US5885258A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Medical instrument with slotted memory metal tube
Assignee: EVM Systems LLC
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Filing: 1997-02-21
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Granted: 1999-03-23
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Expires: 2017-02-21
Abstract
Abstract A series of medical instruments can be made with the use of shape memory tube with a transformation temperature that is above or below the ambient temperature. In the first case, the material behaves with the shape memory effect and in the second case the behavior is superelastic. The wall of the tube has been provided with a plurality of slots in specific places, often near or at the distal end of the instrument, and in specific arrangements which allow local variations in diameter, shape, and/or length. These variations can either be caused by the memory effect during temperature change or by superelastic behavior during change of the mechanical influences on the memory metal by the surrounding material.
Inventors
- 👤 Rohit C. L. Sachdeva
- 👤 Petrus A. Besselink
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 00:35
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/3205; A61B17/32056; A61B1/00; A61B1/00064; A61B1/00071; A61B1/0008; A61B1/00082; A61B1/005; A61B1/0058; A61B1/012; A61B1/015; A61B1/018; A61B17/12; A61B17/122; A61B17/22; A61B17/221; A61B5/00; A61B5/0059; A61B5/0082; A61B5/0084; A61B5/103; A61B5/107; A61B5/1076; A61B5/68; A61B5/6846; A61B5/6847; A61B5/6852; A61B5/6853; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/82; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0009; A61M25/0013; A61M25/01; A61M25/0105; A61M25/0133; A61M25/0138; A61M25/0158; A61M29/00; A61M29/02; A61B1/307; A61B1/313; A61B1/3137; A61B17/128; A61B17/1285; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00349; A61B2017/00831; A61B2017/00867; A61B2017/00982; A61B2017/00986; A61B2017/2212; A61B2017/2215; A61B90/00; A61B90/06; A61B2090/061; A61B2090/063; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30003; A61F2002/3006; A61F2002/30092; A61F2210/00; A61F2210/0014; A61F2210/0023; A61M25/0043; A61M2025/0057; A61M25/02; A61M25/04; A61M25/09
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A medical instrument comprising at least one memory metal tube programmed for an effect selected from the group of effects consisting of memory effect and superelasticity and having in at least one section thereof a plurality of slots such that the slotted section is capable of expansion and contraction; and a delivery tube that surrounds at least the slotted section of the memory metal tube during delivery and which is partially removed from surrounding the slotted section of the memory metal tube by a relative longitudinal movement between the respective tubes; said memory metal tube having a distal end and the slots in the memory metal tube extending to the distal end of the tube and having been programmed to change into bending hooks upon delivery from the delivery tube; the bending hooks closing during retraction into the delivery tube to provide an internal gripping function.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A medical instrument comprising at least one memory metal tube programmed for an effect selected from the group of effects consisting of memory effect and superelasticity and having in at least one section thereof a plurality of slots such that the slotted section is capable of expansion and contraction; and a delivery tube that surrounds at least the slotted section of the memory metal tube during delivery and which is partially removed from surrounding the slotted section of the memory metal tube by a relative longitudinal movement between the respective tubes; said memory metal tube having a distal end and the slots in the memory metal tube extending to the distal end of the tube and having been programmed to change into bending hooks upon delivery from the delivery tube; the bending hooks closing during retraction into the delivery tube to provide an internal gripping function.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
166 words
A medical instrument comprising at least one memory metal tube programmed for an effect selected from the group of effects consisting of memory effect and superelasticity and having in at least one section thereof a plurality of slots such that the slotted section is capable of expansion and contraction; and a delivery tube that surrounds at least the slotted section of the memory metal tube during delivery and which is partially removed from surrounding the slotted section of the memory metal tube by a relative longitudinal movement between the respective tubes; said memory metal tube having a distal end and the slots in the memory metal tube extending to the distal end of the tube and having been programmed to change into bending hooks upon delivery from the delivery tube; the bending hooks curling outside during advancement from the delivery tube to provide an external gripping function; the curl being outside sufficient to engage the outer wall of the memory metal tube to form closed loops.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
166 words
A medical instrument comprising at least one memory metal tube programmed for an effect selected from the group of effects consisting of memory effect and superelasticity and having in at least one section thereof a plurality of slots such that the slotted section is capable of expansion and contraction; and a delivery tube that surrounds at least the slotted section of the memory metal tube during delivery and which is partially removed from surrounding the slotted section of the memory metal tube by a relative longitudinal movement between the respective tubes; said memory metal tube having a distal end and the slots in the memory metal tube extending to the distal end of the tube and having been programmed to change into bending hooks upon delivery from the delivery tube; the bending hooks curling outside during advancement from the delivery tube to provide an external gripping function; the curl being outside sufficient to engage the outer wall of the memory metal tube to form closed loops.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
118 words
A medical instrument comprising at least one memory metal tube programmed for an effect selected from the group of effects consisting of memory effect and superelasticity and having in at least one section thereof a plurality of slots such that the slotted section is capable of expansion and contraction; and a delivery tube that surrounds at least the slotted section of the memory metal tube during delivery and which is partially removed from surrounding the slotted section of the memory metal tube by a relative longitudinal movement between the respective tubes; said memory metal tube having an expandable section that is substantially filled by an elastically deformable polymer, which upon expansion in a tubular cavity plugs the cavity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
118 words
A medical instrument comprising at least one memory metal tube programmed for an effect selected from the group of effects consisting of memory effect and superelasticity and having in at least one section thereof a plurality of slots such that the slotted section is capable of expansion and contraction; and a delivery tube that surrounds at least the slotted section of the memory metal tube during delivery and which is partially removed from surrounding the slotted section of the memory metal tube by a relative longitudinal movement between the respective tubes; said memory metal tube having an expandable section that is substantially filled by an elastically deformable polymer, which upon expansion in a tubular cavity plugs the cavity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The instrument of claim 3 wherein said instrument has a proximal end and wherein a wire, eyelet or hook is connected to the proximal end of the device to facilitate removal of the device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The instrument of claim 3 wherein the elastically deformable polymer is of the UV-curing type which enables the material to be cured by exposure to light emitted from an optical fiber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
147 words
A medical instrument comprising at least one memory metal tube programmed for an effect selected from the group of effects consisting of memory effect and superelasticity and having in at least one section thereof a plurality of slots such that the slotted section is capable of expansion and contraction; a delivery tube that surrounds at least the slotted section of the memory metal tube during delivery and which is partially removed from surrounding the slotted section of the memory metal tube by a relative longitudinal movement between the respective tubes; and an expandable section that surrounds an elastic material in the shape of a balloon connected at its proximal end and distal end with one-way valves that only open in a distal direction such that intermittent relative axial movement of the delivery tube compared to the memory metal tube causes a pumping action in the distal direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
147 words
A medical instrument comprising at least one memory metal tube programmed for an effect selected from the group of effects consisting of memory effect and superelasticity and having in at least one section thereof a plurality of slots such that the slotted section is capable of expansion and contraction; a delivery tube that surrounds at least the slotted section of the memory metal tube during delivery and which is partially removed from surrounding the slotted section of the memory metal tube by a relative longitudinal movement between the respective tubes; and an expandable section that surrounds an elastic material in the shape of a balloon connected at its proximal end and distal end with one-way valves that only open in a distal direction such that intermittent relative axial movement of the delivery tube compared to the memory metal tube causes a pumping action in the distal direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
94 words
A medical instrument comprising at least one memory metal tube programmed for an effect selected from the group of effects consisting of memory effect and superelasticity and having in at least one section thereof a plurality of slots such that the slotted section is capable of expansion and contraction; a delivery tube that surrounds at least the slotted section of the memory metal tube during delivery and which is partially removed from surrounding the slotted section of the memory metal tube by a relative longitudinal movement between the respective tubes; and optical measuring means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
94 words
A medical instrument comprising at least one memory metal tube programmed for an effect selected from the group of effects consisting of memory effect and superelasticity and having in at least one section thereof a plurality of slots such that the slotted section is capable of expansion and contraction; a delivery tube that surrounds at least the slotted section of the memory metal tube during delivery and which is partially removed from surrounding the slotted section of the memory metal tube by a relative longitudinal movement between the respective tubes; and optical measuring means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
114 words
A medical instrument comprising at least one memory metal tube programmed for an effect selected from the group of effects consisting of memory effect and superelasticity and having in at least one section thereof a plurality of slots such that the slotted section is capable of expansion and contraction; a delivery tube that surrounds at least the slotted section of the memory metal tube during delivery and which is partially removed from surrounding the slotted section of the memory metal tube by a relative longitudinal movement between the respective tubes; and a second delivery tube within the memory metal tube, and a steerable superelastic wire with a curved tip within said second delivery tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
114 words
A medical instrument comprising at least one memory metal tube programmed for an effect selected from the group of effects consisting of memory effect and superelasticity and having in at least one section thereof a plurality of slots such that the slotted section is capable of expansion and contraction; a delivery tube that surrounds at least the slotted section of the memory metal tube during delivery and which is partially removed from surrounding the slotted section of the memory metal tube by a relative longitudinal movement between the respective tubes; and a second delivery tube within the memory metal tube, and a steerable superelastic wire with a curved tip within said second delivery tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The instrument of claim 8 wherein said steerable wire is programmed to meet the wall of a cavity within which the instrument is placed to measure the radius of the cavity.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The instrument of claim 9 wherein the steerable wire is hollow and contains an optical system to provide visual information about the condition and size of the cavity.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The instrument of claim 10 wherein the steerable wire is hollow and contains a laser system as the optical system to work with at the distal end.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
149 words
A medical instrument comprising at least one memory metal tube programmed for an effect selected from the group of effects consisting of memory effect and superelasticity and having in at least one section thereof a plurality of slots such that the slotted section is capable of expansion and contraction; a delivery tube that surrounds at least the slotted section of the memory metal tube during delivery and which is partially removed from surrounding the slotted section of the memory metal tube by a relative longitudinal movement between the respective tubes; and an expandable section that is surrounded by an elastic material in the shape of a balloon connected at its proximal end and distal end with one-way valves that only open in a distal direction such that intermittent relative axial movement of the delivery tube compared to the memory metal tube causes a pumping action in the distal direction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
149 words
A medical instrument comprising at least one memory metal tube programmed for an effect selected from the group of effects consisting of memory effect and superelasticity and having in at least one section thereof a plurality of slots such that the slotted section is capable of expansion and contraction; a delivery tube that surrounds at least the slotted section of the memory metal tube during delivery and which is partially removed from surrounding the slotted section of the memory metal tube by a relative longitudinal movement between the respective tubes; and an expandable section that is surrounded by an elastic material in the shape of a balloon connected at its proximal end and distal end with one-way valves that only open in a distal direction such that intermittent relative axial movement of the delivery tube compared to the memory metal tube causes a pumping action in the distal direction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
82 words
A medical instrument comprising at least one memory metal tube programmed for an effect selected from the group of effects consisting of memory effect and superelasticity and having in at least one section thereof a plurality of slots such that the slotted section is capable of expansion and contraction; a double-walled balloon section having walls; and a UV-curable polymer disposed between the walls of said double-walled balloon section; said memory metal tube being disposed between the walls of said double-walled balloon section.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
82 words
A medical instrument comprising at least one memory metal tube programmed for an effect selected from the group of effects consisting of memory effect and superelasticity and having in at least one section thereof a plurality of slots such that the slotted section is capable of expansion and contraction; a double-walled balloon section having walls; and a UV-curable polymer disposed between the walls of said double-walled balloon section; said memory metal tube being disposed between the walls of said double-walled balloon section.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The instrument of claim 13 wherein said slotted memory metal tube is embedded in said UV-curable polymer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The instrument of claim 14 wherein said double-walled balloon section is expandable and contractible and said slotted memory metal tube reinforces said double-walled balloon section.
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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) | 2002-03-22 | 2002-09-21 | 2003-03-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-22 | 2006-09-21 | 2007-03-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-22 | 2010-09-21 | 2011-03-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |