Patent US6309399B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4960410A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible tubular member for catheter construction
Assignee: Cordis Corp
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Filing: 1989-03-31
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Granted: 1990-10-02
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Expires: 2009-03-31
Abstract
Abstract A catheter having a two-part tubular member that defines a passageway which extends completely through the catheter. One part of the tubular member is a relatively stiff tube having a reduced wall thickness at its distal end that is spirally cut to increase its flexibility. A more flexible sheath covers the reduced thickness, distal portion of the relatively stiff tube to insure that the tubular member can hold pressure. A preferred flexible sheath or tube is constructed using a biaxially oriented polymer such as nylon or polyethylene.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard Pinchuk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:43
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0043; A61M25/0054
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A catheter for insertion into a subject comprising an elongated tubular member which extends from a proximal end to a distal end of said catheter and defines a passageway extending through said catheter from the proximal end to the distal end; said elongated tubular member including a first relatively stiff tube that is spirally cut along a distal portion to increase its flexibility and, includes an inner surface that defines said passageway and a second more flexible tube that covers the spirally cut distal portion of the stiff tube to make a distal portion of the elongated tubular member more flexible than a proximal portion of the elongated tubular member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
A catheter for insertion into a subject comprising an elongated tubular member which extends from a proximal end to a distal end of said catheter and defines a passageway extending through said catheter from the proximal end to the distal end; said elongated tubular member including a first relatively stiff tube that is spirally cut along a distal portion to increase its flexibility and, includes an inner surface that defines said passageway and a second more flexible tube that covers the spirally cut distal portion of the stiff tube to make a distal portion of the elongated tubular member more flexible than a proximal portion of the elongated tubular member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
The catheter of claim 1 additionally comprising a second, outer tubular member and an inflatable balloon attached to an end of the outer tubular member, said balloon overlying a portion of said central elongated tubular member that includes the second more flexible tube and wherein a distal end of the balloon is bonded to the more flexible tube of said central elongated tubular member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein a spiral cut extends completely through the thickness of said first relatively stiff tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein the portion of the first relatively stiff tube covered by the second more flexible tube has a reduced wall thickness and the passageway that extends through the catheter has a uniform diameter along its length.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein the spirally cut portion of the first relatively stiff tube covered by the second more flexible tube has a reduced diameter and the wall thickness is uniform, resulting in a reduced diameter passageway along said spirally cut portion of the stiff tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
163 words
A catheter for insertion into a subject comprising a central elongated tubular member which extends from a proximal end to a distal end of said catheter and defines a passageway extending through said catheter from the proximal end to the distal end; said elongated tubular member including a first relatively stiff plastic tube having an inner surface that defines said passageway and a second more flexible plastic tube in engagement with a distal portion of the stiff plastic tube, said distal portion having a reduced wall thickness and a reduced outer diameter to make the distal portion of the stiff plastic tube more flexible, a second, outer tubular member, and an inflatable balloon attached to an end of the outer tubular member, said balloon overlying a portion of said central elongated tubular member including the second more flexible plastic tube and wherein a distal end of the balloon is bonded to the second more flexible plastic tube of said central elongated tubular member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
163 words
A catheter for insertion into a subject comprising a central elongated tubular member which extends from a proximal end to a distal end of said catheter and defines a passageway extending through said catheter from the proximal end to the distal end; said elongated tubular member including a first relatively stiff plastic tube having an inner surface that defines said passageway and a second more flexible plastic tube in engagement with a distal portion of the stiff plastic tube, said distal portion having a reduced wall thickness and a reduced outer diameter to make the distal portion of the stiff plastic tube more flexible, a second, outer tubular member, and an inflatable balloon attached to an end of the outer tubular member, said balloon overlying a portion of said central elongated tubular member including the second more flexible plastic tube and wherein a distal end of the balloon is bonded to the second more flexible plastic tube of said central elongated tubular member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The catheter of claim 6 wherein the reduced wall thickness of the covered portion of the stiff plastic tube is cut in a spiralling cut.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The catheter of claim 7 wherein the spiralling cut extends completely through the reduced wall thickness of said first relatively stiff plastic tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
152 words
A catheter for insertion into a subject comprising a central elongated tubular member which extends from a proximal end to a distal end of said catheter and defines a passageway extending through said catheter from the proximal end to the distal end; said elongated tubular member including a first relatively stiff plastic tube having an inner surface that defines said passageway and a second more flexible plastic tube in engagement with a distal portion of the stiff plastic tube, said distal portion having a reduced outer diameter to make said distal portion more flexible, a second, outer tubular member, and an inflatable balloon attached to an end of the outer tubular member, said balloon overlying a portion of said central elongated tubular member including the second more flexible plastic tube and wherein a distal end of the balloon is bonded to the more flexible plastic tube of said central elongated tubular member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
152 words
A catheter for insertion into a subject comprising a central elongated tubular member which extends from a proximal end to a distal end of said catheter and defines a passageway extending through said catheter from the proximal end to the distal end; said elongated tubular member including a first relatively stiff plastic tube having an inner surface that defines said passageway and a second more flexible plastic tube in engagement with a distal portion of the stiff plastic tube, said distal portion having a reduced outer diameter to make said distal portion more flexible, a second, outer tubular member, and an inflatable balloon attached to an end of the outer tubular member, said balloon overlying a portion of said central elongated tubular member including the second more flexible plastic tube and wherein a distal end of the balloon is bonded to the more flexible plastic tube of said central elongated tubular member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The catheter of claim 10 wherein a distal portion of the stiff plastic tube covered by the more flexible plastic tube is cut with a spiralling cut.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter of claim 10 wherein the spiralling cut extends completely through the covered portion of said first relatively stiff plastic tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The catheter of claim 9 where the passageway through the relatively stiff plastic tube has a reduced diameter along a length of the covered portion of the relatively stiff plastic tube.
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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) | 1993-10-01 | 1994-04-02 | 1994-10-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-10-01 | 1998-04-02 | 1998-10-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-10-01 | 2002-04-02 | 2002-10-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |