US4945342A
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Electrical cable for performing stimulations and/or measurements inside a human or animal body and method of manufacturing the cable
Assignee: INSTIUT STRAUMANN AG
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Filing: 1988-10-05
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Granted: 1990-07-31
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Expires: 2008-10-05
Abstract
Abstract The cable comprises one or more fiber bundles having 100 or more fibers per bundle, the diameter of the fibers having a value smaller than 20 micrometers, and the fibers preferably consisting of an alloy containing titanium as base metal and, in addition, at least one metal from the group including niobium, tantalum, zirconium, chromium, molybdenum, iron and aluminum. The bundle may be wound around the longitudinal axis of the cable and/or plaited with other bundles. Furthermore, the fibers of a bundle may be twisted (snaked), circumstances permitting. Each bundle and its fibers should, however, run to advantage in a way to have the length of the bundle as well as the length of each fiber of the bundle preferably be not more than 50% and, for example, not more than 30% longer than the cable. The fibers may be bent down to very small radii of curvature, without any fatigue failures taking place, while a relatively low electrical resistance of the cable may be achieved. The fibers are covered on their outer surfaces by a metal oxide layer, effective to insulate the fibers, in addition to the normally provided rubber-elastic insulation.
Inventors
- 👤 Samuel G. Steinemann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:30
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01B; H01B7/00; H01B7/0009; A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; H01B7/04; H01B7/048
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
47 words
Electrical cable for performing stimulations and/or measurements inside a human or animal body, for instance for a cardiac pacemaker, the cable comprising at least one bundle of fibers, wherein each fiber is less than 20 micrometers thick and has a cross-sectional area of a single metallic material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
47 words
Electrical cable for performing stimulations and/or measurements inside a human or animal body, for instance for a cardiac pacemaker, the cable comprising at least one bundle of fibers, wherein each fiber is less than 20 micrometers thick and has a cross-sectional area of a single metallic material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
Cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fibers are substantially round in cross-section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
Cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fibers are not more than 15 micrometers thick.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
Cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one bundle, comprises at least 100 fibers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
Cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one bundle, comprises at least 200 fibers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
Cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one bundle, comprises at least 100 fibers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
Cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fibers are arranged to run at least generally one of parallel and obliquely to the longitudinal direction of the cable so that each fiber is at most 50% longer than the cable itself.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
Cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fibers are arranged to run at least generally one of parallel and obliquely to the longitudinal direction of the cable, so that each fiber is at most 30% longer than the cable itself.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
Cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fibers are wound around the longitudinal axis of their bundle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
Cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one bundle of fibers, is arranged to run obliquely to the longitudinal direction of the cable, at least generally.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
Cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one bundle of fibers, is implemented zigzag-shaped and/or wave-shaped and/or helix-shaped.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
Cable as claimed in claim 1 comprising two or more bundles of fibers, wherein the bundles are plaited, knit, woven or twisted into a joined formation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
Cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fibers are arranged to run parallel to the longitudinal axis of their bundle, and/or the at least one bundle runs parallel to the longitudinal direction of the cable.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
Cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least some of the adjacent fibers belonging to the same bundle are in contact with each other, at least in places.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
Cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one bundle is insulated, at least on the outside, by a rubber-elastic insulation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
Cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein several bundles of fibers are imbedded into the annular jacket of a rubber-elastic insulation comprising a central opening extending in the longitudinal direction of the insulation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
Cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two groups of fiber bundles are provided and electrically insulated from one another, each group comprising one or more fiber bundles.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
Cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fibers comprise a metallic material consisting in part of titanium.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
Cable as claimed in claim 18, wherein the titanium forms with at least one other metallic element an alloy of the beta-type.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
Cable as claimed in claim 18, wherein the titanium comprises at least 50% by weight of the alloy.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
Cable as claimed in claim 18, wherein the fibers also contain at least one metal of the group of metals including niobium, tantalum, zirconium, chromium, molybdenum, iron and aluminum.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
Cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fibers are coated with a metal oxide coat.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
111 words
Method of manufacturing an electrical cable for performing stimulations and/or measurements inside of a human or animal body, the cable comprising at least one bundle of fibers which are less than 20 micrometers thick, the method comprising the steps of: providing a number of wires thicker than the fibers and made of the same metallic material as the fibers to be produced; imbedding the thicker wires into a matrix consisting of a different metallic material; subjecting the thicker wires together with the matrix to a deformation process during which the wires are made longer and thinner; and, subsequently dissolving the matrix with an acid to yield a bundle of said fibers.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
111 words
Method of manufacturing an electrical cable for performing stimulations and/or measurements inside of a human or animal body, the cable comprising at least one bundle of fibers which are less than 20 micrometers thick, the method comprising the steps of: providing a number of wires thicker than the fibers and made of the same metallic material as the fibers to be produced; imbedding the thicker wires into a matrix consisting of a different metallic material; subjecting the thicker wires together with the matrix to a deformation process during which the wires are made longer and thinner; and, subsequently dissolving the matrix with an acid to yield a bundle of said fibers.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
Method as claimed in claim 23, wherein the deformation subjecting step includes subjecting the fibers to cold-deformation and subsequently to heat treatment.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
Method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the subjecting step includes subjecting the fibers to heat treatment comprising at least one of soft-annealing, solution-annealing and aging.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
Method as claimed in claim 23, and further comprising the step of subjecting the fibers to anodic oxidation.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
Cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein said metallic material is a titanium-niobium alloy of the beta-type.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
43 words
Cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein each fiber and the at least one bundle is arranged so that the fibers run parallel to the longitudinal direction of the cable or form with the longitudinal direction an angle of not more than 30°.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
43 words
Cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein each fiber and the at least one bundle is arranged so that the fibers run parallel to the longitudinal direction of the cable or form with the longitudinal direction an angle of not more than 20°.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
35 words
Cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein each fiber includes a layer of oxide which acts as an electrical insulator when no significant compression force acts upon it, but loses its insulating effect under compression.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
50 words
An electrical cable for performing stimulations and/or measurements inside a human or animal body, for instance for a cardiac pacemaker, the cable comprising at least one bundle of fibers, wherein each fiber has a thickness of at most 15 micrometers and has a cross-sectional area of a beta-type titanium alloy.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
50 words
An electrical cable for performing stimulations and/or measurements inside a human or animal body, for instance for a cardiac pacemaker, the cable comprising at least one bundle of fibers, wherein each fiber has a thickness of at most 15 micrometers and has a cross-sectional area of a beta-type titanium alloy.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
43 words
Cable as claimed in claim 31, wherein each fiber and the at least one bundle is arranged so that the fibers run parallel to the longitudinal direction of the cable or form with the longitudinal direction an angle of not more than 30°.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
43 words
Cable as claimed in claim 31, wherein each fiber and the at least one bundle is arranged so that the fibers run parallel to the longitudinal direction of the cable or form with the longitudinal direction an angle of not more than 20°.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
13 words
Cable as claimed in claim 31, wherein said alloy is a titanium-niobium alloy.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
41 words
Cable as claimed in claim 31, wherein the fibers are arranged to run at least generally one of parallel and obliquely to the longitudinal direction of the cable so that each fiber is at most 50% longer than the cable itself.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
41 words
Cable as claimed in claim 31, wherein the fibers are arranged to run at least generally one of parallel and obliquely to the longitudinal direction of the cable so that each fiber is at most 30% longer than the cable itself.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
82 words
An electrical cable for performing stimulations and/or measurements inside a human or animal body, for instance for a cardiac pacemaker, the cable comprising at least one bundle of fibers, wherein each fiber is less than 20 micrometers thick and has a cross-sectional area of a beta-type titanium alloy, the fibers being arranged to run at least generally one of parallel and obliquely to the longitudinal direction of the cable so that each fiber is at most 30% longer than the cable itself.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
82 words
An electrical cable for performing stimulations and/or measurements inside a human or animal body, for instance for a cardiac pacemaker, the cable comprising at least one bundle of fibers, wherein each fiber is less than 20 micrometers thick and has a cross-sectional area of a beta-type titanium alloy, the fibers being arranged to run at least generally one of parallel and obliquely to the longitudinal direction of the cable so that each fiber is at most 30% longer than the cable itself.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-07-30 | 1994-01-29 | 1994-07-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-07-30 | 1998-01-29 | 1998-07-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-07-30 | 2002-01-29 | 2002-07-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |