Catheter device with a flexible housing

Claim 2

A catheter device insertable into a biological conduit, comprising: a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter body defining a torque cable lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end; a housing connected to the distal end of the catheter body, the housing being flexible and defining an opening; a torque cable extending between the proximal end and the distal end of the catheter body through the torque cable lumen, the torque cable being capable of sliding with respect to the torque cable lumen; a work element slidably disposed within the housing; and a connector interconnecting the work element and the torque cable, the connector being flexible and including a flex tube, the flex tube having multiple radial slots to facilitate flexion of the connector, the work element being formed unitary with the connector, whereby when the housing flexes and the torque cable slides the work element, the connector flexes and the housing guides the work element within the housing.

Claim 3

A catheter device insertable into a biological conduit, comprising: a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter body defining a torque cable lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end; a housing connected to the distal end of the catheter body, the housing being flexible and defining an opening; a torque cable extending between the proximal end and the distal end of the catheter body through the torque cable lumen, the torque cable being capable of sliding with respect to the torque cable lumen; a work element slidably disposed within the housing; and a flexible connector interconnecting the work element and the torque cable, the connector including a flex tube having multiple radial slots to facilitate flexion of the connector, the flex tube having two ends, the work element being formed integral with the connector and having an arcuate cutting edge defined by one end of the flex tube, the other end of the flex tube being attached to the torque cable, whereby when the housing flexes and the torque cable slides the work element, the connector flexes and the housing guides the work element within the housing.

Claim 4

A catheter device insertable into a biological conduit, comprising: a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter body defining a torque cable lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end; a housing connected to the distal end of the catheter body, the housing being flexible and defining an opening; a torque cable extending between the proximal end and the distal end of the catheter body through the torque cable lumen, the torque cable being capable of sliding with respect to the torque cable lumen; a work element slidably disposed within the housing; and a flexible connector interconnecting the work element and the torque cable, the connector including a flex tube having multiple radial slots to facilitate flexion of the connector, the flex tube having two ends, the work element being formed integral with the connector and having an arcuate cutting edge defined by one end of the flex tube, the other end of the flex tube being attached to the torque cable, whereby when the housing flexes and the torque cable slides the work element, the connector flexes and the housing guides the work element within the housing.

Claim 5

A catheter device insertable into a biological conduit, comprising: a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter body defining a torque cable lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end; a housing with a longitudinal axis connected to the distal end of the catheter body, the housing is flexible and defines an opening, the housing flexes when inserted into a biological conduit; a torque cable extending between the proximal end of the catheter body through the torque cable lumen towards the distal end, the torque cable defining a portion of a guidewire lumen; a work element disposed within the housing, the work element defining a portion of the guidewire lumen; and a connector attached to the work element and to the torque cable, the connector being bendable with the longitudinal axis of the housing, the connector defining a portion of the guidewire lumen, the connector being rotationally rigid to transmit torque from the torque cable via the connector to the work element and transmitting said torque while not rotationally deforming, the connector being axially rigid to maintain a constant length in response to axial forces transmitted from the torque cable via the connector to the work element, whereby when the housing flexes and the torque cable moves to actuate the work element within the housing, the connector bends and the housing retains the work element.

Claim 6

A catheter device insertable into a biological conduit, comprising: a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter body defining a torque cable lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end; a housing with a longitudinal axis connected to the distal end of the catheter body, the housing is flexible and defines an opening, the housing flexes when inserted into a biological conduit; a torque cable extending between the proximal end of the catheter body through the torque cable lumen towards the distal end, the torque cable defining a portion of a guidewire lumen; a work element disposed within the housing, the work element defining a portion of the guidewire lumen; and a connector attached to the work element and to the torque cable, the connector being bendable with the longitudinal axis of the housing, the connector defining a portion of the guidewire lumen, the connector being rotationally rigid to transmit torque from the torque cable via the connector to the work element and transmitting said torque while not rotationally deforming, the connector being axially rigid to maintain a constant length in response to axial forces transmitted from the torque cable via the connector to the work element, whereby when the housing flexes and the torque cable moves to actuate the work element within the housing, the connector bends and the housing retains the work element.