IP Library Granted Patent US 12,527,600
Granted Patent B2
US 12,527,600 · App. 17/876,643 · Granted Jan 20, 2026

Medical devices that include a trigger assembly for a rotatable catheter and methods of use

Inventor: Robert Booker (Vandergrift, PA)
Assignee: Merit Medical Systems, Inc.
A61B17/3468A61B2017/00292A61B2017/00367A61N1/372
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,527,600
App. No.
17/876,643
Granted
Jan 20, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Medical devices that include a trigger assembly for a rotatable catheter and methods of use are described. An example medical device includes a housing, a catheter, a drive assembly, and a trigger assembly. The trigger assembly is partially disposed within the housing and includes a trigger, a drive initiator, a drive member, a flip drive, and a biasing member. The trigger is moveable between a first position and a second position relative to the housing. The flip drive is moveable between a neutral position, a first drive position, and a second drive position. The drive assembly moves relative to the housing when the flip drive is in the first drive position and the trigger is moved from its first position to its second position.

Claims (59)

1 . A medical device comprising:

a housing defining a chamber and a passageway in communication with the chamber;

a catheter partially disposed through the passageway and rotatable relative to the housing;

a drive assembly disposed within the chamber and moveable relative to the housing, movement of the drive assembly resulting in rotation of the catheter; and

a trigger assembly partially disposed within the chamber, the trigger assembly comprising:

a trigger attached to the housing and moveable between a first position and a second position relative to the housing;

a drive initiator attached to the trigger and moveable between a first position and a second position relative to the trigger;

a drive member attached the drive initiator and moveable relative to the trigger between a first position and a second position;

a flip drive attached to the trigger and moveable between a neutral position, a first drive position, and a second drive position, the flip drive in the neutral position when the drive initiator is in the first position, the flip drive in the first drive position when the drive initiator is in the second position and the drive member is in the second position, the flip drive in the second drive position when the drive initiator is in the second position and the drive member is in the first position; and

a biasing member disposed within the chamber and biasing the flip drive to the neutral position when the drive initiator is in the first position;

wherein the drive assembly moves relative to the housing when the flip drive is in the first drive position and the trigger is moved from its first position to its second position; and

wherein the drive assembly moves relative to the housing when the flip drive is in the second drive position and the trigger is moved from its first position to its second position.

2 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the drive member moves relative to the flip drive.

3 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the drive assembly is moveable relative to the housing in a first direction and a second direction such that movement of the drive assembly in the first direction results in rotation of the catheter in a clockwise direction and movement of the drive assembly in the second direction results in rotation of the catheter in a counterclockwise direction.

4 . The medical device of claim 3 , wherein the drive assembly moves relative to the housing in the first direction when the flip drive is in the first drive position and the trigger is moved from its first position to its second position; and

wherein the drive assembly moves relative to the housing in the second direction when the flip drive is in the second drive position and the trigger is moved from its first position to its second position.

5 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the catheter is partially disposed within the chamber.

6 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the flip drive has a central portion, a first driver arm, and a second driver arm, each of the first driver arm and the second driver arm moveably attached to the central portion.

7 . The medical device of claim 6 , wherein the first driver arm is attached to the central portion using a living hinge.

8 . The medical device of claim 7 , wherein the second driver arm is attached to the central portion using a living hinge.

9 . The medical device of claim 6 , wherein the flip drive is formed of a single, continuous piece of material.

10 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the trigger assembly further comprises a retaining cap attached to the trigger.

11 . The medical device of claim 10 , wherein the flip drive defines a passageway; and

wherein the retaining cap defines a projection disposed within the passageway defined by the flip drive.

12 . The medical device of claim 10 , wherein the retaining cap defines a plurality of guide pegs.

13 . The medical device of claim 12 , wherein a portion of the drive member is disposed between a first set of guide pegs of the plurality of guide pegs when the drive member is in the first position; and

wherein the portion of the drive member is disposed between a second set of guide pegs of the plurality of guide pegs of the plurality of guide pegs when the drive member is in the second position, the second set of guide pegs being different from the first set of guide pegs.

14 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member is attached to the flip drive and the trigger.

15 . The medical device of claim 14 , wherein the biasing member comprises an extension spring.

