Catheter winder/unwinder and an arteriography system provided with such a winder/unwinder

Abstract

A catheter winder/unwinder comprising at least a first system and a second system is disclosed wherein, the first system comprises a first receptacle that receives a catheter and a first drive mechanism that applies movement to the catheter, the second system comprising a second receptacle that receives a guide and including an outlet, said second receptacle being rotatable relative to the first receptacle, and a second drive mechanism that applies movement to the guide. The outlet includes a fastener device for fastening to the catheter.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A catheter winder/unwinder comprising at least a first system and a second system,
 the first system comprising: 
 a first receptacle adapted to receive a first elongate tubular hollow member for inserting into a duct of a patient and extending between a first end and a second end along a longitudinal direction of the first member; 
 said first receptacle including an opening formed to allow said first member to pass towards the outside of the first system; 
 a first drive mechanism adapted to apply movement to the first member through said opening relative to said first receptacle; 
 the second system comprising: 
 a second receptacle adapted to receive a second elongate tubular member for inserting into the duct and extending between a first end and a second end along a longitudinal direction of the second member; 
 said second receptacle having an outlet formed to allow the second member to pass to the outside of the second system and towards the inside of the first system; 
 said second receptacle being mounted to rotate relative to the first receptacle drive mechanism about an axis of rotation; 
 a second drive mechanism adapted to apply to the second member at least movement along said longitudinal direction of the second member relative to said second receptacle; 
 said outlet including a fastener device for fastening to the first member and adapted to enable the first member and the second receptacle to move together along the longitudinal direction of the first member. 
 
     
     
       2. A catheter winder/unwinder according to  claim 1 , wherein the second receptacle is mounted to rotate relative to the first receptacle about the axis of rotation, wherein the first receptacle presents a bottom adapted to receive said first member, and at least a first guide surface;
 wherein the second receptacle presents a bottom adapted to receive said elongate guide, and at least a second guide surface co-operating with said first guide surface of the first receptacle to guide the relative movement of the first and second receptacles about said axis of rotation. 
 
     
     
       3. A catheter winder/unwinder according to  claim 1 , wherein the first drive mechanism is adapted to apply to the first member at least one of the following kinds of movement relative to said first receptacle:
 movement in translation along said longitudinal direction of the first member; and 
 movement in rotation about said longitudinal direction of the first member. 
 
     
     
       4. A catheter winder/unwinder according to  claim 1 , wherein the second drive mechanism is adapted to apply to the second member relative to said second receptacle at least one of the following kinds of movement:
 movement in translation along said longitudinal direction of the second member; and/or 
 movement in rotation about said longitudinal direction of the second member. 
 
     
     
       5. A catheter winder/unwinder according to  claim 1 , further including a motor mechanism adapted to impart relative movement of the first and second receptacles receptacle and the first drive mechanism about said axis of rotation. 
     
     
       6. A catheter winder/unwinder according to  claim 1 , further including, as its first member, an elongate catheter extending in the first receptacle between a first end and a second end along a longitudinal direction of the first member, said second end being fastened to said fastener device, the elongate catheter co-operating with said first drive mechanism so that it imparts movement thereto relative to said first receptacle. 
     
     
       7. A catheter winder/unwinder according to  claim 6 , further including, as its second member, an elongate guide extending in the second receptacle between a first end and a second end along a longitudinal direction of the second member, the elongate guide co-operating with said second drive mechanism so that it imparts movement thereto relative to said second receptacle;
 the first end of the guide passing through said outlet to the inside of the catheter. 
 
     
     
       8. A catheter winder/unwinder according to  claim 1 , wherein the receptacles contain a liquid suitable for preserving members for inserting in a duct in a patient. 
     
     
       9. A catheter winder/unwinder according to  claim 1 , wherein said drive mechanisms are made to be removable relative to their respective systems. 
     
     
       10. A catheter winder/unwinder according to  claim 1 , wherein the second receptacle is adapted also to receive a third elongate tubular member for insertion into the duct and extending between a first end and a second end along a longitudinal direction of the third member, the second system including a third drive mechanism adapted to apply to the third member at least movement along said longitudinal direction of the third member relative to said second receptacle without applying movement to the second member, the second drive mechanism being adapted to apply to the second member said movement along the longitudinal direction of the second member without applying movement to the third member. 
     
     
       11. A catheter winder/unwinder according to  claim 1 , further comprising a third system comprising:
 a third receptacle adapted to receive a third elongate tubular member for inserting in the duct and extending between a first end and a second end along a longitudinal direction of the third member; 
 said third receptacle including an outlet formed to allow the third member to pass therethrough; 
 said third receptacle being mounted to rotate relative to the second receptacle about said axis of rotation; 
 a third drive mechanism adapted to apply to the third member at least movement through said outlet of the third receptacle along said longitudinal direction of the third member relative to said third receptacle; 
 the outlet of the third receptacle including a fastener device for fastening to the second member and adapted for the second member and the third receptacle to move together along the longitudinal direction of the second member. 
 
     
     
       12. A catheter winder/unwinder according to  claim 1 , further comprising a third system comprising:
 a third receptacle adapted to receive a third elongate tubular member for inserting in the duct and extending between a first end and a second end along a longitudinal direction of the third member; 
 said third receptacle including an outlet formed to allow the third member to pass therethrough; 
 said third receptacle being mounted to rotate relative to the first receptacle about said axis of rotation; 
 a third drive mechanism adapted to apply to the third member at least movement through said outlet of the third receptacle along said longitudinal direction of the third member relative to said third receptacle; 
 the outlet of the third receptacle including a fastener device for fastening to the first member and adapted to enable the first member and the third receptacle to move together along the longitudinal direction of the first member. 
 
     
     
       13. A catheter winder/unwinder according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one drive mechanism comprises an electric motoring device having at least one electric motor adapted, on being powered electrically, to generate relative movement of the receptacle and a corresponding element to be moved selected amongst said members. 
     
     
       14. A catheter winder/unwinder according to  claim 1 , wherein each receptacle is in the form of a tank. 
     
     
       15. A system including an exchangeable elongate tubular member, and a catheter winder/unwinder comprising a receptacle adapted to receive an said elongate tubular member for insertion into a duct of a patient and extending between a first end and a second end along a longitudinal direction;
 the receptacle having an opening formed to allow said elongate tubular member to pass to the outside; 
 the winder/unwinder further comprising a drive mechanism adapted to apply to the elongate tubular member movement through said opening relative to said receptacle, said drive mechanism comprising: 
 an equipment mounted to move relative to the receptacle in a first degree of freedom, the equipment carrying the elongate tubular member; and 
 an electric motoring device adapted to generate movement when powered electrically; 
 said electric motoring device being adapted to generate relative movement between the equipment and the receptacle in the first degree of freedom so as to generate relative movement of the elongate tubular member and of the receptacle in said first degree of freedom; 
 the elongate tubular member being mounted to move relative to the equipment in a second degree of freedom distinct from the first degree of freedom; 
 said electric motoring device being adapted to generate relative movement of the equipment and of the elongate tubular member in the second degree of freedom in order to generate relative movement of the elongate tubular member and of the receptacle in said second degree of freedom; 
 said electric motoring device comprising at least an electric motor, said electric motoring device comprising at least one movement transfer element connected to one of said electric motors to transmit said relative movement of the elongate tubular member and the equipment in the second degree of freedom from said electric motor; 
 the installation system comprising a permanent portion comprising said electric motors, and a utilized replaceable portion, distinct from said elongate tubular member, mounted removably relative to the permanent portion, the permanent portion and the replaceable portion in an assembled state together forming said winder/unwinder, the installation system having a plurality of replaceable replacement portions that are identical to the utilized replacement portion. 
 
     
     
       16. A system according to  claim 15 , wherein the replaceable portion comprises at least the receptacle. 
     
     
       17. A system according to  claim 15 , wherein the permanent portion includes the entire drive mechanism. 
     
     
       18. A system according to  claim 15 , wherein the drive mechanism includes an application portion in contact with the member and adapted, in the assembled state, to be connected to the movement transfer mechanism element to apply said relative movement of the member and of the receptacle in said second degree of freedom, and wherein the replaceable portion comprises at least said application portion. 
     
     
       19. A catheter winder/unwinder comprising a base adapted to receive a tubular an elongate member for inserting into a duct of a patient and extending between a first end and a second end along a longitudinal direction of the member, and a drive mechanism adapted to apply to said tubular elongate member at least movement along said longitudinal direction, said drive mechanism comprising:
 a rotation ring gear mounted on the base; 
 a translation ring gear mounted on the base;  
 a plate having a top face adapted to carry the elongate member and an opposed bottom face, wherein the plate is mounted to rotate relative to the base about said longitudinal direction under actuation through the rotation ring gear; 
 an application portion mounted to move on the plate, in contact with the elongate member, wherein the application portion comprises at least one drive wheel disposed on the top face of the plate, and at least one corresponding gear wheel disposed on the bottom face of the plate; 
 a wormscrew movement transfer system mounted on the plate, driven by the translation ring gear, and adapted to drive said application portion at least one drive wheels through said corresponding at least one gear wheel so that said application portion at least one drive wheels moves on the plate so as to apply said movement to the tubular elongate member along the longitudinal direction; and 
 an electric motoring device adapted to drive the wormscrew movement transfer system through the translation ring gear. 
 
     
     
       20. A system according to claim 15, wherein the winder/unwinder comprises a plate having a bottom portion comprising drive shafts, and being part of the permanent portion, and having a top portion, part of the replaceable portion, and having wheels applying movement to the elongate tubular member and engaged by respective drive shafts.  
     
     
       21. A catheter winder/unwinder according to claim 19, wherein the movement transfer system comprises a wormscrew.  
     
     
       22. A catheter winder/unwinder according to claim 21, wherein the wormscrew is mounted to rotate on the plate in two bearings.  
     
     
       23. A catheter winder/unwinder according to claim 19, wherein the movement transfer system receives drive via an intermediate gear intermediate between the movement transfer system and the translation ring gear.  
     
     
       24. A catheter winder/unwinder according to claim 19, wherein the application portion comprises at least two drive wheels disposed on the top face of the plate, and at least two corresponding gear wheels disposed on the bottom face of the plate.  
     
     
       25. A catheter winder/unwinder according to claim 19, wherein the application portion comprises a non-motor driven wheel disposed on the top face, in contact with the elongate member.  
     
     
       26. A catheter winder/unwinder according to claim 25, further comprising an adjustment mechanism to adapt to catheters of different diameters.