Steerable catheters

Abstract

Embodiments of steerable catheters are disclosed. The catheters may include a plurality of generally arcuate-shaped struts connected at proximal and distal ends of a handle. The handle is connected to a tubular portion at a distal end of the handle. The tubular portion includes a resilient component positioned near a distal tip of the tubular portion. The catheter includes a pull wire fixed to a point at or near the distal tip of the tubular portion. Upon manual compression of the handle, the struts are squeezed together, lengthening the handle, and extending the pull wire proximally. The proximal extension of the pull wire can cause the distal tip of the catheter to deflect. The catheter can be rotated greater than 360° around a longitudinal axis. The compressible handle can allow a user of the catheter tactile feedback and control over navigation of the catheter.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A steerable catheter comprising:
 a handle comprising:
 a proximal end, 
 a distal end, 
 an axis between the proximal end of the handle and the distal end of the handle, 
 an intermediate point between the proximal end of the handle and the distal end of the handle, 
 a plurality of struts extending away from the axis from the proximal end of the handle to the intermediate point and extending towards the axis from the intermediate point to the distal end of the handle, each of the plurality of struts coupled at the proximal end of the handle and at the distal end of the handle, the plurality of struts circumferentially spaced about the axis forming as a whole a generally arcuate shape, and 
 a cover over the plurality of struts, 
 the handle rotatable at least 360° about the axis during manual inward compression of the handle; 
   an elongate body comprising:
 a proximal portion coupled to the distal end of the handle, 
 a distal portion including a distal end of the elongate body, the distal portion comprising a resilient component, 
 a first lumen extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion, and 
 a second lumen extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion, the second lumen configured to provide a path for an endoluminal device; and 
   a pull wire extending from the proximal end of the handle to the distal end of the elongate body through the first lumen,   the pull wire configured to extend proximally upon manual inward compression of the handle, the distal portion of the elongate body configured to deflect upon manual inward compression of the handle from a substantially straight configuration to a curved configuration, a degree of inward deflecting corresponding to a force applied during the manual inward compression,   the pull wire configured to extend distally upon manual outward decompression of the handle, the distal portion of the elongate body configured to deflect upon manual outward decompression of the handle from the curved configuration to the substantially straight configuration, a degree of outward deflecting corresponds to a force applied during the manual outward decompression.   
     
     
         3 . The steerable catheter of  claim 2 , wherein the resilient component comprises a ribbon on a side of the distal portion. 
     
     
         4 . The steerable catheter of  claim 2 , wherein the resilient component comprises a shape memory material. 
     
     
         5 . The steerable catheter of  claim 2 , further comprising a locking mechanism configured to maintain the pull wire in a proximally retracted configuration. 
     
     
         6 . A steerable catheter comprising:
 a handle comprising:
 a proximal end, 
 a distal end, 
 an axis between the proximal end of the handle and the distal end of the handle, 
 an intermediate point between the proximal end of the handle and the distal end of the handle, 
 a plurality of struts extending away from the axis from the proximal end of the handle to the intermediate point and extending towards the axis from the intermediate point to the distal end of the handle, the plurality of struts circumferentially spaced about the axis forming as a whole a generally arcuate shape, and 
 a cover over the plurality of struts, 
 the handle rotatable at least 360° about the axis during manual inward compression of the handle; 
   an elongate body comprising:
 a proximal portion coupled to the distal end of the handle, 
 a distal portion including a distal end of the elongate body, and 
 a lumen extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion; and 
   a wire extending from the proximal end of the handle to the distal end of the elongate body through the lumen, the wire configured to extend proximally upon manual inward compression of the handle, the distal portion of the elongate body configured to deflect upon manual inward compression of the handle from a substantially straight configuration to a curved configuration, a degree of inward deflecting corresponding to a force applied during the manual inward compression.   
     
     
         7 . The steerable catheter of  claim 6 , wherein the distal portion comprises a resilient component on a side of the distal portion. 
     
     
         8 . The steerable catheter of  claim 7 , wherein the resilient component comprises a shape memory material. 
     
     
         9 . The steerable catheter of  claim 6 , wherein the elongate body comprises a second lumen extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion, the second lumen configured to provide a path for an endoluminal device. 
     
     
         10 . The steerable catheter of  claim 6 , wherein the wire is configured to extend distally upon manual outward decompression of the handle, the distal portion of the elongate body configured to deflect upon manual outward decompression of the handle from the curved configuration to the substantially straight configuration, a degree of outward deflecting corresponding to a force applied during the manual outward decompression. 
     
     
         11 . The steerable catheter of  claim 6 , further comprising a locking mechanism configured to maintain the wire in a proximally retracted configuration. 
     
     
         12 . A steerable catheter comprising:
 a handle comprising:
 a proximal end, 
 a distal end, 
 an axis between the proximal end of the handle and the distal end of the handle, 
 an intermediate point between the proximal end of the handle and the distal end of the handle, 
 a plurality of struts circumferentially spaced about the axis together forming a generally arcuate shape, 
 the handle rotatable at least 360° about the axis during manual inward compression of the handle; 
   an elongate body comprising:
 a proximal portion coupled to the distal end of the handle, and 
 a distal portion including a distal end of the elongate body; and 
   a wire extending from the proximal end of the handle to the distal end of the elongate body.   
     
     
         13 . The steerable catheter of  claim 12 , wherein the handle comprises a cover over the plurality of struts. 
     
     
         14 . The steerable catheter of  claim 12 , wherein the wire is configured to extend proximally upon manual inward compression of the handle, and wherein the distal portion of the elongate body is configured to deflect upon manual inward compression of the handle from a substantially straight configuration to a curved configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The steerable catheter of  claim 14 , wherein a degree of deflecting corresponds to a force applied during the manual inward compression. 
     
     
         16 . The steerable catheter of  claim 12 , wherein the elongate body comprises a second lumen extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion, the second lumen configured to provide a path for an endoluminal device. 
     
     
         17 . The steerable catheter of  claim 12 , wherein the distal portion comprises a resilient component on a side of the distal portion. 
     
     
         18 . The steerable catheter of  claim 17 , wherein the resilient component comprises a shape memory material. 
     
     
         19 . The steerable catheter of  claim 12 , wherein the wire is configured to extend distally upon manual outward decompression of the handle, the distal portion of the elongate body configured to deflect upon manual outward decompression of the handle from a curved configuration to the substantially straight configuration. 
     
     
         20 . The steerable catheter of  claim 19 , wherein a degree of deflecting corresponds to a force applied during the manual outward decompression. 
     
     
         21 . The steerable catheter of  claim 12 , further comprising a locking mechanism configured to maintain the wire in a proximally retracted configuration.