§
Luxuse
Patent Intelligence
Sign In
Patent US5846221A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
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
•
Filing: 1998-05-13
•
Granted: 1998-12-08
•
Expires: 2018-05-13
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

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 07:28
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.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US922985A Cited
FR990417A Cited
DE1213571B Cited
US3500820A Cited
US3470876A Cited
US3605725A Cited
US3625200A Cited
US3788304A Cited
US3773034A Cited
US3831017A Cited
US3892228A Cited
US3948251A Cited
USD243115S Cited
US4421106A Cited
US4279245A Cited
US4273111A Cited
US4390012A Cited
US4327723A Cited
US4515592A Cited
US4353358A Cited
US4344092A Cited
US4475539A Cited
US4433675A Cited
US4483326A Cited
US4413278A Cited
US4417886A Cited
US4417886B1 Cited
US4607021A Cited
US4545374A Cited
US4625713A Cited
USD280280S Cited
US4590923A Cited
US4573448A Cited
US4539586B1 Cited
US4539586A Cited
US4611888A Cited
US4543090A Cited
US4589404A Cited
US4713057A Cited
US4651202A Cited
US4601284A Cited
US4653476A Cited
US4587972A Cited
US4580551A Cited
US4737142A Cited
US4577621A Cited
US4758222A Cited
US4750475A Cited
US4644960A Cited
US4791912A Cited
US4753222A Cited
US4649904A Cited
US4776844A Cited
US4968295A Cited
US4797737A Cited
US4793326A Cited
US4989582A Cited
US5042915A Cited
US4853773A Cited
US4782819A Cited
US4933816A Cited
US4901142A Cited
US4905666A Cited
US4844053A Cited
US5090959A Cited
US4748969A Cited
US4745908A Cited
US4867529A Cited
US4799496A Cited
US4884133A Cited
US4906230A Cited
US4808157A Cited
US4919653A Cited
US4834710A Cited
US4893613A Cited
US4890602A Cited
US4815450A Cited
US4979496A Cited
US4924856A Cited
US4972828A Cited
EP0343094B1 Cited
US4973329A Cited
US4904237A Cited
DE3916288C2 Cited
US5058568A Cited
US4954129A Cited
US5085631A Cited
US5053046A Cited
US4968298A Cited
US5010875A Cited
EP0370158A1 Cited
USRE33854E Cited
US5101807A Cited
US4920413A Cited
US5004456A Cited
US4911148A Cited
US4930521A Cited
EP0389453A1 Cited
US5131382A Cited
US4996974A Cited

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

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag