Patent US5976120A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5976120A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Single segment microcatheter
Assignee: Covidien LP
•
Filing: 1998-03-26
•
Granted: 1999-11-02
•
Expires: 2018-03-26
Abstract
Abstract A single segment catheter has a gradually changing flexibility from a distal to a proximal end of the catheter. According to one embodiment the catheter includes a plurality of strands within the catheter tube wall which change in diameter between the distal and proximal ends to achieve a catheter having a more flexible distal end and a continuously changing flexibility along the catheter length with no joints or distinct changes in flexibility.
Inventors
- 👤 Sean L. Chow
- 👤 Donald J. Kolehmainen
- 👤 George Robert Green, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:56
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0009; A61M25/0012; A61M25/0043; A61M25/005; A61M25/0053; A61M25/0054; A61M25/0021; A61M2025/0042; B; B29; B29K; B29K2105/00; B29K2105/06; B29K2105/08; B29K2105/10; B29K2105/101; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/753; B29L2031/7542; B29L2031/772; B29L2031/7724
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A single segment catheter having changing flexibility along the length of the catheter comprising: a catheter tube having a proximal end and a distal end, said catheter tube having a catheter tube wall defining a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end; and at least one strand within the tube wall, said at least one strand extending substantially from the proximal end to the distal end of the catheter tube, said at least one strand having a changing diameter from the proximal end to the distal end of the catheter tube and having a stiffness different from a stiffness of the material of the catheter tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A single segment catheter having changing flexibility along the length of the catheter comprising: a catheter tube having a proximal end and a distal end, said catheter tube having a catheter tube wall defining a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end; and at least one strand within the tube wall, said at least one strand extending substantially from the proximal end to the distal end of the catheter tube, said at least one strand having a changing diameter from the proximal end to the distal end of the catheter tube and having a stiffness different from a stiffness of the material of the catheter tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The single segment catheter according to claim 1, wherein the lumen of the catheter tube has a diameter which accommodates a guidewire and permits tracking of the catheter tube with the guidewire.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The single segment catheter according to claim 1, wherein the at least one strand includes a plurality of strands which change in diameter from the proximal end to the distal end of the catheter tube at the same rate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The single segment catheter according to claim 1, wherein the at least one strand is completely encapsulated by the material of the catheter tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The single segment catheter according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the at least one strand decreases from the proximal end to the distal end of the catheter tube and the material of the at least one strand has a stiffness greater than the stiffness of the material of the catheter tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The single segment catheter according to claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of the catheter tube increases from the distal end to the proximal end of the catheter tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The single segment catheter according to claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of the catheter tube is substantially constant from the distal end to the proximal end of the catheter tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The single segment catheter according to claim 1, wherein the at least one strand includes a plurality of strands which are distinct at the distal end and are melted together at the proximal end of the catheter tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The single segment catheter according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of strands taper away completely at the distal end of the catheter tube such that the distal end has no strands present.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of forming a single segment catheter having a changing flexibility along a length of the catheter, the method comprising: extruding a tubular member having a catheter wall formed of a first material and a plurality of strands formed of a second material and surrounded by the first material; and varying the diameter of the plurality of strands during extrusion of the tubular member to form a catheter having a changing flexibility along a length of the catheter.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of forming a single segment catheter having a changing flexibility along a length of the catheter, the method comprising: extruding a tubular member having a catheter wall formed of a first material and a plurality of strands formed of a second material and surrounded by the first material; and varying the diameter of the plurality of strands during extrusion of the tubular member to form a catheter having a changing flexibility along a length of the catheter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of forming a single segment catheter according to claim 10, wherein the second material has a stiffness greater than the first material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of forming a single segment catheter according to claim 10, wherein an outer diameter of the tubular member remains substantially constant during extrusion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of forming a single segment catheter according to claim 10, wherein an outer diameter of the tubular member changes during extrusion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of forming a single segment catheter according to claim 10, wherein the second material of the plurality of strands is completely encapsulated by the extruded second material of the catheter wall.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of forming a single segment catheter according to claim 10, wherein the first material of the catheter wall and the second material of the plurality of strands are melted together during extrusion to form a catheter without distinct boundaries between the catheter wall and the plurality of strands.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of forming a single segment catheter having a changing flexibility along a length of the catheter, the method comprising: extruding a tubular member having a wall formed of a first material and a plurality of strands formed of a second material; heating the extruded tubular member; and stretching the heated tubular member to form a catheter having a changing flexibility along a length of the catheter.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of forming a single segment catheter having a changing flexibility along a length of the catheter, the method comprising: extruding a tubular member having a wall formed of a first material and a plurality of strands formed of a second material; heating the extruded tubular member; and stretching the heated tubular member to form a catheter having a changing flexibility along a length of the catheter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of forming a single segment catheter according to claim 16, wherein the strands are surrounded by the first material of the wall.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of forming a single segment catheter according to claim 16, wherein the second material has a stiffness greater than the first material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of forming a single segment catheter according to claim 16, wherein the step of heating is performed by steam heating.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The single segment catheter according to claim 1, wherein the strands are indiscrete.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The single segment catheter according to claim 1, wherein the at least one strand is formed of HDPE and the material of the catheter tube is LDPE.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of forming a single segment catheter according to claim 15, wherein the first material of the catheter wall is LDPE and the second material of the plurality of strands is HDPE.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
67 words
A single segment catheter having a changing flexibility along a length of the catheter comprising: a catheter tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the composition of the catheter gradually changing from LDPE at the distal end to HDPE at the proximal end to provide a catheter tube having a stiffness at the distal end which is less than a stiffness at the proximal end.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
67 words
A single segment catheter having a changing flexibility along a length of the catheter comprising: a catheter tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the composition of the catheter gradually changing from LDPE at the distal end to HDPE at the proximal end to provide a catheter tube having a stiffness at the distal end which is less than a stiffness at the proximal end.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
A single segment catheter according to claim 23, wherein an external diameter of the catheter tube is substantially constant between the distal end and the proximal end.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3240233A
Cited
US3935857A
Cited
US3948273A
Cited
US4254774A
Cited
US4277432A
Cited
FR2506106A1
Cited
US4490421A
Cited
US4577543A
Cited
US4579555A
Cited
US4842590A
Cited
US4739768B2
Cited
US4739768B1
Cited
US4739768A
Cited
US4886506A
Cited
US4876140A
Cited
US4848344A
Cited
US4900314A
Cited
US4840623A
Cited
US4998923A
Cited
US5104705A
Cited
US5338299A
Cited
US5312356A
Cited
US5270086A
Cited
US5176660A
Cited
WO1991007203A1
Cited
US5290306A
Cited
US5104388A
Cited
US5125913A
Cited
US5411477A
Cited
US5282785A
Cited
US5334146A
Cited
US5085649A
Cited
US5458570A
Cited
US5308342A
Cited
US5474537A
Cited
US5273536A
Cited
US5525388A
Cited
US5503631A
Cited
US5358493A
Cited
US5336205A
Cited
US5538512A
Cited
DE4306613A1
Cited
US5456674A
Cited
US5531715A
Cited
US5338298A
Cited
US5378230A
Cited
US5533985A
Cited
US5542937A
Cited
US5599326A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-11-01 | 2003-05-03 | 2003-11-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-01 | 2007-05-03 | 2007-11-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-01 | 2011-05-03 | 2011-11-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |