Steerable introducer sheath assembly

1. An introducer sheath assembly, characterized by:

a handle portion including a distal end and a proximal end;

an introducer sheath extending outwardly from the distal end of the handle portion, the introducer sheath including,

a device lumen configured to slidably receive a corresponding device,

at least one steering cable lumen disposed radially outwardly from the device lumen, at least one steering cable that is affixed at a distal end of the introducer sheath, disposed within the at least one steering cable lumen, and engaged with a steering assembly disposed in the handle portion;

one or more steering levers disposed on an outer surface of the handle portion and pivotably affixed to a first end of a steering post, with the steering post having a second end that engages a steering assembly such that rotating the steering lever about a longitudinal axis of the steering post causes the steering assembly to modify the tension in the at least one steering cable; and

wherein at least one steering lever engages either directly or indirectly with the surface of the handle portion in a manner that limits an extent to which the steering lever can be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the steering post; and,

wherein at least one steering lever is capable of being selectively pivotable positioned in either a locked position in which that steering lever is non-rotatably fixed to the handle portion, or an unlocked position where that steering lever can be rotated relative to the handle portion; and

wherein the engagement between the steering lever and handle portion surface that limits the extent to which the steering lever can be rotated can be adjusted by a user to increase or decrease the extent to which the steering lever can be rotated.

2. The introducer sheath assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second steering assembly disposed in the handle configured for attachment of a second steering cable thereto, and a distal cap that engages the second steering assembly such that rotating the distal cap causes the second steering assembly to modify the tension in the second steering cable.

3. The introducer sheath assembly of claim 2 , wherein the second steering assembly comprises an externally-threaded stem that passes through a correspondingly-threaded central bore in the distal cap, with the externally-threaded stem being engaged with the proximal end of the second steering cable, wherein the rotation of the distal cap relative to the externally-threaded stem causes the externally-threaded stem to move in either a proximal or distal direction that is parallel to a longitudinal center axis of the handle.

4. The introducer sheath assembly of claim 1 , wherein the engagement between the steering lever and the outer surface of the handle portion is mediated by a domed cap that at least partially encompasses the steering lever, with the domed cap being seated in a corresponding-shaped recess in the outer surface of the handle.

5. The introducer sheath assembly of claim 4 , wherein a surface of the domed cap contains at least one structural feature that engages with at least one structural feature on the outer surface of the handle portion to limit the extent to which the steering lever can be rotated about the longitudinal axis of its steering post.

6. The introducer sheath assembly of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the structural features that limits the extent to which the steering lever can be rotated can be adjusted by a user to increase or decrease the extent to which the steering lever can be rotated about the longitudinal axis.

7. The introducer sheath assembly of claim 1 , wherein engagement between at least one steering lever, steering post, and steering assembly is mediated by one or more gears that can be adjusted to modify the extent to which the introducer sheath is displaced from its longitudinal center axis when the steering lever is rotated about the longitudinal axis of its respective steering post.

8. An introducer sheath assembly, characterized by:

a handle portion including a distal end and a proximal end;

an introducer sheath extending outwardly from the distal end of the handle portion, the introducer sheath including,

a device lumen configured to slidably receive a corresponding device,

at least one steering cable lumen disposed radially outwardly from the device lumen, at least one steering cable that is affixed at a distal end of the introducer sheath, disposed within the at least one steering cable lumen, and engaged with a steering assembly disposed in the handle portion;

a steering lever disposed on an outer surface of the handle portion and affixed to a first end of a steering post, with the steering post having a second end that engages a steering assembly such that rotating the steering lever about a longitudinal axis of the steering post causes the steering assembly to modify tension in the at least one steering cable;

wherein at least one steering lever engages either directly or indirectly with the surface of the handle portion in a manner that limits an extent to which the steering lever can be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the steering post; and

wherein the engagement between at least one steering lever, steering post, and steering assembly is mediated by one or more gears that can be adjusted to modify the extent to which the introducer sheath is displaced from its longitudinal center axis when the steering lever is rotated about the longitudinal axis of its respective steering post.

9. The introducer sheath assembly of claim 8 , wherein the steering lever is capable of being selectively positioned in either a locked position in which that steering lever is non-rotatably fixed to the handle portion, or an unlocked position where that steering lever can be rotated relative to the handle portion.

10. The introducer sheath assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a second steering assembly disposed in the handle configured for attachment of a second steering cable thereto, and a distal cap that engages the second steering assembly such that rotating the distal cap causes the second steering assembly to modify the tension in the second steering cable.

11. The introducer sheath assembly of claim 10 , wherein the second steering assembly is an externally-threaded stem that passes through a correspondingly-threaded central bore in the distal cap, with the externally-threaded stem being engaged with the proximal end of, wherein the rotation of the distal cap relative to the externally-threaded stem causes the externally-threaded stem to move in either a proximal or distal direction that is parallel to a longitudinal center axis of the handle.

12. The introducer sheath assembly of claim 8 , wherein the engagement between the steering lever and the outer surface of the handle portion is mediated by a domed cap that at least partially encompasses the steering lever, with the domed cap being seated in a corresponding-shaped recess in the outer surface of the handle.

13. The introducer sheath assembly of claim 12 , wherein a surface of the domed cap contains at least one structural feature that engages with at least one structural feature on the outer surface of the handle portion to limit the extent to which the steering lever can be rotated about the longitudinal axis of its steering post.

14. The introducer sheath assembly of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the structural features that limits the extent to which the steering lever can be rotated can be adjusted by a user to increase or decrease the extent to which the steering lever can be rotated about the longitudinal axis.

15. An introducer sheath assembly, characterized by:

a handle portion including a distal end and a proximal end;

an introducer sheath extending outwardly from the distal end of the handle portion, the introducer sheath including,

a device lumen configured to slidably receive a corresponding device,

a steering cable lumen disposed radially outwardly from the device lumen, a steering cable that is affixed at a distal end of the introducer sheath, disposed within the steering cable lumen, and engaged with a steering assembly disposed in the handle portion;

a steering lever disposed on an outer surface of the handle portion and affixed to a first end of a steering post, with the steering post having a second end that engages a first steering assembly such that rotating the steering lever about a longitudinal axis of the steering post causes the steering assembly to modify tension in the steering cable;

wherein at least one steering lever engages either directly or indirectly with the surface of the handle portion in a manner that limits an extent to which the steering lever can be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the steering post; and

a second steering assembly disposed in the handle configured for attachment of a second steering cable thereto, and

a distal cap that engages the second steering assembly such that rotating the distal cap causes the second steering assembly to modify the tension in the second steering cable.

16. The introducer sheath assembly of claim 15 , wherein at least one steering lever is capable of being selectively pivotable positioned in either a locked position in which that steering lever is non-rotatably fixed to the handle portion, or an unlocked position where that steering lever can be rotated relative to the handle portion.

17. The introducer sheath assembly of claim 15 , wherein the engagement between at least one steering lever, steering post, and steering assembly is mediated by one or more gears that can be adjusted to modify the extent to which the introducer sheath is displaced from its longitudinal center axis when the steering lever is rotated about the longitudinal axis of its respective steering post.