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US20050020974A1 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Steerable distal support system

Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed Inc
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Filing: 2004-06-08
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2024-06-08
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Abstract

Abstract A steerable distal support system for accessing stenosis, partial occlusions, or complete occlusions within a body lumen. The steerable distal support system generally includes an elongate member that comprises a proximal portion, a more flexible intermediate portion and a deflectable distal tip. The deflectable distal tip is at a distal end of the elongate body to facilitate directionality and positioning of the steerable distal support system to the target site. Optionally, an expandable centering assembly may be disposed on the steerable support assembly to center and anchor the steerable support assembly within the body lumen.

Inventors

  • 👤 Gerardo Noriega
  • 👤 Rudolfo Sudaria

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-22 23:04
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0043; A61M25/0054; A61M25/01; A61M25/0105; A61M25/0133; A61M25/0138; A61M25/0147; A61M25/0108; A61M25/02; A61M25/04

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim 82 words
1 . A steerable distal support system comprising: a hollow unibody elongate body comprising an integral proximal portion, intermediate portion, and a deflectable distal tip, wherein the proximal portion is stiffer than the intermediate portion; a proximal housing coupled to the proximal portion of the elongate body; and a pull wire that extends through an axial lumen of the elongate body from the proximal housing to the deflectable distal tip, wherein proximal actuation of the pull wire deflects the deflectable distal tip.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 82 words
1 . A steerable distal support system comprising: a hollow unibody elongate body comprising an integral proximal portion, intermediate portion, and a deflectable distal tip, wherein the proximal portion is stiffer than the intermediate portion; a proximal housing coupled to the proximal portion of the elongate body; and a pull wire that extends through an axial lumen of the elongate body from the proximal housing to the deflectable distal tip, wherein proximal actuation of the pull wire deflects the deflectable distal tip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 37 words
2 . The steerable distal support system of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the intermediate portion comprises spiral laser etchings so that at least a portion of the intermediate portion comprise a spiral coil.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 43 words
3 . The steerable distal support system of claim 2 wherein the spiral coil in the intermediate portion comprises a decreasing pitch distally along the intermediate portion, wherein the decreasing pitch creates an increased flexibility in the intermediate portion of the elongate body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 23 words
4 . The steerable distal support system of claim 1 wherein the unibody elongate body is comprised of a single laser etched hypotube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 24 words
5 . The steerable distal support system of claim 1 wherein the steerable distal tip comprises a radiopaque marker disposed on a distal end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 25 words
6 . The steerable distal support system of claim 1 wherein the deflectable distal tip comprises ribs to facilitate deflection of the deflectable distal tip.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 24 words
7 . The steerable distal support system of claim 6 wherein the ribs are tapered toward a distal end of the deflectable distal tip.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 26 words
8 . The steerable distal support system of claim 1 further comprising an expandable centering assembly positioned between the intermediate portion and the steerable distal tip.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 29 words
9 . The steerable distal support system of claim 8 wherein the proximal portion, intermediate portion, expandable centering assembly, and steerable distal tip are comprised of a single hypotube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 23 words
10 . The steerable distal support system of claim 8 wherein the expandable centering assembly comprises a plurality of struts separated by slots.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 57 words
11 . The steerable distal support system of claim 10 wherein the expandable centering assembly in an expanded configuration is configured to engage an inner surface of a body lumen wall, wherein in the expanded configuration the struts are separated by the slots so as to allow fluids to flow around the struts and through the slots.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 49 words
12 . The steerable distal support system of claim 1 further comprising at least one of an inner liner and an outer liner coupled to at least a portion of at least one of an inner surface and outer surface of the intermediate portion and the deflectable distal tip.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 70 words
13 . A steerable distal support system comprising: an elongate body comprising a proximal portion, an intermediate portion, and a deflectable distal tip; at least one of an inner liner and an outer liner coupled to at least a portion of at least one of an inner surface and outer surface of the intermediate portion; and an expandable basket disposed on the elongate body proximal of the steerable distal tip.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 70 words
13 . A steerable distal support system comprising: an elongate body comprising a proximal portion, an intermediate portion, and a deflectable distal tip; at least one of an inner liner and an outer liner coupled to at least a portion of at least one of an inner surface and outer surface of the intermediate portion; and an expandable basket disposed on the elongate body proximal of the steerable distal tip.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 27 words
14 . The steerable distal support system of claim 13 wherein the expandable basket is integrally formed with the deflectable distal tip, intermediate portion and proximal portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 54 words
15 . The steerable distal support system of claim 13 wherein the expandable basket comprises a plurality of expandable struts, wherein in an expanded configuration a portion of the struts expand radially outward from the elongate body and contact an inner surface of a body lumen and to create a slot between the struts.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 19 words
16 . The steerable distal support system of claim 15 wherein the slots between the struts are substantially S-shaped.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 19 words
17 . The steerable distal support system of claim 13 wherein the elongate body comprises a laser etched hypotube.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 36 words
18 . The steerable distal support system of claim 13 wherein at least a portion of the intermediate portion comprises spiral etchings so that at least a portion of the intermediate portion comprise a spiral coil.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 43 words
19 . The steerable distal support system of claim 17 wherein the spiral coil in the intermediate portion comprises a decreasing pitch distally along the intermediate portion, wherein the decreasing pitch creates an increased flexibility in the intermediate portion of the elongate body.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 25 words
20 . The steerable distal support system of claim 13 further comprising a radiopaque marker positioned at a distal end of the deflectable distal tip.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 17 words
21 . The steerable distal support system of claim 13 wherein the deflectable distal tip comprises ribs.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 24 words
22 . The steerable distal support system of claim 20 wherein the ribs are tapered toward a distal end of the deflectable distal tip.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 28 words
23 . The steerable distal support system of claim 13 wherein the proximal portion, intermediate portion, expandable cage, and steerable distal tip are comprised of a single hypotube.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 28 words
24 . The steerable distal support system of claim 13 comprising the outer liner, wherein the outer liner over the deflectable distal tip comprises one or more elbows.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 55 words
25 . The steerable distal support system of claim 13 further comprising a first pull wire coupled to the deflectable distal tip and a second pull wire coupled to the expandable basket, wherein proximal actuation of the first pull wire deflects the distal tip and actuation of the second pull wire expands the expandable basket.

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