US 11,717,646 B2
Steerable medical device and method
Grant A. Scheibe, Loretto, MN (US); and Travis White, Rockford, MN (US)
Assigned to Greatbatch Ltd., Clarence, NY (US)
Filed by Greatbatch Ltd., Clarence, NY (US)
Filed on May 15, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/874,904.
Application 16/874,904 is a continuation of application No. 15/917,953, filed on Mar. 12, 2018, granted, now 10,709,870.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/471,003, filed on Mar. 14, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2020/0289789 A1, Sep. 17, 2020
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61M 25/01 (2006.01); A61B 8/12 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 25/0147 (2013.01) [A61M 25/0133 (2013.01); A61M 25/0136 (2013.01); A61B 8/12 (2013.01); A61M 2025/015 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A steerable medical device comprising:
a handle including a longitudinal axis;
an elongate shaft extending distally from the handle, the elongate shaft including a distal tip and a lumen through the elongate shaft;
at least four pullwires disposed within the handle and extending to and anchored proximate the distal tip of the elongate shaft, the at least four pullwires including a first pullwire, a second pullwire, a third pullwire, and a fourth pullwire;
at least two actuators associated with the handle, the at least two actuators including a first actuator and a second actuator, the at least two actuators being operably coupled to the at least four pullwires, such that actuation of the first actuator causes tension in either the first pullwire or the second pullwire and deflection of the distal tip in a first tip direction or a second tip direction, respectively, and actuation of the second actuator causes tension in either the third pullwire or the fourth pullwire and deflection of the distal tip in a third tip direction or a fourth tip direction, respectively, wherein each of the first and second actuators is independently actuatable without interfering with the actuation of the other of the first and second actuators; and
at least two threaded members disposed within the handle, the at least two threaded members including a first threaded member and a second threaded member, the first threaded member being movable with the actuation of the first actuator in either a first actuator direction or a second actuator direction, the first threaded member being operably coupled to the first and second pullwires, wherein movement of the first threaded member causes the tension in at least one of the first pullwire and the second pullwire; and the second threaded member being movable with the actuation of the second actuator in either the first actuator direction or the second actuator direction, the second threaded member being operably coupled to the third and fourth pullwires, wherein movement of the second threaded member causes the tension in at least one of the third pullwire and the fourth pullwire, wherein the first threaded member at least partially overlaps the second threaded member, the second threaded member being disposed at least partially within the first threaded member, and the first and second threaded members being independently actuatable with respect to one another.