Catheter curve shape strut

Abstract

Catheter curve shape struts for steerable medical devices such as catheters are disclosed. These struts may not only help shape a steerable portion of a medical device (e.g., a distal portion of a catheter), but also may help to return a steered or deflected portion of the medical device to an uncurved configuration when it is no longer desirable or necessary to steer or deflect the medical device. These struts may include first and second pluralities of complementary, staggered cutout regions. When used in a catheter that is deployed via an introducer, at least some configurations of the catheter curve shape strut can enable the catheter to be rotated about its longitudinal axis, even when the distal deflectable section is in a curved configuration and inside of the introducer.

1 - 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . A deflectable insert component comprising the following:
 a longitudinally-extending body configured to facilitate planar deflection of the deflectable component, the longitudinally-extending body having an inner surface and an outer surface and extending along a body longitudinal axis, the longitudinally-extending body comprising three longitudinally-extending lumens, including a central lumen straddled by a pair of offset pull wire lumens,   wherein the central lumen is symmetrically disposed about a first imaginary plane of symmetry extending through the central lumen and through each of the pull wire lumens, and wherein the body longitudinal axis lies in the first imaginary plane of symmetry,   wherein the offset pull wire lumens are diametrically-opposed, and wherein each of the pair of wire lumens inwardly displaces a section of the inner surface of the longitudinally-extending body.   
     
     
         41 . The deflectable insert component of  claim 40 , wherein the outer surface of the longitudinally-extending body has a cylindrical configuration. 
     
     
         42 . The deflectable insert component of  claim 40 , wherein the outer surface of the longitudinally-extending body is circular in cross section. 
     
     
         43 . The deflectable insert component of  claim 40 , wherein the first imaginary plane of symmetry divides the longitudinally-extending body into a first hemicylindrical half-body and a second hemicylindrical half-body. 
     
     
         44 . The deflectable insert component of  claim 40 , wherein the inner surface of the longitudinally-extending body circumscribes the central lumen. 
     
     
         45 . The deflectable insert component of  claim 40 , wherein the first imaginary plane of symmetry divides the central lumen into a first complementary lobed region and a second complementary lobed region, and wherein the first complementary lobed region is a mirror image of the second complementary lobed region. 
     
     
         46 . The deflectable insert component of  claim 45 , wherein the first complementary lobed region of the central lumen is partially circumscribed by a first convex section of the inner surface of the longitudinally-extending body; and wherein the second complementary lobed region of the central lumen is partially circumscribed by a second convex section of the inner surface of the longitudinally-extending body. 
     
     
         47 . The deflectable insert component of  claim 40 , wherein the central lumen is symmetrically disposed about a second imaginary plane of symmetry that is perpendicular to the first imaginary plane of symmetry, and wherein the second imaginary plane of symmetry divides the central lumen into a first complementary, concave region and a second complementary concave region. 
     
     
         48 . The deflectable insert component of  claim 47 , wherein the pair of offset pull wire lumens comprises a first pull wire lumen and a second pull wire lumen, wherein the first complementary concave region is adjacent to the first pull wire lumen, and wherein the second complementary concave region is adjacent to the second pull wire lumen. 
     
     
         49 . The deflectable insert component of  claim 47 , wherein the first complementary concave region is a mirror image of the second complementary concave region, wherein the first complementary concave region extends partially around the first pull wire lumen, and wherein the second complementary concave region extends partially around the second pull wire lumen. 
     
     
         50 . The deflectable insert component of  claim 40 , wherein the central lumen has a cross-sectional configuration comprising centrally-located, concave regions adapted to accommodate the offset pull wire lumens. 
     
     
         51 . The deflectable insert component of  claim 50 , wherein the concave regions comprise two diametrically-opposed concave regions, and wherein each of the two diametrically-opposed concave regions accommodates one of the two offset pull wire lumens between the inner surface and the outer surface of the longitudinally-extending body. 
     
     
         52 . The deflectable insert component of  claim 40 , wherein the pull wire lumens extend parallel to the body longitudinal axis and are located between the inner surface and the outer surface of the longitudinally-extending body. 
     
     
         53 . The deflectable insert component of  claim 40 , wherein the pull wire lumens are diametrically-opposed. 
     
     
         54 . The deflectable insert component of  claim 40 , wherein the longitudinally-extending body is formed from an extruded polymer. 
     
     
         55 . The deflectable insert component of  claim 40 , wherein the longitudinally-extending body is configured to be inserted into a catheter curve shape strut. 
     
     
         56 . The deflectable insert component of  claim 55 , wherein the combined longitudinally-extending body and catheter curve shape strut are configured to be inserted into an outer body of a distal deflectable section of a catheter.