second elements is slidably engageable with at least one of the manipulation base and the cartridge, respectively, the first element of the cartridge being engaged with a steering wire for controlling deflection of a distal end of a component having the steering wire engaged thereto when the first element of the cartridge is linearly driven in a predetermined direction, wherein the second element of the manipulation base is configured to tension the steering wire when actuated in a first direction, and wherein the second element is configured to be unable to pull the steering wire in the second direction.   
     
     
         56 . The robotic catheter device cartridge according to  claim 55 , further comprising at least one recess in one of the manipulation base and the cartridge for engagement with at least one complementary locator detent on the other one of the manipulation base and the cartridge for alignment of the cartridge relative to the manipulation base. 
     
     
         57 . The robotic catheter device cartridge according to  claim 55 , further comprising at least one recess in one of the manipulation base and the cartridge for engagement with at least one complementary locking detent on the other one of the manipulation base and the cartridge for releasable locking of the cartridge with the manipulation base. 
     
     
         58 . The robotic catheter device cartridge according to  claim 55 , wherein one of the first and second elements is a finger and the other one of the first and second elements is a slider block. 
     
     
         59 . The robotic catheter device cartridge according to  claim 55 , wherein one of the first and second elements is a finger and the other one of the first and second elements is a pin. 
     
     
         60 . The robotic catheter device cartridge according to  claim 55 , wherein one of the first and second elements is slidably disposed in a channel. 
     
     
         61 . The robotic catheter device cartridge according to  claim 55 , wherein at least one of the first and second elements includes a self-centering notch for facilitating predetermined engagement with the other one of the first and second elements. 
     
     
         62 . The robotic catheter device cartridge according to  claim 55 , wherein the manipulation base is configured for releasable connection to the cartridge and wherein the cartridge is configured to be linearly movable along a longitudinal axis of the manipulation base. 
     
     
         63 . A robotic catheter device cartridge comprising:
 a first element of the cartridge configured to be linearly driven by a second element of a manipulation base, at least one of the first and second elements slidably engageable with at least one of the manipulation base and the cartridge, respectively, in an engaged position, at least one of the first and second elements being linearly driveable in a predetermined direction for operating the cartridge, the first element of the cartridge being engaged with a tensionable deflection member for laterally deflecting a distal end of a component of the cartridge when the first element of the cartridge is linearly driven in the predetermined direction, wherein the second element of the manipulation base is configured to tension the tensionable deflection member when actuated in a first direction and the second element of the manipulation base is configured to and wherein the second element is configured to be unable to pull the tensionable deflection member in the second direction.   
     
     
         64 . The robotic catheter device cartridge according to  claim 63 , further comprising at least one recess in one of the manipulation base and the cartridge for engagement with at least one complementary locator detent on the other one of the manipulation base and the cartridge for alignment of the cartridge relative to the manipulation base. 
     
     
         65 . The robotic catheter device cartridge according to  claim 63 , further comprising at least one recess in one of the manipulation base and the cartridge for engagement with at least one complementary locking detent on the other one of the manipulation base and the cartridge for releasable locking of the cartridge with the manipulation base. 
     
     
         66 . The robotic catheter device cartridge according to  claim 63 , wherein one of the first and second elements is a finger and the other one of the first and second elements is a slider block. 
     
     
         67 . The robotic catheter device cartridge according to  claim 63 , wherein one of the first and second elements is a finger and the other one of the first and second elements is a pin. 
     
     
         68 . The robotic catheter device cartridge according to  claim 63 , wherein the manipulation base is configured for releasable connection to the cartridge and wherein the cartridge is configured to be linearly movable along a longitudinal axis of the manipulation base.