US5290266A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible coating for magnetic resonance imaging compatible invasive devices
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1992-08-14
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Granted: 1994-03-01
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Expires: 2012-08-14
Abstract
Abstract Invasive devices, such as laser fiber guides and biopsy needles, constructed of a material which exhibits little or no magnetic susceptibility, have a flexible polymer coating for retaining pieces of the device in the event of a fracture of the invasive device. The polymer coating also allows removal of the pieces of a fractured invasive device from the body of a subject without requiring surgery. The surgical instruments can be used inside a magnetic field during magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, thereby allowing interactive internal images to be produced and displayed to a surgeon during surgery. Since the invasive devices exhibit low susceptibility, they do not distort a created MR image.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth W. Rohling
- 👤 Lionel M. Levinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:24
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/34; A61B17/3417; A61B10/00; A61B10/02; A61B10/0233; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/24; A61B2017/00004; A61B2017/00831; A61B2017/00902; A61B2017/00911
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A medical invasive device intended for insertion into a subject immersed in a magnetic field during magnetic resonance imaging comprising a substantially rigid non-metallic material capable of shattering exhibiting a magnetic susceptibility in the magnetic field substantially equal to that of the subject being imaged, so as to cause minimal distortion in a magnetic resonance image, said device having an outer coating of a flexible material having a tensile strength capable of containing pieces of the device in the event of a fracture and allowing removal of all pieces of the invasive device from the subject when the device is withdrawn from the subject.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
A medical invasive device intended for insertion into a subject immersed in a magnetic field during magnetic resonance imaging comprising a substantially rigid non-metallic material capable of shattering exhibiting a magnetic susceptibility in the magnetic field substantially equal to that of the subject being imaged, so as to cause minimal distortion in a magnetic resonance image, said device having an outer coating of a flexible material having a tensile strength capable of containing pieces of the device in the event of a fracture and allowing removal of all pieces of the invasive device from the subject when the device is withdrawn from the subject.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The medical invasive device as recited claim 1 wherein the coating comprises a sterilizable polymer exhibiting a flexibility which allows contortion without rupture and a tensile strength which resists rupture by sharp pieces of the device in the event of a fracture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The medical invasive device as recited claim 2 wherein the coating comprises a polymer which does not cause a significant adverse physiological reaction in a subject when introduced into a subject.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of producing a shatter-resistant invasive device intended to be used during magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of a subject and having a coating of a flexible material having a tensile strength capable of containing all pieces of the device in event of it fracturing comprising the steps of: a) constructing an invasive device of a rigid material capable of shattering and having a magnetic susceptibility substantially equal to that of said subject being imaged; b) placing shrinkable tubing of a material being flexible and having substantial tensile strength to contain sharp pieces of the invasive device in the event of fracture, over the invasive device substantially enclosing the invasive device; and c) shrinking the tubing causing it to form a coating which tightly conform to the invasive device.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of producing a shatter-resistant invasive device intended to be used during magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of a subject and having a coating of a flexible material having a tensile strength capable of containing all pieces of the device in event of it fracturing comprising the steps of: a) constructing an invasive device of a rigid material capable of shattering and having a magnetic susceptibility substantially equal to that of said subject being imaged; b) placing shrinkable tubing of a material being flexible and having substantial tensile strength to contain sharp pieces of the invasive device in the event of fracture, over the invasive device substantially enclosing the invasive device; and c) shrinking the tubing causing it to form a coating which tightly conform to the invasive device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of producing a shatter-resistant invasive device as recited in claim 4 further comprising the step of applying an adhesive to an inside surface of the tubing prior to step "c".
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of producing a shatter-resistant invasive device as recited in claim 4 further comprising the step of applying an adhesive to an outside surface of the invasive device prior to step "c".
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of producing a shatter-resistant invasive device as recited in claim 4, further comprising the step of sterilizing the tubing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of producing a shatter-resistant invasive device as recited in claim 4 further comprising the step of sterilizing the invasive device and tubing.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of producing a shatter-resistant invasive device intended to be used during magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of a subject and having a coating of a flexible material having a tensile strength capable of containing all pieces of the device in event of its fracture comprising the steps of: a) constructing an invasive device of a substantially rigid material capable of shattering having a magnetic susceptibility substantially similar to that of said subject; b) dissolving a flexible coating material in a solvent to form a solution; c) applying the solution to the invasive device by spraying, painting or dipping the invasive device; and d) drying the invasive device so as to leave a tightly conforming flexible coating on the invasive device.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of producing a shatter-resistant invasive device intended to be used during magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of a subject and having a coating of a flexible material having a tensile strength capable of containing all pieces of the device in event of its fracture comprising the steps of: a) constructing an invasive device of a substantially rigid material capable of shattering having a magnetic susceptibility substantially similar to that of said subject; b) dissolving a flexible coating material in a solvent to form a solution; c) applying the solution to the invasive device by spraying, painting or dipping the invasive device; and d) drying the invasive device so as to leave a tightly conforming flexible coating on the invasive device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of producing a shatter-resistant invasive device as recited in claim 9 further comprising the step of sterilizing the invasive device and the flexible coating.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of producing a shatter-resistant invasive device intended to be used during magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of a subject and having a coating of a flexible material having a tensile strength capable of containing all pieces of the device in event of its fracture comprising the steps of: a) constructing an invasive device of a substantially rigid material capable of shattering having a magnetic susceptibility substantially similar to that of said subject; b) heating a flexible coating material into a non-viscous state; c) applying the coating material to the invasive device by spraying, painting or dipping the invasive device; and d) allowing the coating to cure so as to leave a tightly conforming flexible coating on said invasive device.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of producing a shatter-resistant invasive device intended to be used during magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of a subject and having a coating of a flexible material having a tensile strength capable of containing all pieces of the device in event of its fracture comprising the steps of: a) constructing an invasive device of a substantially rigid material capable of shattering having a magnetic susceptibility substantially similar to that of said subject; b) heating a flexible coating material into a non-viscous state; c) applying the coating material to the invasive device by spraying, painting or dipping the invasive device; and d) allowing the coating to cure so as to leave a tightly conforming flexible coating on said invasive device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The medical invasive device of claim 1 wherein the rigid non-metallic material is a high strength ceramic material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The medical invasive device of claim 12 wherein the high strength material is yttria (Y 2 O 3 ) stabilized zirconia (ZrO 2 ).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The medical invasive device of claim 12 wherein the high strength material is magnesia (MgO) stabilized zirconia (ZrO 2 ).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3695921A
Cited
US5019096A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-02-28 | 1997-08-30 | 1998-03-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-02-28 | 2001-08-30 | 2002-03-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-02-28 | 2005-08-30 | 2006-03-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |