US5300048A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible, highly radiopaque plastic material catheter
Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies LLC
•
Filing: 1993-05-12
•
Granted: 1994-04-05
•
Expires: 2013-05-12
Abstract
Abstract A flexible plastic material catheter having a distal tubular member portion with a greater than 75 weight percent loading of a radiopaque agent for radiographic viewing. The catheter comprises an elongated member having a proximal portion and a distal end portion with a flexible, radiopaque plastic material having a durometer lower than that of the proximal portion. The plastic material of the distal end portion comprises a homogeneous and evenly dispersed composition of a 20 weight percent base thermoplastic, elastomer material such as a polyether block amide and 80 weight percent loading of a radiopaque agent such as tungsten. This distal end portion plastic material exhibits a durometer of approximately 47 on the Shore D scale, whereas the polyether block amide material exhibits a durometer of approximately 40 on the Shore D scale. The flex modulus of the polyether block amide material is in a range of 23,000 to 75,000 pounds per square inch. The proximal end portion comprises a base thermoplastic material such as a polyamide elastomer material and a radiopaque agent of bismuth oxychloride.
Inventors
- 👤 David A. Drewes, Jr.
- 👤 Fred T. Parker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:56
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/0105; A61M25/0108; A61M25/0133; A61M2025/0163
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
A flexible plastic catheter comprising: an elongated member having a passage therein and including a proximal portion of a second, flexible, radiopaque plastic material and a distal end portion of a first, flexible, radiopaque plastic material having a durometer lower than said second, flexible, radiopaque plastic material, said first, flexible, radiopaque plastic material of said distal end portion comprising a homogeneous composition containing by weight greater than 75 percent of a radiopaque agent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
73 words
A flexible plastic catheter comprising: an elongated member having a passage therein and including a proximal portion of a second, flexible, radiopaque plastic material and a distal end portion of a first, flexible, radiopaque plastic material having a durometer lower than said second, flexible, radiopaque plastic material, said first, flexible, radiopaque plastic material of said distal end portion comprising a homogeneous composition containing by weight greater than 75 percent of a radiopaque agent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein said first, flexible, radiopaque plastic material of said distal end portion has a higher weight percent of a radiopaque agent than said second, flexible, radiopaque plastic material of said proximal portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein said homogeneous composition of said distal end portion comprises a range of approximately 76 to 95 weight percent of said radiopaque agent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein said radiopaque agent has a density greater than 10 grams per cubic centimeter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein said radiopaque agent is from a group consisting of tungsten, platinum, gold, silver, lead, and tantalum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein said second, flexible, radiopaque plastic material comprises a thermoplastic material from a group consisting of a polyester elastomer, a polyurethane, a polyamide elastomer, and a polyether block amide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein said second, flexible, radiopaque plastic material comprises a nylon elastomer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein said second, flexible, radiopaque plastic material comprises an other radiopaque agent from a group consisting of bismuth oxychloride, bismuth subcarbonate, bismuth trioxide, barium sulfate, and tungsten.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein said homogeneous composition includes a base thermoplastic, elastomer material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The catheter of claim 9 wherein said base thermoplastic, elastomer material has a durometer in a range of 25 to 72 on the Shore D scale.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The catheter of claim 10 wherein said base thermoplastic, elastomer material is from a group consisting of a polyether block amide and a polyamide terpolymer material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The catheter of claim 11 wherein said base thermoplastic, elastomer material has a flex modulus in a range of 23,000 to 75,000 pounds per square inch.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein said first, flexible, radiopaque plastic material has a composite durometer of approximately 47 on the Shore D scale.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
110 words
A flexible plastic catheter comprising: a proximal tubular member of a second, flexible, radiopaque material including a base thermoplastic material from a group consisting of a polyester elastomer, a polyurethane, a polyamide elastomer, and a polyether block amide, and a second radiopaque agent from a group consisting of bismuth oxychloride, bismuth subcarbonate, bismuth trioxide, barium sulfate, and tungsten; and a distal tubular member attached to said proximal tubular member and having a durometer lower than said proximal tubular member, said distal tubular member comprising a first, flexible, radiopaque material of a homogeneous composition containing a base thermoplastic, elastomer material and greater than 75 weight percent of a first radiopaque agent.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
110 words
A flexible plastic catheter comprising: a proximal tubular member of a second, flexible, radiopaque material including a base thermoplastic material from a group consisting of a polyester elastomer, a polyurethane, a polyamide elastomer, and a polyether block amide, and a second radiopaque agent from a group consisting of bismuth oxychloride, bismuth subcarbonate, bismuth trioxide, barium sulfate, and tungsten; and a distal tubular member attached to said proximal tubular member and having a durometer lower than said proximal tubular member, said distal tubular member comprising a first, flexible, radiopaque material of a homogeneous composition containing a base thermoplastic, elastomer material and greater than 75 weight percent of a first radiopaque agent.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The catheter of claim 14 wherein said base thermoplastic, elastomer material has a durometer in a range of 25 to 72 on the Shore D scale.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The catheter of claim 15 wherein said base thermoplastic, elastomer material is from a group consisting of a polyether block amide and a polyamide terpolymer material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The catheter of claim 16 wherein said base thermoplastic, elastomer material has a flex modulus in a range of 23,000 to 75,000 pounds per square inch.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The catheter of claim 14 wherein said distal tubular member includes a preformed pigtail configuration proximate a distal end thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The catheter of claim 14 wherein said distal tubular member includes a sideport communicating with a passage extending longitudinally therein.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
131 words
A flexible plastic catheter comprising: a proximal tubular member of a second, flexible, radiopaque material including a base thermoplastic, elastomer material of a polyamide elastomer and a second radiopaque agent of approximately 25 weight percent of bismuth oxychloride; and a distal tubular member attached to said proximal tubular member and having a pigtail configuration proximate a distal end thereof, said distal member comprising a first, flexible, radiopaque material of a homogeneous composition having a composite durometer of approximately 47 on the Shore D scale and lower than the durometer of said proximal tubular member and containing a base thermoplastic, elastomer material of polyether block amide having a flex modulus in a range from 23,000 to 75,000 pounds per square inch, said homogeneous composition also containing approximately 80 weight percent of tungsten.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
131 words
A flexible plastic catheter comprising: a proximal tubular member of a second, flexible, radiopaque material including a base thermoplastic, elastomer material of a polyamide elastomer and a second radiopaque agent of approximately 25 weight percent of bismuth oxychloride; and a distal tubular member attached to said proximal tubular member and having a pigtail configuration proximate a distal end thereof, said distal member comprising a first, flexible, radiopaque material of a homogeneous composition having a composite durometer of approximately 47 on the Shore D scale and lower than the durometer of said proximal tubular member and containing a base thermoplastic, elastomer material of polyether block amide having a flex modulus in a range from 23,000 to 75,000 pounds per square inch, said homogeneous composition also containing approximately 80 weight percent of tungsten.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4027659A
Cited
US4196731A
Cited
US4657024A
Cited
US4469483A
Cited
US4698059A
Cited
US4636346A
Cited
US4714721A
Cited
US4778455A
Cited
US5017259A
Cited
US5045072A
Cited
US5037403A
Cited
US5009636A
Cited
US5088927A
Cited
US5221270A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-04-04 | 1997-10-04 | 1998-04-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-04-04 | 2001-10-04 | 2002-04-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-04-04 | 2005-10-04 | 2006-04-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |