Patent US5318032A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5318032A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Guiding catheter having soft tip
Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc
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Filing: 1992-02-05
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Granted: 1994-06-07
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Expires: 2012-02-05
Abstract
Abstract A vascular guiding catheter comprises an inner tubular member having a torque transmitting member formed over a major portion thereof and a soft polymeric tip formed at the distal end thereof. The torque transmitting member provides the characteristics of torsional stiffness and axial flexibility which are necessary to be able to introduce the catheter to the vascular system. The soft polymeric tip reduces the likelihood that the catheter can injure the blood vessel and provides a convenient location for the inclusion of perfusion ports. A reinforcement layer is provided over a transition region between the termination of the torque transmitting member and the soft distal tip. Optionally, reinforcement layers may be provided elsewhere along the length of the catheter.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael T. Lonsbury
- 👤 Richard S. Jaraczewski
- 👤 Fred H. Co
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:53
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0043; A61M25/005; A61M25/0045; A61M25/01; A61M25/06; A61M25/0662; A61M25/0067; A61M25/008; A61M2025/0081; A61M25/0052; A61M25/0068; A61M25/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A guiding catheter comprising; an inner tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and central lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein said lumen has a lubricous surface for receiving an interventional or diagnostic catheter; a torque transmitting member including a braided tubular structure disposed over the inner tubular member and extending from the proximal end thereof to a transition location spaced proximally inward from the distal end thereof; a reinforcement layer composed of a polymeric material extending over at least a portion of the distal end of the torque transmitting member and over at least a portion of the inner tubular member which extends beyond the torque transmitting member; and an outer layer including a polymeric material having a hardness in the range from 40D to 90D extending over the torque transmitting member and impregnating the tubular structure, the reinforcement layer, and any portion of the inner tubular member which extends beyond the reinforcement layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
A guiding catheter comprising; an inner tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and central lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein said lumen has a lubricous surface for receiving an interventional or diagnostic catheter; a torque transmitting member including a braided tubular structure disposed over the inner tubular member and extending from the proximal end thereof to a transition location spaced proximally inward from the distal end thereof; a reinforcement layer composed of a polymeric material extending over at least a portion of the distal end of the torque transmitting member and over at least a portion of the inner tubular member which extends beyond the torque transmitting member; and an outer layer including a polymeric material having a hardness in the range from 40D to 90D extending over the torque transmitting member and impregnating the tubular structure, the reinforcement layer, and any portion of the inner tubular member which extends beyond the reinforcement layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A guiding catheter as in claim 1, wherein the braided tubular structure includes at least one layer composed of stainless steel braid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A guiding catheter as in claim 1, wherein the polymeric material is a polyurethane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
A guiding catheter as in claim 1, wherein the outer layer terminates at its distal end in a soft polymeric tip having a hardness in the range from 40A to 90A, said soft tip extending over the distal 0.5 mm to 8 mm of the guiding catheter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A guiding catheter as in claim 4, wherein the soft polymeric tip is composed of a polyurethane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A guiding catheter as in claim 4, wherein the reinforcement layer is composed of a material which is harder than the material of the outer layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A guiding catheter as in claim 6, wherein the reinforcement layer is composed of a polymeric material having a hardness in the range from about 50D to 100D.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A guiding catheter as in claim 1, further comprising at least one additional reinforcement comprising a reinforcement layer impregnated within at least a portion of the torque transmitting member proximal to the transition location.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A guiding catheter as in claim 8, wherein the additional reinforcement layer is composed of a polymeric material having a hardness in the range from about 50D to 100D.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A guiding catheter as in claim 2, wherein the additional reinforcement layer is formed over the torque transmitting member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
A guiding catheter as in claim 1, including at least two additional reinforcement segments, said additional reinforcement segments being axially spaced apart and disposed over the torque transmitting member within the outer layer, said outer layer occupying the space between said additional reinforcement segments.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A guiding catheter as in claim 11, wherein the at least two reinforcement segments have different hardnesses to form regions on the catheter having different bending stiffnesses.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A guiding catheter as in claim 1, having side ports located distally of the transition location.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A guiding catheter as in claim 13, wherein the side ports penetrate through the reinforcement layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A guiding catheter as in claim 1, further comprising at least one radiopaque band formed distally on the transition region.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
105 words
An improved guiding catheter of the type including an inner tubular member running substantially the full length of the catheter, a braided torque transmitting member disposed over the inner tubular member, and an outer polymeric layer impregnating the braided torque transmitting member, wherein the improvement comprises at least one reinforcement segment impregnating the braided torque transmitting member and displacing the outer polymeric layer from a position of the braided torque transmitting member, wherein the reinforcement segment has a length less than that of the inner tubular member and wherein the reinforcement segment has a hardness which is greater than that of the outer polymeric layer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
105 words
An improved guiding catheter of the type including an inner tubular member running substantially the full length of the catheter, a braided torque transmitting member disposed over the inner tubular member, and an outer polymeric layer impregnating the braided torque transmitting member, wherein the improvement comprises at least one reinforcement segment impregnating the braided torque transmitting member and displacing the outer polymeric layer from a position of the braided torque transmitting member, wherein the reinforcement segment has a length less than that of the inner tubular member and wherein the reinforcement segment has a hardness which is greater than that of the outer polymeric layer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
An improved guiding catheter as in claim 16, wherein the reinforcement segment is disposed over a curved region of the catheter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
An improved guiding catheter as in claim 16, wherein the reinforcement segment is disposed over a straight region of the catheter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
An improved catheter as in claim 16, wherein the outer polymeric layer has a hardness from 40D to 90D and the reinforcement segment has a hardness from 50D to 100D.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
165 words
A guiding catheter comprising: an inner tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein said lumen has a lubricous surface for receiving an interventional or diagnostic catheter; a torque transmitting member disposed over the inner tubular member and extending from the proximal end thereof to a transition location spaced proximally inward from the distal end thereof; a reinforcement layer composed of a polymeric material extending over at least a portion of the distal end of the torque transmitting member and over at least a portion of the inner tubular member which extends beyond the torque transmitting member; an outer layer extending over the torque transmitting member, the reinforcement layer, and any portion of the inner tubular member which extends beyond the reinforcement layer; and at least one additional reinforcement segment comprising a reinforcement layer impregnated within at least a portion of the torque transmitting member proximal to the transition location.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
165 words
A guiding catheter comprising: an inner tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein said lumen has a lubricous surface for receiving an interventional or diagnostic catheter; a torque transmitting member disposed over the inner tubular member and extending from the proximal end thereof to a transition location spaced proximally inward from the distal end thereof; a reinforcement layer composed of a polymeric material extending over at least a portion of the distal end of the torque transmitting member and over at least a portion of the inner tubular member which extends beyond the torque transmitting member; an outer layer extending over the torque transmitting member, the reinforcement layer, and any portion of the inner tubular member which extends beyond the reinforcement layer; and at least one additional reinforcement segment comprising a reinforcement layer impregnated within at least a portion of the torque transmitting member proximal to the transition location.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
43 words
A guiding catheter as in claim 20, wherein the torque transmitting member includes a braided tubular structure and the outer layer includes a polymeric material having a hardness in the range from 40D to 90D, said polymeric material impregnating the braided tubular structure.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
A guiding catheter as in claim 21, wherein the braided tubular structure includes at least one layer composed of stainless steel braid.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
A guiding catheter as in claim 21, wherein the polymeric material is a polyurethane.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
47 words
A guiding catheter as in claim 20, wherein the outer layer terminates at its distal end in a soft polymeric tip having a hardness in the range from 40A to 90A, said soft tip extending over the distal 0.5 mm and 8 mm of the guiding catheter.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
A guiding catheter as in claim 24, wherein the soft polymeric tip is composed of a polyurethane.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
A guiding catheter as in claim 24, wherein the reinforcement layer is composed of a material which is harder than the material of the outer layer.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
A guiding catheter as in claim 26, wherein the reinforcement layer is composed of a polymeric material having a hardness in the range from about 50D to 100D.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
A guiding catheter as in claim 20, wherein the additional reinforcement layer is composed of a polymeric material having a hardness in the range from about 50D to 100D.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
44 words
A guiding catheter as in claim 28, including at least two additional reinforcement segments, said additional reinforcement segments being axially spaced apart and disposed over the torque transmitting member within the outer layer, said outer layer occupying the space between said additional reinforcement segments.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
27 words
A guiding catheter as in claim 29, wherein the at least two reinforcement segments have different hardnesses to form regions on the catheter having different bending stiffnesses.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
A guiding catheter as in claim 20, wherein the additional reinforcement layer is formed over the torque transmitting member.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
A guiding catheter as in claim 20, wherein the additional reinforcement layer is formed between the torque transmitting member and the inner tubular member.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
A guiding catheter as in claim 20, having side ports located distally of the transition location.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
A guiding catheter as in claim 33, wherein the side ports penetrate through the reinforcement layer.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
A guiding catheter as in claim 20, further comprising at least one radiopaque band formed distally of the transition region.
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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) | 1997-06-06 | 1997-12-06 | 1998-06-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-06-06 | 2001-12-06 | 2002-06-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-06-06 | 2005-12-06 | 2006-06-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |