US5458585A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tracking tip for a work element in a catheter system
Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed Inc
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Filing: 1993-07-28
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Granted: 1995-10-17
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Expires: 2013-07-28
Abstract
Abstract The claimed invention provides an improved tracking tip for use with a work element in a catheter system having a flexible tubular catheter body. Use of a tracking tip according to the present invention will facilitate advancement of the work element within the catheter body and will substantially eliminate the possibility that the work element will puncture the catheter body. Preferred embodiments will comprise a wire coil and will often include a rounded end member, which may be in the form of a solder ball, at the distal tip of the wire coil. In some embodiments, the rounded end member may be coated with a lubricant or a suitable non-stick material to further improve tracking of the work element within the catheter body.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen M. Salmon
- 👤 John R. McKenzie
- 👤 David A. White
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 07:53
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/44; A61B8/4444; A61B8/445; A61B8/12; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0067; A61M25/0068; A61M25/008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A catheter system comprising: a catheter body comprising a flexible tubular member having a lumen extending therethrough; a drive shaft having proximal and distal ends and a rotation coupling for removable attachment to a drive motor disposed at the proximal end, the drive shaft being rotatably disposed within the lumen of the catheter body; a work element fixed to the distal end of the drive shaft; and a tracking tip fixed to the work element substantially opposite the drive shaft and disposed within the lumen of the catheter body, the tracking tip comprising a flexible member having a flexibility greater than that of the work element, wherein the flexibility of the tracking tip increases from a proximal member end at the work element to a distal end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
A catheter system comprising: a catheter body comprising a flexible tubular member having a lumen extending therethrough; a drive shaft having proximal and distal ends and a rotation coupling for removable attachment to a drive motor disposed at the proximal end, the drive shaft being rotatably disposed within the lumen of the catheter body; a work element fixed to the distal end of the drive shaft; and a tracking tip fixed to the work element substantially opposite the drive shaft and disposed within the lumen of the catheter body, the tracking tip comprising a flexible member having a flexibility greater than that of the work element, wherein the flexibility of the tracking tip increases from a proximal member end at the work element to a distal end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The catheter system of claim 1, wherein the drive shaft and work element are movable within the lumen along the length of the catheter body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The catheter system of claim 1, wherein the work element comprises an ultrasonic imaging transducer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The catheter system of claim 1, wherein the flexible member is formed of a wire coil.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The catheter system of claim 4, further comprising: a quantity of solder disposed within the wire coil at an end opposite the work element; and a substantially spherical solder ball fixed to the wire coil at the end opposite the work element and joined with the solder disposed within the wire coil.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The catheter system of claim 1, further comprising an end member fixed to the flexible member substantially opposite the work element, the end member having an exposed rounded surface substantially opposite the flexible member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The catheter system of claim 6, wherein the end member comprises a substantially spherical solder ball.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The catheter system of claim 6, further comprising a non-stick material applied to the rounded surface of the end member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The catheter system of claim 8, wherein the non-stick material is comprised of polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
67 words
The catheter system as in claim 1, wherein the work element is an ultrasonic imaging transducer assembly having a defined outside diameter, and wherein the flexible member has a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being fixed to the work element, and wherein the proximal end of the flexible member has a diameter that conforms substantially to the defined diameter of the transducer assembly.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
129 words
A catheter system comprising: a catheter body comprising a flexible tubular member having a lumen extending therethrough; a drive shaft having proximal and distal ends and a rotation coupling for removable attachment to a drive motor disposed at the proximal end, the drive shaft being rotatably disposed within the lumen of the catheter body; a work element fixed to the distal end of the drive shaft; and a tracking tip fixed to the work element substantially opposite the drive shaft and disposed within the lumen of the catheter body, the tracking tip comprising a flexible member having a flexibility greater than that of the work element; wherein the flexible member is formed of a wire coil; and wherein the wire coil is formed of a wire of non-uniform diameter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
129 words
A catheter system comprising: a catheter body comprising a flexible tubular member having a lumen extending therethrough; a drive shaft having proximal and distal ends and a rotation coupling for removable attachment to a drive motor disposed at the proximal end, the drive shaft being rotatably disposed within the lumen of the catheter body; a work element fixed to the distal end of the drive shaft; and a tracking tip fixed to the work element substantially opposite the drive shaft and disposed within the lumen of the catheter body, the tracking tip comprising a flexible member having a flexibility greater than that of the work element; wherein the flexible member is formed of a wire coil; and wherein the wire coil is formed of a wire of non-uniform diameter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The catheter system of claim 11, wherein the wire diameter decreases from an end joined to the work element to an end opposite the work element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
161 words
An improved common lumen catheter system of the type comprising a flexible catheter body having a proximal and a distal region, the proximal region having at least two lumens and the distal region having a common lumen connected to and in communication with both lumens of the proximal region; a drive shaft having proximal and distal ends, the drive shaft disposed within one lumen of the proximal region and capable of being advanced into the common lumen; and a work element fixed to the distal end of the drive shaft; wherein the improvement comprises: a tracking tip fixed to the work element substantially opposite the drive shaft, the tracking tip comprising a flexible member having a proximal member end adjacent the work element and a distal member end opposite the work element, wherein the flexible member has a flexibility greater than that of the work element, and wherein the flexibility increases from the proximal member end to the distal member end.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
161 words
An improved common lumen catheter system of the type comprising a flexible catheter body having a proximal and a distal region, the proximal region having at least two lumens and the distal region having a common lumen connected to and in communication with both lumens of the proximal region; a drive shaft having proximal and distal ends, the drive shaft disposed within one lumen of the proximal region and capable of being advanced into the common lumen; and a work element fixed to the distal end of the drive shaft; wherein the improvement comprises: a tracking tip fixed to the work element substantially opposite the drive shaft, the tracking tip comprising a flexible member having a proximal member end adjacent the work element and a distal member end opposite the work element, wherein the flexible member has a flexibility greater than that of the work element, and wherein the flexibility increases from the proximal member end to the distal member end.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The catheter system of claim 13, wherein the flexible member is formed of a wire coil.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The catheter system of claim 13, further comprising an end member fixed to the flexible member substantially opposite the work element, the end member having an exposed rounded surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
124 words
A tracking tip in combination with a work element fixed to a drive shaft in a catheter system, the tracking tip comprising: a flexible member having a flexibility greater than that of the work element, the flexible member extending from the work element in a direction substantially opposite the drive shaft, wherein the work element is an ultrasonic imaging transducer assembly having a defined outside diameter, and wherein the flexible member has a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being attached to the work element, wherein the flexibility increases progressively from the proximal end to the distal end, and wherein the proximal end of the flexible member has a diameter that conforms substantially to the defined diameter of the transducer assembly.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
124 words
A tracking tip in combination with a work element fixed to a drive shaft in a catheter system, the tracking tip comprising: a flexible member having a flexibility greater than that of the work element, the flexible member extending from the work element in a direction substantially opposite the drive shaft, wherein the work element is an ultrasonic imaging transducer assembly having a defined outside diameter, and wherein the flexible member has a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being attached to the work element, wherein the flexibility increases progressively from the proximal end to the distal end, and wherein the proximal end of the flexible member has a diameter that conforms substantially to the defined diameter of the transducer assembly.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The tracking tip of claim 16, wherein the flexible member is formed of a wire coil.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The tracking tip of claim 17, wherein the wire coil decreases in diameter in a direction away from the work element.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The tracking tip of claim 17, wherein the wire coil is formed of a wire of non-uniform diameter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The tracking tip of claim 19, wherein the wire diameter decreases from an end joined to the work element to an end opposite the work element.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
52 words
The tracking tip of claim 17, further comprising: a quantity of solder disposed within the wire coil at an end opposite the work element; and a substantially spherical solder ball fixed to the wire coil at the end opposite the work element and joined with the solder disposed within the wire coil.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The tracking tip of claim 16, further comprising an end member fixed to the flexible member substantially opposite the work element, the end member having an exposed rounded surface.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The tracking tip of claim 22, wherein the end member comprises a substantially spherical solder ball.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The tracking tip of claim 22, further comprising a non-stick material applied to the rounded surface of the end member.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
The tracking tip of claim 24, wherein the non-stick material is comprised of polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The tracking tip of claim 16, wherein the tracking tip is formed at least in part of a precipitation hardenable metal alloy.
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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) | 1998-10-16 | 1999-04-17 | 1999-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-10-16 | 2003-04-17 | 2003-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-10-16 | 2007-04-17 | 2007-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |