Medical device with distal torque control

Abstract

A catheter with a distal end that rotates through the conversion of linear motion to rotational motion, thus the distal end may be rotated without longitudinally advancing or retracting the distal end. The catheter includes a tube with a single helix or a dual chirality helix cut into the tube, a distal end segment, means for linear displacement of the helix, and means for coupling the junction point of the helix to the distal segment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medical device comprising:
 a tubular member with a longitudinal axis having a distal end and a proximal end comprising:   a distal aspect terminating at the distal end with a distal helix formed by distal helical cut terminating at the proximal side of the distal aspect;   a proximal aspect terminating at the proximal end with a proximal helix formed by proximal helical cut terminating at the distal side of the proximal aspect, wherein the proximal helical cut is one of right or left handed and the distal helical cut is the other of right and left handed; and   a junction where the distal aspect and the proximal aspect are joined;   a longitudinal displacer disposed within the tubular member and slidable relative to the tubular member; and   a distal segment disposed around part of the tubular member and coupled to the tubular member at the junction.