Remote catheter system with steerable catheter

1. A catheter procedure system comprising:

a user interface for receiving at least a first user input and a second user input;

a guide catheter having a guide catheter shaft with a proximal end and a distal end;

a guide catheter actuating mechanism including a rotation actuator coupled to the proximal end of the guide catheter, and an advance/retract actuator, the advance/retract actuator of the guide catheter actuating mechanism configured to advance and retract the guide catheter in response to the first user input and to rotate the proximal end of the guide catheter in response to the second user input;

a Y-connector including a first leg, a second leg, and a third leg, each of the first leg, second leg and third leg having an internal lumen, each lumen being in communication with each other, the first leg being co-axial with the third leg and the second leg extending at an angle from the first leg, the internal lumen of the first leg being in communication with an internal lumen o the guide catheter; and

a first connector coupling the Y-connector to the guide catheter actuating mechanism, wherein the first connector is configured to allow the Y-connector to advance and retract with the guide catheter and to allow the proximal end of the guide catheter to rotate without also causing the Y-connector to rotate, wherein at least a portion of the rotation actuator is between a portion of the first leg and a portion of the guide catheter.

2. The catheter procedure system of claim 1 wherein the guide catheter actuating mechanism includes a bend actuator that is configured to bend the distal tip of the guide catheter in response to a third user input received by the user interface.

3. The catheter procedure system of claim 2 wherein the user interface includes at least one control for receiving the third user input, the at least one control associated with a bend angle, and further wherein the guide catheter actuating mechanism is configured to bend the distal tip of the guide catheter to the bend angle in response to the third user input.

4. The catheter procedure system of claim 2 wherein the guide catheter includes a control element, and further wherein the guide catheter actuating mechanism bends the distal tip of the guide catheter via the control element.

5. The catheter procedure system of claim 4 wherein the control element is a control wire, and further wherein the guide catheter actuating mechanism applies tension to the control wire to bend the distal tip of the guide catheter.

6. The catheter procedure system of claim 1 further comprising:

a cassette, the cassette including a guide wire actuator configured to advance and retract a guide wire, and a working catheter actuator configured to advance and retract a working catheter;

wherein the guide catheter actuating mechanism is incorporated in the cassette.

7. The catheter procedure system of claim 6 wherein the Y-connector is moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein at least one of the guide wire and working catheter is inserted into the Y-connector after the Y-connector is moved to the first position.

8. The catheter procedure system of claim 1 further comprising a sensor configured to indicate the position of the distal tip of the guide catheter within a vascular system of a patient.

9. The catheter procedure system of claim 8 further comprising a control module configured to automatically move the guide catheter based upon the position indicated by the sensor.

10. The catheter procedure system of claim 8 wherein the guide catheter actuating mechanism includes a bend actuator that is configured to bend the distal tip of the guide catheter in response to a third user input received by the user interface.

11. The catheter procedure system of claim 1 wherein the position of the distal tip of the guide catheter within a vascular system of a patient is identified based upon image data.

12. The catheter procedure system of claim 11 further comprising a control module configured to automatically move the guide catheter based upon the position identified based upon the image data.

13. The catheter procedure system of claim 1 further comprising:

a guide wire;

a working catheter;

an actuator configured to advance and retract the guide wire and the working catheter; and

a sensor configured to indicate the position of the distal tip of the guide catheter relative to the position of at least one of the guide wire and working catheter.

14. The catheter procedure system of claim 13 further comprising a control module configured to automatically advance at least one of the guide wire and working catheter based upon the position indicated by the sensor.

15. The catheter procedure system of claim 13 wherein the guide catheter actuating mechanism is configured to bend the distal tip of the guide catheter in response to a third user input received by the user interface.

16. The catheter procedure system of claim 1 wherein the guide catheter actuating mechanism is located within a lab unit and the user interface is located in a control room remote from the lab unit.

17. The catheter procedure system of claim 1 wherein the guide catheter actuating mechanism is part of a robotic catheter system.

18. The catheter procedure system of claim 1 further comprising a Y-connector actuator configured to move the Y-connector in response to a third user input received by the user interface.

19. The catheter procedure system of claim 1 wherein the guide catheter includes a first lumen and a second lumen, wherein the first lumen is configured to receive a percutaneous device and the second lumen is configured to receive a fluid.

20. The catheter procedure system of claim 19 wherein the fluid is a contrast agent.

21. The catheter procedure system of claim 19 wherein the fluid is medication.

22. The catheter procedure system of claim 19 wherein the second lumen includes a distal opening adjacent the distal tip of the guide catheter allowing fluid to be delivered directly to the distal tip of the guide catheter.

23. The catheter procedure system of claim 1 further comprising:

a cassette, the cassette including a guide wire actuator configured to advance and retract a guide wire, and a working catheter actuator configured to advance and retract a working catheter;

a second connector coupling the Y-connector to the cassette;

wherein the Y-connector, the first connector and the second connector are configured such that the guide wire and the working catheter are allowed to be advanced from the cassette through the second connector into the Y-connector and then through the first connector and then into a lumen of the guide catheter.

24. The catheter procedure system of claim 23 further comprising:

a base;

wherein the guide catheter actuating mechanism is supported by the base and translates relative to the base to advance and retract the guide catheter; and

further wherein the Y-connector translates relative to the base during advancement and retraction of the guide catheter.

25. The catheter procedure system of claim 24 wherein the guide catheter actuating mechanism includes a housing and a rotation actuator supported by the housing, wherein the rotation actuator is configured to impart rotation to the guide catheter, and further wherein the rotation actuator translates relative to the base during advancement and retraction of the guide catheter.

26. The catheter procedure system of claim 24 wherein the second connector expands and collapses during translation of the Y-connector relative to the base.

27. The catheter procedure system of claim 24 wherein the base is a motor drive base including at least one actuator to impart movement to the guide catheter actuating mechanism resulting in advancement and retraction of the guide catheter.