Steerable Device For Introducing Diagnostic And Therapeutic Apparatus Into The Body

Abstract

An apparatus including an elongate body having a lumen extending therethrough and a steering wire associated with the distal portion of the elongate body.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an elongate body defining a proximal portion and a distal portion and including a wall defining an inner surface, an outer surface and a central lumen extending from the proximal portion to an aperture in the distal portion;   a steering wire having a distal portion; and   a tubular member, with a plurality of slots, located between the inner surface and the outer surface of the distal portion of the elongate body and secured to the distal portion of the steering wire.   
     
     
         2 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a steering wire lumen offset from the central lumen in which at least a portion of the steering wire is located.   
     
     
         19 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the proximal portion of the elongate body is relatively stiff and the distal portion of the elongate body is relatively flexible. 
     
     
         20 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a catheter supporting at least one of a diagnostic element and a therapeutic element located within the central lumen and slidable relative thereto.   
     
     
         27 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an elongate body proximal portion defining a lumen extending therethrough, a distal end and a proximal portion stiffness;   an elongate body distal portion associated with the distal end of the elongate body proximal portion, the elongate body distal portion defining a distal end, a proximal end, a lumen extending therethrough, a length from the distal end to the proximal end, and a perimeter, and including at least first and second distal members that together form the elongate body distal portion, the first distal member defining a first distal member stiffness and the second distal member defining a second distal member stiffness less than the first distal member stiffness; and   a steering wire having a distal portion operably connected to the elongate body distal portion.   
     
     
         28 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the first distal member stiffness and the second distal member stiffness are both less than the elongate body proximal portion stiffness. 
     
     
         29 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the second distal member defines a second lumen and the steering wire is located within the second lumen. 
     
     
         30 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the first and second distal members are substantially semi-circular in cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         31 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the first and second distal members occupy substantially equal segments of the elongate body distal portion perimeter over the elongate body distal portion length. 
     
     
         32 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the first and second distal members occupy respective segments of the elongate body distal portion perimeter that vary in size over the length of the distal portion. 
     
     
         33 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the first distal member occupies a segment of the elongate body distal portion perimeter that varies in size over the elongate body distal portion length such that the first distal member occupies substantially all of the perimeter at one end of the elongate body distal portion and occupies substantially none of the perimeter at the other end of the elongate body distal portion. 
     
     
         34 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the first distal member occupies a segment of the elongate body distal portion perimeter that increases in size over a first portion of the elongate body distal portion length and decreases in size over a second portion of the elongate body distal portion length. 
     
     
         35 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the elongate body distal portion includes a third distal member and the third distal member defines a stiffness less than the first distal member stiffness and greater than the second distal member stiffness. 
     
     
         36 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the first distal member is located distally of the second and third distal members and the third distal member is located distally of the second distal member. 
     
     
         37 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 35 , the first, second and third distal members occupy respective segments of the elongate body distal portion perimeter and the segments vary in size over the elongate body distal portion length. 
     
     
         38 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the first, second and third distal members define respective lengths and occupy respective segments of the elongate body distal portion perimeter and the respective sizes of the segments remain substantially constant over the respective lengths distal members. 
     
     
         39 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the first distal member comprises a pair of first distal members respectively located on opposite sides of the second distal member. 
     
     
         40 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the second distal member comprises a wall defining the elongate body distal portion lumen and the first distal member is located within the wall. 
     
     
         41 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein the first distal member extends substantially from the proximal end of the elongate body distal portion to the distal end of the elongate body distal portion. 
     
     
         42 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein the wall includes an inner surface and an outer surface and the first distal member is located in spaced relation to the inner surface. 
     
     
         43 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tubular member defines a longitudinal axis and the plurality of slots are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         44 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of slots are arranged such that the tubular member defines an elongate stiffening member. 
     
     
         45 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein the steering wire is secured to a portion of the tubular member that is diametrically opposed from the stiffening member. 
     
     
         46 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein the tubular member defines a circumference and the elongate stiffening member extends over less than one-half of the circumference. 
     
     
         47 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein the tubular member includes a plurality of rings with the slots therebetween, and a portion of each ring defines a portion of the elongate stiffening member. 
     
     
         48 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tubular member comprises a hypotube.