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WO-2026096648-A1 - CATHETER STEERING MECHANISM

WO2026096648A1WO 2026096648 A1WO2026096648 A1WO 2026096648A1WO-2026096648-A1

Abstract

A catheter comprising an elongated shaft defining a lumen and having a distal portion is disclosed. The elongated shaft includes an elongated support member coaxial with the lumen. The support member has a distal end. A pull ring assembly including a pull ring and a pull wire. The pull ring is disposed on the shaft at the distal portion, and the pull wire is attached to the pull ring and extends proximally along the shaft. The pull ring includes an outer surface, a pull ring distal end, and a pull ring proximal end. The support member is attached to the outer surface of the pull ring such that the distal end of the support member is disposed distal to the pull ring proximal end.

Inventors

  • MA, Brian
  • MONTGOMERY, Miles
  • NORMANDEAU, Jean-Olivier
  • HOSEIN, Yara
  • MAJOR, IAN
  • MARTIN, KEVIN

Assignees

  • BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20251029
Priority Date
20241030

Claims (20)

  1. 1. A catheter, comprising: an elongated shaft defining a lumen and having a distal portion, the elongated shaft having an elongated support member coaxial with the lumen, the support member having a distal end; and a pull ring assembly including a pull ring disposed on the shaft at the distal portion and a pull wire attached to the pull ring and extending proximally along the shaft, the pull ring having an outer surface, a pull ring distal end, and a pull ring proximal end; wherein the support member is attached to the outer surface of the pull ring such that the distal end of the support member is disposed distal to the pull ring proximal end.
  2. 2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the support member is attached to the outer surface of the pull ring such that the distal end of the support member is disposed between the pull ring distal and proximal ends.
  3. 3. The catheter of any of claims 1 and 2, wherein the support member includes a braided material forming a braided member or a coiled material forming a coiled member.
  4. 4. The catheter of any of claims 1-3, wherein the support member is an inner most support member.
  5. 5. The catheter of any of claims 1-4, wherein the shaft further includes an elongate liner layer in the distal portion defining an inner wall of the lumen and having a liner layer outer surface, wherein the support member is radially disposed on the liner layer outer surface.
  6. 6. The catheter of claim 5, wherein the pull ring is radially disposed between the liner layer and the support member. NM Ref.: 051666/14311 BSC Ref.: 24-0382W001
  7. 7. The catheter of any of claims 1-6, wherein the shaft includes a cover disposed on the pull ring assembly and support member.
  8. 8. The catheter of any of claims 5-7, wherein the liner layer extends distally from the pull ring.
  9. 9. The catheter of claim 8, wherein the cover is disposed directly onto the liner layer outer surface distal to the pull ring.
  10. 10. The catheter of any of claims 1-9, wherein the support member is welded or bonded to the outer surface of the pull ring.
  11. 11. The catheter of any of claims 1-10, and further comprising a compression member to attach the support member against the pull ring.
  12. 12. The catheter of claim 11, wherein the compression member encircles the support member and the pull ring to hold the support member in place.
  13. 13. The catheter of claim 12, wherein the compression member is a sleeve of a heat-shrink material or metallic material.
  14. 14. The catheter of any of claims 1-13, wherein the shaft includes a proximal end coupled to a handle, wherein the handle includes an actuator coupled to the pull wire.
  15. 15. The catheter of any of claims 1-14, wherein the catheter is a guide catheter.
  16. 16. A catheter, comprising: an elongated shaft defining a lumen and having a distal portion, the elongated shaft having an elongated support member coaxial with the lumen, the support member having a distal end; and NM Ref.: 051666/14311 BSC Ref.: 24-0382W001 a pull ring assembly including a pull ring disposed on the shaft at the distal portion and a pull wire attached to the pull ring and extending proximally along the shaft, the pull ring having an outer surface, a pull ring distal end, and a pull ring proximal end; wherein the support member is attached to the outer surface of the pull ring such that the distal end of the support member is disposed distal to the pull ring proximal end.
  17. 17. The catheter of claim 16, wherein the support member is attached to the outer surface of the pull ring such that the distal end of the support member is disposed between the pull ring distal and proximal ends.
  18. 18. The catheter of claim 16, wherein the support member includes a braided material forming a braided member or a coiled material forming a coiled member.
  19. 19. The catheter of claim 16, wherein the distal end of the support member is disposed distal to the pull ring distal end.
  20. 20. The catheter of claim 16, wherein the shaft includes one support member.

Description

NM Ref.: 051666/14311 BSC Ref.: 24-0382W001 CATHETER STEERING MECHANISM CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 63/714,008, filed October 30, 2024, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present disclosure relates to medical devices for catheterization procedures, such as medical devices for electrophysiological procedures. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to steerable catheters and methods for manufacturing steerable catheters. BACKGROUND [0003] Various medical fields use different types of catheters to achieve access to a physiological site in medical procedures. For instance, electrophysiological procedures involve guiding catheters into the heart and tracking the location of the catheters with respect to the heart. Catheter ablation is minimally invasive electrophysiological procedure to treat a variety of heart conditions such as supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmia. Example catheters used in catheter ablation can include mapping catheters, ablation catheters, guiding sheaths or introducer sheaths, dilators, and other medical tools, which can be referred to as catheters in this disclosure. [0004] To position a catheter within the body at a target site, some type of navigation mechanism is used, such as a steering feature incorporated into the catheter. Clinicians manually manipulate or operate the catheter using the steering feature. To facilitate the advancement of catheters through a patient's vasculature, the concurrent application of torque at a proximal portion of the catheter and the ability to deflect the distal portion of the catheter in a selected direction permits the clinician to adjust the direction of advancement of the distal portion of the catheter and to selectively position the distal portion of the catheter during an electrophysiological procedure. In an example, the distal portion includes a pull ring assembly having a pull ring that is deflected with a pull wire or other tension member attached or anchored at the distal end of the catheter and extending proximally to an actuator in a control NM Ref.: 051666/14311 BSC Ref.: 24-0382W001 handle that controls the application of tension on the pull wire. Often, a catheter is configured to deflect in more than one direction and includes one or more pull wires installed on the pull ring on opposite side from each other. For example, the catheter can include a pair of pull wires or two pairs of pull wires for four-way steering. SUMMARY [0005] In Example 1, a catheter, comprising: an elongated shaft defining a lumen and having a distal portion, the elongated shaft having an elongated support member coaxial with the lumen, the support member having a distal end; and a pull ring assembly including a pull ring disposed on the shaft at the distal portion and a pull wire attached to the pull ring and extending proximally along the shaft, the pull ring having an outer surface, a pull ring distal end, and a pull ring proximal end; wherein the support member is attached to the outer surface of the pull ring such that the distal end of the support member is disposed distal to the pull ring proximal end. [0006] In Example 2, the catheter of Example 1, wherein the support member is attached to the outer surface of the pull ring such that the distal end of the support member is disposed between the pull ring distal and proximal ends. [0007] In Example 3, the catheter of any of Examples 1 and 2, wherein the support member includes a braided material forming a braided member or a coiled material forming a coiled member. [0008] In Example 4, the catheter of any of Examples 1-3, wherein the support member is an inner most support member. [0009] In Example 5, the catheter of any of Examples 1-4, wherein the shaft further includes an elongate liner layer in the distal portion defining an inner wall of the lumen and having a liner layer outer surface, wherein the support member is radially disposed on the liner layer outer surface. [0010] In Example 6, the catheter of Example 5, wherein the pull ring is radially disposed between the liner layer and the support member. NM Ref.: 051666/14311 BSC Ref.: 24-0382W001 [0011] In Example 7, the catheter of any of Examples 1-6, wherein the shaft includes a cover disposed on the pull ring assembly and support member. [0012] In Example 8, the catheter of any of Examples 5-7, wherein the liner layer extends distally from the pull ring. [0013] In Example 9, the catheter of Example 8, wherein the cover is disposed directly onto the liner layer outer surface distal to the pull ring. [0014] In Example 10, the catheter of any of Examples 1-9, wherein the support member is welded or bonded to the outer surface of the pull ring. [0015] In Example 11, the catheter of any of Examples 1-10, and further comprising a compression member to attach the support member against the p