Rotationally torquable endovascular device with actuatable working end

Abstract

In one exemplary embodiment, an endovascular device may include a hollow shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and sized for insertion into a blood vessel. The endovascular device may also include a control line having a proximal end and a distal end, and extending through the hollow shaft. The endovascular device may also include an actuatable working element located proximate the distal end of the hollow shaft, and configured to receive an actuation force transmitted via the distal end of the control line. The endovascular device may further include an actuator configured to exert the actuation force on the proximal end of the control line, to thereby cause relative movement between the control line and the hollow shaft and to actuate the working element. The hollow shaft may also include a cable formed of a plurality of wound wires and including a proximal segment, at least one transition segment, and a distal segment. The proximal segment, at least one transition segment, and distal segment may include different numbers of wires.

1 . An endovascular device, including:
 a hollow shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the hollow shaft being sized for insertion into a blood vessel;   a control line having a proximal end and a distal end, and extending through the hollow shaft;   an actuatable working element located proximate the distal end of the hollow shaft, and configured to receive an actuation force transmitted via the distal end of the control line; and   an actuator configured to exert the actuation force on the proximal end of the control line, to thereby cause relative movement between the control line and the hollow shaft and to actuate the working element, wherein:   the hollow shaft includes a cable formed of a plurality of wound wires;   the cable includes a proximal segment, at least one transition segment, and a distal segment; and   the proximal segment, the at least one transition segment, and the distal segment include different numbers of wires.   
     
     
         2 . The endovascular device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the proximal segment includes a first number of wires;   the at least one transition segment includes a second number of wires, the second number of wires being less than the first number of wires; and   the distal segment includes a third number of wires, the third number of wires being less than the second number of wires.   
     
     
         3 . The endovascular device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first number of wires are wound at a first pitch angle;   the second number of wires are wound at a second pitch angle; and   the third number of wires are wound at a third pitch angle.   
     
     
         4 . The endovascular device of  claim 3 , wherein the first, second, and third pitch angles are determined based on at least one of a diameter of the wires, the number of wires, and a diameter of a winding mandrel. 
     
     
         5 . The endovascular device of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the first pitch angle is less than the second pitch angle; and   the second pitch angle is less than the third pitch angle.   
     
     
         6 . The endovascular device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of wound wires is configured to extend from the proximal segment to the distal segment of the cable. 
     
     
         7 . The endovascular device of  claim 1 , wherein the distal segment has a flexibility greater than a flexibility of the proximal segment. 
     
     
         8 . The endovascular device of  claim 1 , wherein the cable includes at least three transition segments. 
     
     
         9 . The endovascular device of  claim 1 , wherein a rotational force exerted on the proximal end of the hollow shaft causes a rotational force to be applied to the working element, the ratio of the rotational force exerted on the proximal end of the hollow shaft to the rotational force applied to the working element being approximately 1:1. 
     
     
         10 . The endovascular device of  claim 1 , wherein the cable is configured to transfer the rotational torque to the distal end of the working element when the proximal end of the hollow shaft is rotated. 
     
     
         11 . An endovascular device, including:
 a hollow shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the hollow shaft being sized for insertion into a blood vessel;   a control line having a proximal end and a distal end, and extending through the hollow shaft;   an actuatable working element located proximate the distal end of the hollow shaft, and configured to receive an actuation force transmitted via the distal end of the control line; and   an actuator configured to exert the actuation force on the proximal end of the control line, cause relative movement between the control line and the hollow shaft, and actuate the working element, wherein:   the hollow shaft includes a cable formed of a plurality of wound wires;   the cable includes a proximal segment formed of a first number of wires, at least one transition segment formed of a second number of wires less than the first number of wires, and a distal segment formed of a third number of wires less than the second number of wires.   
     
     
         12 . The endovascular device of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first number of wires are wound at a first pitch angle;   the second number of wires are wound at a second pitch angle; and   the third number of wires are wound at a third pitch angle.   
     
     
         13 . The endovascular device of  claim 12 , wherein the first, second, and third pitch angles are determined based on at least one of a diameter of the wires, the number of wires, and a diameter of a winding mandrel. 
     
     
         14 . The endovascular device of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the first pitch angle is less than the second pitch angle; and   the second pitch angle is less than the third pitch angle.   
     
     
         15 . The endovascular device of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the plurality of wound wires is configured to extend from the proximal segment to the distal segment of the cable. 
     
     
         16 . The endovascular device of  claim 11 , wherein the distal segment has a flexibility greater than a flexibility of the proximal segment. 
     
     
         17 . The endovascular device of  claim 11 , wherein the cable includes at least three transition segments. 
     
     
         18 . The endovascular device of  claim 11 , wherein the cable is configured to transfer rotational torque to the distal end of the working element when the proximal end of the hollow shaft is rotated. 
     
     
         19 . A method of manufacturing an endovascular device, the method including:
 forming a hollow shaft sized for insertion into a blood vessel, the hollow shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;   disposing a control line having a proximal end and a distal end through the hollow shaft;   connecting an actuatable working element at the distal end of the hollow shaft, wherein the actuatable working element is configured to receive an actuation force transmitted via the distal end of the control line; and   connecting an actuator at the proximal end of the control line, wherein the actuator is configured to exert the actuation force on the proximal end of the control line, cause relative movement between the control line and the hollow shaft, and actuate the working element, wherein forming the hollow shaft includes:   winding a plurality of wires at a first pitch angle to form a proximal segment of a cable;   cutting at least one of the wires forming the proximal segment;   winding a first remainder of the wires at a second pitch angle to form a transition segment of the cable;   cutting at least one of the first remainder of the wires forming the transition segment; and   winding a second remainder of the wires at a third pitch angle to form a distal segment of the cable.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further including changing a diameter of the winding mandrel after winding the plurality of wires at the first pitch angle and before winding the first remainder of the wires at the second pitch angle, to thereby compensate for a change in pitch angle. 
     
     
         21 - 22 . (canceled)