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US20040181249A1 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Bearing system to support a rotatable operating head in an intracorporeal device

Assignee: Boston Scientific Medical Device Ltd
•
Filing: 2004-01-20
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2024-01-20
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Abstract

Abstract A bearing system useful in an intracorporeal device connects an operating head, a rotatable drive shaft and a catheter. The bearing system includes a static member in fixed communication with the distal end of the catheter, an interior shaft that is in rotatable communication with the drive shaft and the operating head, and at least one connecting structure. The static member has at least one opening through which the connecting structure moveably rests against a seat of the interior shaft. The position of the connecting structure within the seat enables the bearing to accept a rotational load of the rotating drive shaft and/or thrust load in the direction of the longitudinal length of the catheter. The connecting structure further retains the internal shaft and static member of the bearing system. A clearance space between the internal shaft and the catheter may permit the interior shaft to tilt relative to the catheter and flexibly orient the operating head at different angles about longitudinal axis of the catheter.

Inventors

  • 👤 Casey Torrance
  • 👤 Edward Wulfman
  • 👤 Matt Hefner

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-22 21:48
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/3205; A61B17/3207; A61B17/320758; A61B17/320725; A61B5/00; A61B5/06; A61B5/061; A61B5/41; A61B5/414; A61B5/415; A61B5/418; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/0105; A61M25/0133; A61M25/0147; A61M39/00; A61M39/02; A61M39/06; A61B17/320016; A61B17/32002; A61B17/34; A61B17/3462; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00199; A61B2017/00973; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22038; A61B2017/22049; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B2017/2926; A61B2017/2927; A61B2017/320032; A61B2217/00; A61B2217/002; A61B2217/005; A61B8/00; A61B8/12; A61B8/42; A61B8/4209; A61M2039/062; A61M39/0606

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim 110 words
1 . A bearing system for supporting an operating head in an intracorporeal device, the bearing system comprising: an internal shaft rotatably mountable to a drive shaft at a proximal end of the internal shaft and for translating rotational torque to the operating head mountable at a distal end of the internal shaft, the internal shaft including a seat; a static member fixedly mountable to a catheter enclosing the drive shaft, the static member including at least one opening; and at least one connecting structure, each connecting structure having a contact portion resting through the opening in the static member and being received by the seat of the internal shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 110 words
1 . A bearing system for supporting an operating head in an intracorporeal device, the bearing system comprising: an internal shaft rotatably mountable to a drive shaft at a proximal end of the internal shaft and for translating rotational torque to the operating head mountable at a distal end of the internal shaft, the internal shaft including a seat; a static member fixedly mountable to a catheter enclosing the drive shaft, the static member including at least one opening; and at least one connecting structure, each connecting structure having a contact portion resting through the opening in the static member and being received by the seat of the internal shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 44 words
2 . The bearing system of claim 1 , wherein the contact portion of the at least one connecting structure is capable of repositioning within the seat as the internal shaft changes orientation of the operating head about a longitudinal axis of the catheter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 30 words
3 . The bearing system of claim 2 , wherein the internal shaft further comprises a contact surface to restrict the orienting of the operating head beyond an angle limit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 42 words
4 . The bearing system of claim 3 , wherein the static member further comprises a stop and at least a portion of the stop being capable of meeting the contact surface when the operating head is oriented to the angle limit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 20 words
5 . The bearing system of claim 3 , wherein the angle limit is between about 5 to 20 degrees.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 21 words
6 . The bearing system of claim 1 , wherein the static member surrounds an enclosed portion of the internal shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 32 words
7 . The bearing system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one connecting structure comprises cold drawn stainless steel and the seat comprises a material harder than the connecting structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 31 words
8 . The bearing system of claim 1 , wherein the seat comprises cold drawn stainless steel and the at least one connecting structure comprises a material harder than the seat.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 21 words
9 . The bearing system of claim 1 , wherein the internal shaft further comprises a lumen to provide a passageway.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 33 words
10 . The bearing system of claim 9 , wherein the internal shaft comprises at least one port in fluidic communication with the lumen, the port opening to a conduit in the catheter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 30 words
11 . The bearing system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening is within an indentation having opposing raised ends to receive ends of each connecting structure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 105 words
12 . An intracorporeal device comprising: a drive shaft that is rotatable within a catheter; an operating head; and a bearing system comprising: an internal shaft for rotatable mounted to the drive shaft at a proximal end of the internal shaft and for rotatably mounted the operating head at the distal end of the internal shaft, the internal shaft including a seat; a static member in fixed communication with the catheter; and at least one connecting structure for resting through the static member, wherein a contact portion of each connecting structure rests through an opening of the static member and is received by the seat.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 105 words
12 . An intracorporeal device comprising: a drive shaft that is rotatable within a catheter; an operating head; and a bearing system comprising: an internal shaft for rotatable mounted to the drive shaft at a proximal end of the internal shaft and for rotatably mounted the operating head at the distal end of the internal shaft, the internal shaft including a seat; a static member in fixed communication with the catheter; and at least one connecting structure for resting through the static member, wherein a contact portion of each connecting structure rests through an opening of the static member and is received by the seat.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 30 words
13 . The intracorporeal device of claim 12 , wherein the at least one connecting structure is made of a material with a different hardness than material comprising the seat.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 23 words
14 . The intracorporeal device of claim 13 , wherein the material comprising the connecting structure or seat includes cold drawn stainless steel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 32 words
15 . The intracorporeal device of claim 12 , wherein the internal shaft further comprises a lumen extending from the operating head to the catheter or drive shaft to provide a passageway.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 33 words
16 . The intracorporeal device of claim 15 , wherein the internal shaft comprises at least one port in fluidic communication with the lumen, the port opening to a conduit in the catheter.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 30 words
17 . The intracorporeal device of claim 12 , wherein the internal shaft further comprises a contact surface to restrict the orienting of the operating head beyond an angle limit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 40 words
18 . The intracorporeal device of claim 17 , wherein the static member further comprises a stop, at least a portion of the stop capable of meeting the contact surface when the operating head is oriented to the angle limit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 19 words
19 . The intracorporeal device of claim 16 , wherein the angle limit is about 5 to 20 degrees.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 18 words
20 . The intracorporeal device of claim 12 , further comprising a drive system and a control system.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 132 words
21 . An intracorporeal device comprising: a catheter; a drive shaft that is rotatable within the catheter; a cutting head; and a bearing system comprising: an internal shaft fixedly coupled to the drive shaft at a proximal end of the internal shaft and fixedly coupled to the cutting head at the distal end of the internal shaft, the internal shaft including a seat; a static member fixedly coupled to the catheter, the static member having at least one opening; and at least one connecting structure, each connecting structure having a contact portion resting through one opening and being received by the seat, wherein the internal shaft is capable of orienting the cutting head about a longitudinal axis of the catheter and communicating rotational torque from the drive shaft to the cutting head.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 132 words
21 . An intracorporeal device comprising: a catheter; a drive shaft that is rotatable within the catheter; a cutting head; and a bearing system comprising: an internal shaft fixedly coupled to the drive shaft at a proximal end of the internal shaft and fixedly coupled to the cutting head at the distal end of the internal shaft, the internal shaft including a seat; a static member fixedly coupled to the catheter, the static member having at least one opening; and at least one connecting structure, each connecting structure having a contact portion resting through one opening and being received by the seat, wherein the internal shaft is capable of orienting the cutting head about a longitudinal axis of the catheter and communicating rotational torque from the drive shaft to the cutting head.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 30 words
22 . The intracorporeal device of claim 21 , wherein the at least one opening is within an indentation having opposing raised ends to receive ends of each connecting structure.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 30 words
23 . The intracorporeal device of claim 21 , wherein the at least one connecting structure is made of a material with a different hardness than material comprising the seat.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 42 words
24 . The intracorporeal device of claim 21 , wherein the seat is concave such that one connecting structure relocates toward the back or front ends of the seat as the cutting head is oriented about the longitudinal axis of the catheter.

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