Apparatus for the introduction and manipulation of multiple telescoping catheters
A delivery apparatus includes a steerable guide sheath. The steerable guide sheath has a steerable portion, a pull ring located in the distal portion, and a pull wire coupled at one end to the pull ring and coupled at the opposite end to a control handle. The pull wire extends longitudinally through a pull-wire conduit. The steerable guide sheath further includes a compression-resistance portion made of metal and located in the distal portion.
1. A steerable guide sheath, comprising:
a steerable portion configured to flex and unflex to adjust the curvature of a distal portion of the guide sheath;
a pull ring located in the distal portion;
a first pull wire coupled at one end to the pull ring and coupled at the opposite end to a control handle, wherein the first pull wire extends longitudinally through a first pull-wire conduit; and
a compression-resistance portion made of metal and located in the distal portion.
2. The steerable guide sheath of claim 1 , wherein the metal is stainless steel, titanium, nickel titanium alloy, or cobalt chromium.
3. The steerable guide sheath of claim 1 , further comprising an adjustment knob located on the control handle, wherein rotating the adjustment knob applies a pulling force on the first pull wire to cause the steerable portion to bend.
4. The steerable guide sheath of claim 1 , wherein the compression resistance portion is disposed opposite the first pull wire conduit.
5. The steerable guide sheath of claim 1 , wherein the compression resistance portion has a thickness less than a thickness of the distal portion.
6. The steerable guide sheath of claim 1 , further comprising a second pull wire coupled at one end to the pull ring and coupled at the opposite end to the control handle, wherein the second pull wire extends longitudinally through a second pull-wire conduit.
7. The steerable guide sheath of claim 6 , wherein a plane bisecting the distal portion and passing between the first and second pull-wire conduit bisects the compression-resistance portion.
8. The steerable guide sheath of claim 1 , further comprising an atraumatic tip portion located distally of the steerable portion.
9. A delivery apparatus for a prosthetic device, comprising:
a steerable guide sheath;
a steerable catheter disposed within the guide sheath;
an implant catheter coaxially disposed within the steerable catheter, wherein the prosthetic device is mounted on a distal end of the implant catheter;
wherein the steerable guide sheath comprises:
a steerable portion configured to flex and unflex to adjust the curvature of a distal portion of the guide sheath;
a pull ring located in the distal portion;
a first pull wire coupled at one end to the pull ring and coupled at the opposite end to a control handle, wherein the first pull wire extends longitudinally through a first pull-wire conduit; and
a compression-resistance portion made of metal and located in the distal portion.
10. The delivery apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the metal is stainless steel, titanium, nickel titanium alloy, or cobalt chromium.
11. The delivery apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising an adjustment knob located on the control handle, wherein rotating the adjustment knob applies a pulling force on the first pull wire to cause the steerable portion to bend.
12. The delivery apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the compression resistance portion is disposed opposite the first pull wire conduit.
13. The delivery apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the compression resistance portion has a thickness less than a thickness of the distal portion.
14. The delivery apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a second pull wire coupled at one end to the pull ring and coupled at the opposite end to the control handle, wherein the second pull wire extends longitudinally through a second pull-wire conduit.
15. The delivery apparatus of claim 14 , wherein a plane bisecting the distal portion and passing between the first and second pull-wire conduit bisects the compression-resistance portion.
16. The delivery apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising an atraumatic tip portion located distally of the steerable portion.
17. A steerable guide sheath, comprising:
a steerable portion configured to flex and unflex to adjust the curvature of a distal portion of the guide sheath;
a pull ring located in the distal portion;
a first pull wire coupled at one end to the pull ring and coupled at the opposite end to an adjustment knob located on a control handle, wherein the first pull wire extends longitudinally through a first pull-wire conduit;
a second pull wire coupled at one end to the pull ring and coupled at the opposite end to the adjustment knob, wherein the second pull wire extends longitudinally through a second pull-wire conduit; and
a compression-resistance portion made of metal and located in the distal portion opposite the first and second pull wire conduits,
wherein a plane bisecting the distal portion and passing between the first and second pull-wire conduit bisects the compression-resistance portion.
18. The steerable guide sheath of claim 17 , wherein the metal is stainless steel, titanium, nickel titanium alloy, or cobalt chromium.
19. The steerable guide sheath of claim 17 , wherein the compression resistance portion has a thickness less than a thickness of the distal portion.
20. The steerable guide sheath of claim 17 , further comprising an atraumatic tip portion located distally of the steerable portion.