US5846221A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Steerable catheter having disposable module and sterilizable handle and method of connecting same
Assignee: Catheter Imaging Systems Inc
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Filing: 1998-05-13
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Granted: 1998-12-08
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Expires: 2018-05-13
Abstract
Abstract A catheter and methods are provided for inserting at least portions thereof into a vessel, cavity, or tissue of a human body to thereby provide manipulation of a distal portion of the catheter when positioned within a vessel, cavity, or tissue. The catheter preferably has a module which includes an elongate tube having at least one lumen extending from a distal end to a proximal end of the tube, a module interface connected to the proximal end of the tube, and a deflector connected to the tube for deflecting the distal portion of the elongate tube. A handle detachably connects to the module and is configured to be readily held in the hand of a user. The handle has a body which includes a wall positioned in and extending transversely across distal portions of the body. The wall has an outer surface thereof defining an exterior portion of the body and a first cavity formed within the body. Preferably, the body detachably and coextensively connects to the module interface through the outer surface of the wall. A controller is connected to the body and detachably connects to the deflector of the module for responsively controlling the deflector to thereby manipulate distal portions of the elongate tube. The controller and the deflector connect to define a unitary catheter manipulator extending from the first cavity, through the wall, and to the tube for manipulating a distal portion of the catheter when positioned within a vessel, cavity, or tissue.
Inventors
- 👤 Phillip Jack Snoke
- 👤 Michael J. Mark
- 👤 David Scott Rowley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 06:32
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/0105; A61M25/0133; A61M25/0147; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/00064; A61B1/00105; A61B1/005; A61B1/0051; A61B1/0052; A61M25/0136; A61M2025/015
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of detachably connecting a catheter having a handle and a detachable module, the module including an elongate tube having at least one lumen extending therethrough and the handle including a body, the method comprising: connecting a fiberscope to a distal end portion of the body of the handle; positioning the fiberscope into the at least one lumen of the tube of the module; and connecting the module to the body of the handle for viewing portions of a vessel, cavity, or tissue when a distal end of the tube is positioned therein.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of detachably connecting a catheter having a handle and a detachable module, the module including an elongate tube having at least one lumen extending therethrough and the handle including a body, the method comprising: connecting a fiberscope to a distal end portion of the body of the handle; positioning the fiberscope into the at least one lumen of the tube of the module; and connecting the module to the body of the handle for viewing portions of a vessel, cavity, or tissue when a distal end of the tube is positioned therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising capturing images of portions of a vessel, cavity, or tissue from an image capturing device positioned within the body of the handle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as defined in claim 2, further comprising focusing the images captured by said image capturing device from a focusing device connected to the body of the handle.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
179 words
A method of using a catheter positioned in a hand of a user, the catheter having portions thereof positioned within a cavity, vessel, or tissue of a human body, the catheter including a handle configured to be readily held in a hand of a user and having a body, an elongate tube connected to and extending outwardly from the body of the handle, the elongate tube having at least one lumen extending therethrough from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion thereof, and a manipulator connected to the body of the handle and a distal end portion of the elongate tube, the method comprising: positioning the elongate tube into a cavity, vessel, or tissue of a human body; manipulating a distal end portion of the elongate tube responsive to a hand of a user holding the handle; capturing an image of portions of a cavity, vessel, or tissue from the tube positioned in a cavity, vessel, or tissue; and focusing the images captured responsive to the same hand of the user during operative holding of the handle.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
179 words
A method of using a catheter positioned in a hand of a user, the catheter having portions thereof positioned within a cavity, vessel, or tissue of a human body, the catheter including a handle configured to be readily held in a hand of a user and having a body, an elongate tube connected to and extending outwardly from the body of the handle, the elongate tube having at least one lumen extending therethrough from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion thereof, and a manipulator connected to the body of the handle and a distal end portion of the elongate tube, the method comprising: positioning the elongate tube into a cavity, vessel, or tissue of a human body; manipulating a distal end portion of the elongate tube responsive to a hand of a user holding the handle; capturing an image of portions of a cavity, vessel, or tissue from the tube positioned in a cavity, vessel, or tissue; and focusing the images captured responsive to the same hand of the user during operative holding of the handle.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
197 words
A method of using a catheter positioned in a hand of a user, the catheter having portions thereof positioned within a cavity, vessel, or tissue of a human body, the catheter including a handle configured to be readily held in a hand of a user and having a body, a module having an elongate tube including at least one lumen extending therethrough from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion thereof, and a manipulator connected to the body of the handle and a distal end portion of the elongate tube, the method comprising: connecting a fiberscope to a distal end portion of the body of the handle; positioning the fiberscope into the at least one lumen of the tube of the module; connecting the module to the body of the handle; positioning the elongate tube into a cavity, vessel, or tissue of a human body; manipulating a portion of the elongate tube responsive to a hand of a user holding the handle; capturing an image of portions of a cavity, vessel, or tissue through the fiberscope; and focusing the images captured responsive to the same hand of the user during operative holding of the handle.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
197 words
A method of using a catheter positioned in a hand of a user, the catheter having portions thereof positioned within a cavity, vessel, or tissue of a human body, the catheter including a handle configured to be readily held in a hand of a user and having a body, a module having an elongate tube including at least one lumen extending therethrough from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion thereof, and a manipulator connected to the body of the handle and a distal end portion of the elongate tube, the method comprising: connecting a fiberscope to a distal end portion of the body of the handle; positioning the fiberscope into the at least one lumen of the tube of the module; connecting the module to the body of the handle; positioning the elongate tube into a cavity, vessel, or tissue of a human body; manipulating a portion of the elongate tube responsive to a hand of a user holding the handle; capturing an image of portions of a cavity, vessel, or tissue through the fiberscope; and focusing the images captured responsive to the same hand of the user during operative holding of the handle.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of detachably connecting a catheter having a handle and a detachable module, the module including an elongate tube having at least one lumen extending therethrough and the handle including an angled body, the method comprising: connecting the module to the angled body of the handle; positioning the elongate tube into a cavity, vessel, or tissue of a human body; capturing an image of portions of a cavity, vessel, or tissue from the tube positioned in a cavity, vessel, or tissue; and focusing the images captured responsive to the same hand of the user during operative holding of the handle.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of detachably connecting a catheter having a handle and a detachable module, the module including an elongate tube having at least one lumen extending therethrough and the handle including an angled body, the method comprising: connecting the module to the angled body of the handle; positioning the elongate tube into a cavity, vessel, or tissue of a human body; capturing an image of portions of a cavity, vessel, or tissue from the tube positioned in a cavity, vessel, or tissue; and focusing the images captured responsive to the same hand of the user during operative holding of the handle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as defined by claim 6, further comprising the step of coaxially inserting an instrument into a lumen of the elongate tube along a substantially straight axis with the other hand of the user.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of detachably connecting a catheter having a handle and a plurality of detachable and disposable modules, each module including an elongate tube having at least one lumen extending therethrough and the handle including a body, the method comprising: connecting a first module to the body of the handle for use in a vessel, cavity, or tissue during a medical procedure; disconnecting the first module from the handle; and connecting a second module to the body of the handle for use in a vessel, cavity, or tissue during a medical procedure.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of detachably connecting a catheter having a handle and a plurality of detachable and disposable modules, each module including an elongate tube having at least one lumen extending therethrough and the handle including a body, the method comprising: connecting a first module to the body of the handle for use in a vessel, cavity, or tissue during a medical procedure; disconnecting the first module from the handle; and connecting a second module to the body of the handle for use in a vessel, cavity, or tissue during a medical procedure.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-12-07 | 2002-06-08 | 2002-12-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-12-07 | 2006-06-08 | 2006-12-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-12-07 | 2010-06-08 | 2010-12-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |