Abstract
A steerable device including a flexible axially elongated member, at least one actuating element arranged alongside the periphery of the elongated member, at least one fastening element configured to fasten at least partially the at least one actuating element to the flexible elongated member distal end, the fastening element being in direct contact with the flexible elongated member, at least one anti-return element configured to keep the at least one actuating element from sliding alongside the periphery of the flexible elongated member distal end, wherein the at least one anti-return element and the at least one fastening element are in axial abutting contact.
Claims
1-18. (canceled)
19. A steerable device configured to be advanced in the lumen of a tubular element, said device comprising: a flexible axially elongated member having proximal and distal ends, at least one actuating means arranged alongside the periphery of said elongated member, at least one fastening means configured to fasten at least partially the at least one actuating means to the flexible elongated member distal end, said fastening means being in direct contact with the at least one actuating means, at least one anti-return means configured to keep the at least one actuating means from sliding alongside the periphery of the flexible elongated member distal end, wherein the at least one anti-return means and the at least one fastening means are in axial abutting contact so as to prevent the at least one actuating means from sliding once actuated.
20. The steerable device according to claim 19, wherein the at least one actuating means is made of a shape memory alloy such as NiTi alloy.
21. The steerable device according to claim 19, wherein the at least one actuating means comprises a spring or a wire.
22. The steerable device according to claim 19, wherein the at least one flexible axially elongated member is wire or blade shaped.
23. The steerable device according to claim 19, wherein the flexible axially elongated member has a cross-section profile under a form selected from star, circular, semicircular, square, rectangular, triangle, pyramidal or any combinations thereof.
24. The steerable device according to claim 19, wherein the fastening means is a ligation around the flexible elongated member.
25. The steerable device according to claim 19, wherein the anti-return means is a tube, either glue filled or crimped, the actuating means going through said tube.
26. The steerable device according to claim 19, further comprising a second anti-return means made integral with the flexible elongated member so as to maintain the fastening means in place.
27. The steerable device according to claim 26, wherein the anti-return means is a recess built into the flexible elongated member and configured to host the at least one fastening means.
28. The steerable device according to claim 19, wherein the anti-return means is made integral with the actuating means.
29. The steerable device according to claim 28, wherein the at least one anti-return means is a encapsulating at least partially the at least one fastening means or said loop being an abutment for the at least one fastening means.
30. The steerable device according to claim 28, wherein the at least one anti-return means is a knot, a weld or any local reinforcement located at the at least one actuating means distal end.
31. The steerable device according to claim 28, wherein the at least one anti-return means is a groove built into the actuating means and configured to host the at least one fastening means.
32. The steerable device according to claim 31, wherein the groove is obtained by indentation.
33. The steerable device according to claim 19, wherein the at least one actuating means is inside an electrically isolating material such as a tube or a coating.
34. The steerable device according to claim 19, wherein the at least one actuating means is arranged alongside the external periphery of the elongated member.
35. An assembly method for steerable device according to claim 19, comprising the steps of: providing a flexible axially elongated member having proximal and distal ends, arranging at least one actuating means alongside the periphery of said elongated member, providing at least one anti-return means configured to keep the at least one actuating means from sliding alongside the periphery of the flexible elongated member distal end, fastening the at least one actuating means to the flexible elongated member distal end with at least one fastening means, wherein the at least one anti-return means and the at least one fastening means are in axial abutting contact so as to prevent the at least one actuating means from sliding once actuated.
36. The assembly method according to claim 35, wherein the at least one actuating means is a wire, the at least one fastening means is a ligation and the at least one anti-return means is obtained by increasing the contact pressure between the wire and the ligation, with said ligation going alternatively up and under the wire so as to ligate longitudinally partial parts of the wire with the flexible elongated member.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0047] FIGS. 1A and 1B are illustrations of the device according to the invention with recesses in the flexible axially elongated member as anti-return means in top view and perspective views. The perspective view presents a different configuration for the flat wire actuating means which has smaller width.
[0048] FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C are illustrations of the device according to the invention with a loop as anti-return means, such loop standing alone (2A), encapsulating partially the fastening means (2B) and encapsulating totally the fastening means (2C).
[0049] FIGS. 3A and 3B are illustrations of the device according to the invention with a knot as anti-return means, FIG. 3A shows one knot and FIG. 3B, two knots.
[0050] FIG. 4 is an illustration of the device according to the invention with the anti-return means being a configuration with the actuating means passing in and out the ligation as fastening means.
[0051] FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C are illustrations of the device according to the invention with weld seams as anti-return means made integral with the actuating means, such weld seams being longitudinally spaced apart and separated by the fastening mean windings (5A), continuous and uniformly distributed along the actuating means (5B) and as a local reinforcement (5C).
[0052] FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C are three different illustrations of the device according to the invention with grooves built into the actuating means as anti-return means, such grooves being longitudinally spaced apart.
[0053] FIGS. 7A and 7B are illustrations of the device according to the invention with a tube, crimped (7A) or glue filled (7B), as anti-return means.
[0054] FIGS. 8A and 8B are illustrations of the device according to the invention showing an embodiment wherein the anti- return means and the actuating means are arranged alongside the internal periphery of the flexible elongated member. FIG. 8A shows the inner part of the flexible elongated member while FIG. 8B is an view from the outside.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0055] The following detailed description will be better understood when read in conjunction with the drawings. For the purpose of illustrating, the device according to the invention is shown in the preferred embodiments. It should be understood, however that the application is not limited to the precise arrangements, structures, features, embodiments, and aspect shown. The drawings are not drawn to scale and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims to the embodiments depicted. Accordingly, it should be understood that where features mentioned in the appended claims are followed by reference signs, such signs are included solely for the purpose of enhancing the intelligibility of the claims and are in no way limiting on the scope of the claims.
[0056] In FIGS. 1A and 1B, one can see an exemplary configuration of the device 1 according to the invention with recesses 5 in the flexible axially elongated member 2 as anti-return means in top and perspective views. In this figure, the flexible axially elongated member 2 is a blade, such blade has been made integral with the anti-return means 5 in the form of two recesses. A blade is used in this embodiment, but a tubular element is also a possibility for the flexible, axially elongated member 2. The anti-return means 5, here the recesses, extend transversally towards the axis A1 of the elongated member 2. The actuating means 3 is a flat wire extending longitudinally while being in facial contact with the elongated member 2. It is thin compared to the ligation 4 diameter. Each of the anti-return means 5 host ligations 4 as wires winding around said anti-return means 5 forming coil windings with their axis being the same as the axis A1 of elongation of the elongated member 2. The ligation 4 ties the actuating means 3 (here, a flat wire) and fastens it to the elongated member 2 thanks to the grooves made in the actuating means 3. The combination of the ligation 4, the actuating mean grooves (1B) and potentially the recesses (generally speaking, any kind of anti-return means 5) allow to keep the actuating mean 3 from sliding when actuated for instance by Joule effect when the actuating means 3 is a shape memory alloy such as NiTi type. In a preferred embodiment, the recess base of the flexible axially elongated member 2 and the groove base of the actuating means 3 barely coincide radially as depicted in FIG. 1A.
[0057] Regardless of the embodiment, the device 1 displays a diameter comprised between 200 μm and 5 mm.
[0058] In FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C, one can see an exemplary configuration of the device 1 according to the invention with loops 51 made integral with the wire 30 as anti-return means. In this figure, the flexible axially elongated member 2 is a blade but could have been a tubular element. In FIG. 2A, the loop 51 serves as anti-return means. It is in axial abutment contact with the ligation 4 that ties the wire 30 to the elongated member 2. In FIG. 2B, the loop 51 serves as anti-return means. It is in axial abutment contact with one part of the ligation 4 that ties the wire 30 to the elongated member 2 while also encapsulating i.e encompassing another part of the ligation 4 so as to improve the anti-return effect. In FIG. 2C, the loop 51 serves as anti-return means. It is in axial abutment contact with the ligation 4 that ties the wire 30 to the elongated member 2 while also encapsulating i.e encompassing said ligation 4 so as to improve the anti-return effect. The windings of the ligation 4 are trapped within the close loop 51 made of the wire 30. The combination of the ligation 4 that ties the wire 30 to the elongated member 2 and the close loop 51 keeps the wire 30 from sliding when actuated for instance by Joule effect when the wire 30 is a shape memory alloy such as NiTi type.
[0059] In FIGS. 3A and 3B, one can see an exemplary configuration of the device 1 according to the invention with two knots 52 made integral with the wire 30 as anti-return means. In this figure, the flexible axially elongated member 2 is a blade but could have been a tubular element. In FIG. 3A, there is only one knot and in FIG. 3B, there are two knots spaced apart longitudinally. the knot(s) 52 serve(s) as anti-return means. They are in axial abutment contact with the ligation 4 that ties the wire 30 to the elongated member 2.
[0060] In FIG. 4, the anti-return means 57 is a configuration where the wire 30 and the ligation 4 are intertwined (not exactly illustrated for clarity purpose) with the wire 30 going alternatively up and under the windings of the ligation 4 so as to ligate longitudinally partial parts of the wire 30 with the flexible elongated member 2. This configuration increases the contact pressure between the actuating means 30 and the ligation 4, thus the adherence between the two latter is increased which is what creates the axial abutment. The ligation 4 ties the wire 30 to the elongated member 2 to keep the wire 30 from sliding when actuated for instance by Joule effect when the wire 30 is a shape memory alloy such as NiTi type.
[0061] In FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C, one can see an exemplary configuration of the device 1 according to the invention with added material 52, 53 and 54 made integral with the wire 30 as anti-return means. In this figure, the flexible axially elongated member 2 is a blade but could have been a tubular element. In FIG. 5A, the three weld seams serve as anti-return means. They are spaced apart longitudinally and in axial abutment contact with the ligation 4 windings that tie the wire 30 to the elongated member 2. In FIG. 5B, the discontinuous weld spots 53 serve as anti-return means. They are in axial abutment contact with the ligation 4 windings that tie the wire 30 to the elongated member 2. In FIG. 5C, the local reinforcement 54 serves as anti-return means, such local reinforcement 54 is axially offset in FIG. 5C but could be located in between both ends of the ligation 4. The local reinforcement can be the result of a weld or not. Said local reinforcement 54 is in axial abutment contact with the ligation 4 windings that tie the wire 30 to the elongated member 2. The ligation 4 ties the wire 30 to the elongated member 2. The combination of the ligation and the anti-return means allows to keep the wire 30 from sliding when actuated for instance by Joule effect when the wire 30 is a shape memory alloy such as NiTi type.
[0062] In FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C, one can see an exemplary configuration of the device 1 according to the invention with grooves 55 made integral with the wire 30 as anti-return means. In this figure, the flexible axially elongated member 2 is a blade but could have been a tubular element. In FIG. 6A, the three grooves serve as anti-return means. They are spaced apart longitudinally and in axial abutment contact with the hosted ligation 4 windings that ties the wire 30 to the elongated member 2. Said grooves can be obtained by different processes such as for example indentation, pressure flattening, or even laser localized fusion. FIGS. 6B and 6C are illustrations of the grooves obtained on the wire with the different methods given as examples. The ligation 4 ties the wire 30 to the elongated member 2. The combination of the ligation and the at least one groove allows to keep the wire 30 from sliding when actuated for instance by Joule effect when the wire 30 is a shape memory alloy such as NiTi type.
[0063] FIGS. 7A and 7B are embodiments, where the anti-return means 56 is tube that is either crimped (FIG. 7A) or filled with glue (FIG. 7B). In both cases, the tube 56 comprises the wire 30 that goes through said tube 56. The glue or the crimping serves as a blocking element that holds the wire 30 in place. In FIGS. 7A and 7B, the tube 56 has ligation 4 windings on both sides but a configuration with only one ligation 4 winding is possible as long as an axial abutment contact is obtained. The combination of the ligation 4 tying the wire 30 to the elongated member 2 in addition to the crimping or glue effect allows keeping the wire 30 from sliding when actuated for instance by Joule effect when the wire 30 is a shape memory alloy such as NiTi type.
[0064] In FIGS. 8A and 8B, one can see a flexible elongated member in both internal (8A) and external (8B) views. As to FIG. 8A, an actuating means such as a shape memory alloy (SMA) wire 3 in anchored to the internal surface of the flexible elongated member 2. Ligation 4 windings are in axial abutting contact with the knot 5 so as to prevent the SMA wire 3 from sliding once actuated. The FIG. 8B is the view from outside showing ligation 4 windings going through recesses for the attachment.
[0065] While various embodiments have been described and illustrated, the detailed description is not to be construed as being limited hereto. Various modifications can be made to the embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the claims.
REFERENCES
[0066] 1—steerable device
2—flexible axially elongated member
3, 30—actuating means
4—fastening means
5, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57—anti-return means