16 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member comprises a first magnet attached to the flip drive and a second magnet attached to the trigger.

17 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the flip drive contacts a portion of the drive assembly when the flip drive is in the first drive position.

18 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the flip drive contacts a portion of the drive assembly when the flip drive is in the second drive position.

19 . A medical device comprising:

a housing defining a chamber and a passageway in communication with the chamber;

a catheter partially disposed through the passageway and rotatable relative to the housing;

a drive assembly disposed within the chamber and moveable relative to the housing, movement of the drive assembly resulting in rotation of the catheter; and

a trigger assembly partially disposed within the chamber, the trigger assembly comprising:

a trigger attached to the housing and moveable between a first position and a second position relative to the housing;

a drive initiator attached to the trigger and moveable between a first position and a second position relative to the trigger;

a biasing member that extends from a handle of the trigger toward the drive initiator and biases the drive initiator to the first position;

a drive member attached the drive initiator and moveable relative to the trigger between a first position and a second position;

a flip drive attached to the trigger and moveable between a neutral position, a first drive position, and a second drive position, the flip drive in the neutral position when the drive initiator is in the first position, the flip drive in the first drive position when the drive initiator is in the second position and the drive member is in the second position, the flip drive in the second drive position when the drive initiator is in the second position and the drive member is in the first position, the flip drive having a central portion, a first driver arm, and a second driver arm, each of the first driver arm and the second driver arm moveably attached to the central portion, each of the first driver arm and second driver arm attached to the central portion using a living hinge; and

an extension spring attached to the flip drive and the trigger and biasing the flip drive to the neutral position when the drive initiator is in the first position; wherein the drive assembly moves relative to the housing when the flip drive is in the first drive position and the trigger is moved from its first position to its second position; and

wherein the drive assembly moves relative to the housing when the flip drive is in the second drive position and the trigger is moved from its first position to its second position.

20 . A medical device comprising:

a housing defining a chamber and a passageway in communication with the chamber;

a catheter partially disposed through the passageway and rotatable relative to the housing;

a drive assembly disposed within the chamber and moveable relative to the housing, movement of the drive assembly resulting in rotation of the catheter; and

a trigger assembly partially disposed within the chamber, the trigger assembly comprising:

a trigger attached to the housing and moveable between a first position and a second position relative to the housing;

a drive initiator attached to the trigger and moveable between a first position and a second position relative to the trigger;

a drive member attached the drive initiator and moveable relative to the trigger between a first position and a second position;

a flip drive attached to the trigger and moveable between a neutral position, a first drive position, and a second drive position, the flip drive in the neutral position when the drive initiator is in the first position, the flip drive in the first drive position when the drive initiator is in the second position and the drive member is in the second position, the flip drive in the second drive position when the drive initiator is in the second position and the drive member is in the first position, the flip drive formed of a single, continuous piece of material and having a central portion, a first driver arm, and a second driver arm, each of the first driver arm and the second driver arm moveably attached to the central portion, each of the first driver arm and second driver arm attached to the central portion using a living hinge;

an extension spring attached to the flip drive and the trigger and biasing the flip drive to the neutral position when the drive initiator is in the first position; and

a retaining cap attached to the trigger, the retaining cap defining a plurality of guide pegs;

wherein the drive assembly moves relative to the housing in a first direction when the flip drive is in the first drive position and the trigger is moved from its first position to its second position;

wherein the drive assembly moves relative to the housing in a second direction when the flip drive is in the second drive position and the trigger is moved from its first position to its second position, the second direction different than the first direction;

wherein a portion of the drive member is disposed between a first set of guide pegs of the plurality of guide pegs when the drive member is in the first position; and

wherein the portion of the drive member is disposed between a second set of guide pegs of the plurality of guide pegs of the plurality of guide pegs when the drive member is in the second position, the second set of guide pegs different than the first set of guide pegs.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 7, 2025
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: COOK MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 070140/0329 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 30, 2025
From: MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 070060/0361 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2024
From: COOK MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 069188/0282 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2024
From: COOK MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066700/0277 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 5, 2022
From: BOOKER, ROBERT
To: COOK VANDERGRIFT INC.
Reel/Frame 061315/0891 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 5, 2022
From: COOK VANDERGRIFT INC.
To: COOK MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 061315/0920 →