Feedback Mechanisms for a Steerable Medical Device

Abstract

An apparatus and method are disclosed for providing feedback for a steerable medical device assembly for deflecting a device, the assembly comprising a control handle comprising an actuation mechanism. The assembly additionally comprises a device coupled to the control handle and operable to be deflected upon actuation of the actuation mechanism, and a feedback mechanism for providing an indication of the deflection of the device, wherein the feedback mechanism is associated with the actuation mechanism for deflecting the device.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A steerable medical device assembly for deflecting a device comprising:
 a control handle comprising an actuation mechanism;   a device coupled to the control handle and operable to be deflected upon actuation of the actuation mechanism; and   an audible feedback mechanism for providing an audible indication of the deflection of the device;   wherein the audible feedback mechanism is associated with the actuation mechanism for deflecting the device.   
     
     
         2 . The steerable medical device assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the audible feedback mechanism comprises a mechanical feedback mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The steerable medical device assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the mechanical feedback mechanism comprises:
 a first indicator portion associate with a housing of the control handle; and   a second indicator portion associated with the actuation mechanism for deflecting the device; and   wherein an interaction between the first and second indicator portions corresponds to and is indicative of a deflection position of the device and a corresponding position of the actuation mechanism to provide an audible indication of the deflection position of the device upon actuation of the actuation mechanism.   
     
     
         4 . The steerable medical device assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the audible feedback mechanism comprises an electrical feedback mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The steerable medical device assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the electrical feedback mechanism comprises:
 a sound emitting device, the sound emitting device has an active state where the sound emitting device is operable to emit a sound and a passive state where the sound emitting device is off; and   a sensor coupled to the sound emitting device for detecting a position of a portion of the actuation mechanism;   wherein the sound emitting source is operable to be in its active state upon detection of the position of the actuation mechanism by the sensor, wherein the active state corresponds to and is indicative of a deflection position of the device and a corresponding position of the actuation mechanism to provide an audible indication of the deflection position of the device upon actuation of the actuation mechanism.   
     
     
         6 . The steerable medical device assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the sound emitting device comprises a buzzer. 
     
     
         7 . The steerable medical device assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the steerable medical device assembly further comprises a visual feedback mechanism that provides a visual indication. 
     
     
         8 . The steerable medical device assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the visual feedback mechanism comprises a mechanical feedback mechanism. 
     
     
         9 . The steerable medical device assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the mechanical feedback mechanism comprises:
 a window that is formed within a housing of the control handle; and   one or more alignment markings associated with the actuation mechanism for deflecting the device; and   wherein a visibility of the one or more alignment markings through the window corresponds to and is indicative of a deflection position of the device and a corresponding position of the actuation mechanism to provide a visual indication of the deflection position of the device upon actuation of the actuation mechanism.   
     
     
         10 . The steerable medical device assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the mechanical feedback mechanism comprises:
 one or more alignment markings associated with the actuation mechanism for deflecting the device; and   one or more indicator markings that are associated with a housing of the control handle; and   wherein a relative arrangement of the one or more alignment markings and the one or more indicator markings corresponds to and is indicative of a deflection position of the device and a corresponding position of the actuation mechanism to provide a visual indication of the deflection position of the device upon actuation of the actuation mechanism.   
     
     
         11 . The steerable medical device assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the visual feedback mechanism comprises an electrical feedback mechanism. 
     
     
         12 . The steerable medical device assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the electrical feedback mechanism comprises a light emitting source, wherein the light emitting source has an active state where the light emitting source is operable to emit light and a passive state where the light emitting source is off; and
 a sensor coupled to the light emitting source for detecting a position of a portion of the actuation mechanism;   wherein the light emitting source is operable to be in its active state upon detection of the position of the portion of the actuation mechanism by the sensor, and corresponds to and is indicative of a deflection position of the device and a corresponding position of the actuation mechanism to provide a visual indication of the deflection position of the device upon actuation of the actuation mechanism.   
     
     
         13 . The steerable medical device assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the light emitting source comprises a light emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
         14 . The steerable medical device assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the steerable medical device assembly further comprises a tactile feedback mechanism that provides a tactile indication. 
     
     
         15 . The steerable medical device assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the tactile feedback mechanism comprises a mechanical feedback mechanism. 
     
     
         16 . The steerable medical device assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the mechanical feedback mechanism comprises:
 a first indicator portion associate with a housing of the control handle; and   a second indicator portion associated with the actuation mechanism for deflecting the device; and   wherein an interaction between the first and second indicator portions corresponds to and is indicative of a deflection position of the device and a corresponding position of the actuation mechanism to provide a tactile indication of the deflection position of the device upon actuation of the actuation mechanism.   
     
     
         17 . The steerable medical device assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the feedback mechanism provides an indication of degree of deflection of the device upon actuation of the actuation mechanism. 
     
     
         18 . The steerable medical device assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the feedback mechanism provides an indication of a neutral zone of the control handle and the device upon the control handle and the device being in the neutral zone. 
     
     
         19 . The steerable medical device assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the feedback mechanism provides an indication upon actuation mechanism and the device exiting a neutral zone. 
     
     
         20 . The steerable medical device assembly  claim 1 , wherein the actuation mechanism comprises:
 an actuator comprising a control knob; and   a slide assembly that is coupled to the control knob via a threadable arrangement, the slide assembly being operable to coupled to the device;   wherein actuation of the control knob via rotational movement thereof results in linear movement of the slide assembly to deflect the device.