GB1215866A - Improvements in or relating to controllable-tip intralumenal surgical devices - Google Patents

Abstract

1,215,866. Catheter assemblies. AMERICAN HOSPITAL SUPPLY CORP. 1 July, 1968 [3 July, 1967], No. 31350/68. Heading A5R. An intraluminal assembly comprises (Figure 1) a catheter D connected to a handle A and containing a guiding member B also connected to the handle, there being means in the handle for pulling on a wire in the guiding member to cause the tip of the guiding member to bend, and there being means in the handle for rotating the guiding member relative to the handle. The assembly also includes a unit C whereby injection fluid may be introduced into the catheter. As shown, the handle (Figure 3) comprises a housing 10 having a socket member 13 into which one splined end 103 of the injection unit (Figure 9) may be non-rotatably secured, the tubular catheter D being rigidly secured to the other end 113 of the injection unit so that injection liquid may be introduced via an inlet 111 in the unit through the catheter and into a patient. The guiding member is provided for effecting the bending of the end of the catheter at any orientation and comprises a sheathed wire (150) adjustably secured in a socket 77 in a slide member 50 arranged in the handle (see also Figure 4, not shown), the wire extending through aligned bores 15, 55, 110 in the handle and injection unit and from thence through the catheter. The sheath of the wire is secured in a socket 30 in a part 25 slidably supporting the member 50. The distal end of the guiding member (Figure 15, not shown) includes a spring (170) and bends when the wire (150) is tensioned, the tensioning being effected by depressing a lever 42 on the handle which moves the sliding member 50 carrying the end of the wire. In order to alter the orientation of the bent tip, the guiding member may be rotated by manually turning a ring 21 which is secured to the part 25 holding the wire sheath and to the slide member 50 holding the wire itself. A screw 41 allows the handle to be readily dismantled and a screw 90 allows the lever 42 to be locked at a chosen degree of bending of the guide body tip. The injection unit comprises two telescoping parts which may be moved to retract the guiding member B (Figure 1) into the catheter D. The catheter is of a plastics material and may be a balloon catheter, the guiding member (Figure 17, not shown) includes a main part comprising three or four co-axial spring coils covered with a plastics material. The guiding member may be used to introduce a ph-probe, a pressure transducer, or a thermistor into the patient.