Medical devices and methods of use

Abstract

Systems, and methods of disassembling systems that includes a medical device, a shaft that is optionally steerable, and a handle assembly. The methods can include providing a system after it has been exposed to a blood environment of a subject, disconnecting a medical device electrical contact from an electrical contact on the printed circuit board, moving the medical distally relative to the sheath and out of the distal end of the sheath, and cleaning at least a portion of the medical device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ultrasound imaging tool adapted with axial, rotation and deflection control, comprising:
 an ultrasound transducer carried by a distal region of an axially translatable shaft;   a deflectable shaft disposed relative to the axially translatable such that deflection of the deflectable shaft causes deflection of at least a portion of the axially translatable shaft; and   a handle assembly in operable communication with the axially translatable shaft and the deflectable shaft such that actuation of the handle assembly causes axial movement and rotation of the axially translatable shaft relative to a distal end of the deflectable shaft, and such that actuation of the handle assembly causes deflection of the deflectable shaft relative to the axially translatable shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the axially translatable shaft and the deflectable shaft are in independent operable communication with the handle assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the axially translatable shaft is in operable communication with a first actuator of the handle assembly such that actuation of the first actuator causes axial movement of the axially translatable shaft relative to the distal end of the deflectable shaft, and such that actuation of the first actuator also causes rotation of the axially translatable shaft relative to the distal end of the deflectable shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The tool of  claim 3 , wherein the axially translatable shaft is in operable communication with a first actuator of the handle assembly such that a first type of movement of the first actuator causes axial movement of the axially translatable shaft relative to the distal end of the deflectable shaft, and such that a second type of movement of the first actuator different than the first type of movement causes rotation of the axially translatable shaft relative to the deflectable shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The tool of  claim 4 , wherein the first type of movement of the first actuator is axial movement. 
     
     
         6 . The tool of  claim 5 , wherein the second type of movement of the first actuator is rotational movement. 
     
     
         7 . The tool of  claim 4 , wherein the second type of movement of the first actuator is rotational movement. 
     
     
         8 . The tool of  claim 7 , wherein the first type of movement of the first actuator is axial movement. 
     
     
         9 . The tool of  claim 3 , wherein the first actuator is disposed relative to the handle body such that rotational movement of the first actuator is in a direction orthgonal to a longitudinal axis of the axially translatable shaft. 
     
     
         10 . The tool of  claim 3 , wherein the handle assembly further comprises a second actuator, the first actuator and the second actuator adapted to be actuated independently of one another, wherein the deflectable shaft is in operable communication with the second actuator such that actuation of the second actuator causes deflection of the deflectable shaft and thereby deflection of the axially translatable shaft. 
     
     
         11 . The tool of  claim 10 , wherein the deflectable shaft is in operable communication with the second actuator such that rotation of the second actuator causes deflection of the deflectable shaft and thereby deflection of the axially translatable shaft. 
     
     
         12 . The tool of  claim 10 , wherein the first actuator is proximal to the second actuator. 
     
     
         13 . The tool of  claim 1 , further comprising an elongate electrical connector that is in electrical connection with the ultrasound transducer, the elongate electrical connector extending axially within the deflectable shaft and the axially translatable shaft. 
     
     
         14 . The tool of  claim 13 , where the elongate electrical connector is part of a flexible electrical bundle in electrical communication with the ultrasound transducer, the flexible electrical bundle extending axially within the deflectable shaft and the axially translatable shaft. 
     
     
         15 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the axially translatable shaft and the deflectable shaft are co-axial. 
     
     
         16 . The tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a pull wire in operable communication with the deflectable shaft. 
     
     
         17 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein axial translation of the axially translatable shaft is limited to a fixed range of axial motion. 
     
     
         18 . A catheter imaging assembly, comprising:
 an axially translatable and rotatable shaft;   a deflectable shaft;   a distal end region to which an ultrasound imaging transducer is mounted; and   a handle assembly, wherein the axially translatable and rotatable shaft and the deflectable shaft are in independent operable communication with the handle assembly.   
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the handle assembly includes a first control and a second control, the first control being in operable communication with the axially translatable shaft such that actuation of the first control causes axial movement of the axially translatable and rotatable shaft relative to the deflectable shaft, and wherein the second control is in operable communication with the deflectable shaft such that actuation of the second control causes deflection of the deflectable shaft relative to the axially translatable and rotatable shaft. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the ultrasound imaging transducer is mounted to the axially translatable and rotatable shaft. 
     
     
         21 . The assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the deflectable shaft is deflectable in a deflection section that is proximate a distal end of the deflectable shaft. 
     
     
         22 . A method of controlling an ultrasound imaging transducer, comprising:
 advancing a distal end region of a catheter assembly to an anatomical region of interest, the catheter assembly comprising a translatable shaft carrying an ultrasound imaging transducer and a deflectable shaft;   actuating a first actuator of a handle assembly to cause axial movement of the translatable shaft relative to the deflectable shaft, which thereby causes axial movement of the ultrasound imaging transducer; and   actuating a second actuator of the handle assembly to cause deflection of the deflectable shaft relative to the axially translatable and rotatable shaft.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising rotating the first actuator to cause rotation of the axially translatable and rotatable shaft relative to the deflectable shaft. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein actuating the second actuator causes deflection of a portion of the translatable shaft carrying the ultrasound imaging transducer. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein actuating the second actuator causes deflection of a distal section of the deflectable shaft.