TORQUE LMITING ACTUATOR FOR ELONGATED MEDICAL DEVICE TORQUER

1 . A device for manipulating an elongated medical device comprising:

a torquer releasably securing an elongated medical device (EMD) thereto; and

a torque limiting actuator limiting a torque applied to the torquer.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the torque limiting actuator limits the torque applied to the torquer to a predetermined torque.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the torque limiting actuator includes a manual operator and a clutch that prevents an application of torque to the torquer beyond a predetermined torque.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the torque limiting actuator includes a knob being manually rotated about a longitudinal axis of the torquer, a biasing member between a portion of the knob and a first clutch member, wherein the first clutch member imparts torque to a second clutch member until a predetermined torque between the first clutch member and second clutch member is reached.

5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the torque limiting actuator limits the torque applied to the actuator in a first direction but does not limit the torque applied to the actuator in a second opposite direction.

6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the torquer includes a torquer body and a pusher movable within the torquer body to move at least a first pad in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of a torquer to pinch the EMD.

7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein a pinch force perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the torquer between the torquer and the EMD is a function of the torque applied by the torque limiting actuator to the torquer.

8 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the clutch is a spring biased first gear that engages a second gear.

9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the spring biased first gear slips relative to the second gear once a predetermined torque between the first gear and the second gear is exceeded.

10 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the torquer includes a second pad spaced from and movable toward and away from the first pad to releasably pinch the EMD.

11 . The device of claim 10 , further including a biasing member having a pair of arms spaced from one another and spaced from a longitudinal axis of the torquer.

12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the torque limiting actuator includes a shaft having a portion threadedly secured to a body of the torquer and a distal portion operatively moving a pad into engagement with the EMD upon rotation of the shaft relative to the body.

13 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the torque limiting actuator includes a drive gear and a biasing member biasing the drive gear into engagement with a driven gear secured to the shaft, the drive gear.

14 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the torque limiting actuator includes a knob manually rotated relative to the body, the knob being releasably connected to the shaft upon an application of a predetermined torque.

15 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the torque limiting actuator provides an indication to a user once adequate torque has been applied to the torquer.

16 . A torquer for an elongated medical device:

a body having a cavity defining a pathway;

a first pad movable within the cavity;

a biasing member separate from the first pad biasing the first pad relative to the body;

an actuator movable relative to the body moving the first pad, wherein movement of the first pad pinches and/or unpinches the elongated medical device, with the first pad, within the pathway; and

a knob releasably connected to the actuator upon an application of a predetermined torque exceeding a predetermined value.

17 . An EMD drive system comprising:

a robotic drive having a robotic drive longitudinal axis;

a device module movable along the robotic drive longitudinal axis; and

a drive train coupling a motor to a driven member configured to rotate a torquer pinching an elongated medical device (EMD) about an EMD longitudinal axis, the torquer including a torque limiting actuator being manually accessible to a user when the torquer is in an in-use position in the drive module.

18 . The EMD drive system of claim 17 , wherein the torque limiting actuator limits the torque applied to the torquer to a predetermined torque.

19 . The EMD drive system of claim 17 , wherein the torque limiting actuator includes a manual operator and a clutch that prevents an application of torque to the torquer beyond a predetermined torque.

20 . The EMD drive system of claim 17 , wherein the torque limiting actuator includes a knob being manually rotated about a longitudinal axis of the torquer, a biasing member between a portion of the knob and a first clutch member, wherein the first clutch member imparts torque to a second clutch member until a predetermined torque between the first clutch member and second clutch member is reached.

21 . The EMD drive system of claim 17 , wherein the torquer may be moved from a first device module to a second device module.

22 . The EMD drive system of claim 17 , wherein the torquer includes a torque limiting actuator that limits the torque applied to the drive train beyond a predetermined torque.