US6375628B1 — Hollow medical wires and methods of constructing …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 65 words

A hollow medical guidewire, comprising: an elongate hollow body having distal and proximal sections, said body being at least partially constructed from a transformational, non-linear superelastic nickel titanium alloy material, wherein at least said distal section has recoverable strain and exhibits an unloading plateau stress of not less than about 170 MPa; wherein said distal section is provided with openings to allow fluids to escape.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 65 words

A hollow medical guidewire, comprising: an elongate hollow body having distal and proximal sections, said body being at least partially constructed from a transformational, non-linear superelastic nickel titanium alloy material, wherein at least said distal section has recoverable strain and exhibits an unloading plateau stress of not less than about 170 MPa; wherein said distal section is provided with openings to allow fluids to escape.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 41 words

The medical guidewire of claim 1 , wherein said distal section receives during construction heat treatments in the range of about 300° C. to about 600° C. for a period of time ranging from about 10 seconds to about 60 minutes.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 25 words

The medical guidewire of claim 1 , wherein at least said distal section exhibits an unloading plateau stress of between about 200 and 320 MPa.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 55 words

A medical catheter comprising an elongate hollow body at least partially constructed from a transformational non-linear superelastic nickel titanium alloy material and having at least one opening at the distal end to allow the escape of fluids, said alloy material exhibiting a substantially constant stress upon unloading of between about 170 MPa and 400 MPa.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 55 words

A medical catheter comprising an elongate hollow body at least partially constructed from a transformational non-linear superelastic nickel titanium alloy material and having at least one opening at the distal end to allow the escape of fluids, said alloy material exhibiting a substantially constant stress upon unloading of between about 170 MPa and 400 MPa.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 21 words

The catheter of claim 4 further comprising an occlusion device and an inflation lumen for said device positioned within said catheter.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 12 words

The catheter of claim 4 wherein said opening comprises a check valve.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 14 words

The catheter of claim 6 , wherein the check valve includes an elastomeric membrane.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 23 words

The catheter of claim 4 , wherein said alloy material exhibits a substantially constant stress upon unloading of about 320 MPa or less.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 23 words

The catheter of claim 8 , wherein said alloy material exhibits a substantially constant stress upon unloading of about 200 MPa or less.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 101 words

An irrigation catheter, comprising: an elongate hollow body having distal and proximal sections, said body being at least partially constructed from a transformational, non-linear, superelastic nickel titanium alloy material, wherein at least said distal section has recoverable strain and exhibits an unloading plateau stress of not less than about 170 MPa; a lumen formed in said body extending from the proximal section to the distal section for communicating fluids from said proximal section of said body to said distal section of said body; and one or more perforations in the distal section of the body to allow the escape of fluids.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 101 words

An irrigation catheter, comprising: an elongate hollow body having distal and proximal sections, said body being at least partially constructed from a transformational, non-linear, superelastic nickel titanium alloy material, wherein at least said distal section has recoverable strain and exhibits an unloading plateau stress of not less than about 170 MPa; a lumen formed in said body extending from the proximal section to the distal section for communicating fluids from said proximal section of said body to said distal section of said body; and one or more perforations in the distal section of the body to allow the escape of fluids.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 19 words

The irrigation catheter of claim 10 , wherein said nickel content is between about 50.0 and 51.5% atomic weight.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 16 words

The irrigation catheter of claim 11 , wherein said nickel content is about 50.8% atomic weight.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 24 words

The irrigation catheter of claim 10 , wherein said alloy material in at least said distal section has recoverable strain up to about 8%.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 28 words

The irrigation catheter of claim 10 , wherein at least said distal section receives heat treatments of about 300° C.-600° C. for about 10 seconds to 60 minutes.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 29 words

The irrigation catheter of claim 10 , wherein said alloy material in at least said distal section exhibits an unloading plateau stress of between about 170 and 400 MPa.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 29 words

The irrigation catheter of claim 15 , wherein said alloy material in at least said distal section exhibits an unloading plateau stress of between about 200 and 320 MPa.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 28 words

The irrigation catheter of claim 10 , wherein said alloy material in at least said distal section exhibits a loading plateau stress of up to about 500 MPa.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 25 words

The irrigation catheter of claim 10 , further comprising a coil member in fluid communication with the lumen in the distal section of the body.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 30 words

The irrigation catheter of claim 18 , wherein the coil member includes gaps between turns of the coil member to provide a passageway to deliver fluids through the coil member.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 19 words

The irrigation catheter of claim 10 , wherein the outer diameter of the body is less than out 0.38″.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 88 words

An irrigation catheter, comprising: an elongate hollow body having a proximal end and a distal end and a lumen extending therethrough, said body being constructed at least partially from a transformational, non-linear, superelastic nickel-titanium alloy material which exhibits a substantially constant stress upon unloading of not less than about 170 MPa; and a coil member extending from the distal end of the body, the coil member being in fluid communication with the lumen of the body and having turns which provide a passageway for fluids to pass therethrough.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 88 words

An irrigation catheter, comprising: an elongate hollow body having a proximal end and a distal end and a lumen extending therethrough, said body being constructed at least partially from a transformational, non-linear, superelastic nickel-titanium alloy material which exhibits a substantially constant stress upon unloading of not less than about 170 MPa; and a coil member extending from the distal end of the body, the coil member being in fluid communication with the lumen of the body and having turns which provide a passageway for fluids to pass therethrough.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 20 words

The irrigation catheter of claim 21 , further comprising an occlusion device mounted on said distal section of said body.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 14 words

The irrigation catheter of claim 22 , wherein the occlusion device is a balloon.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 18 words

The irrigation catheter of claim 22 , further comprising at least one perforation proximal to the occlusion device.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 20 words

The irrigation catheter of claim 21 , further comprising at least one perforation near the distal end of the body.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 23 words

The irrigation catheter of claim 21 , wherein said alloy material has a nickel content in the range of about 50.0%-51.5% atomic weight.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 26 words

The irrigation catheter of claim 21 , wherein said alloy material exhibits a substantially constant stress upon unloading of between about 200 MPa and 320 MPa.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 96 words

An irrigation catheter, comprising: a hollow elongate tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end and a lumen extending therethrough, the body being constructed at least partially from a transformation nonlinear superelastic nickel titanium alloy material, said alloy material exhibiting a substantially constant stress upon unloading of between about 170 MPa and 400 MPa; an occlusion device on the distal end of the elongate body; at least one perforation in the body near the distal end; and a valve member attached over the at least one perforation to control fluid flow through the perforation.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 96 words

An irrigation catheter, comprising: a hollow elongate tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end and a lumen extending therethrough, the body being constructed at least partially from a transformation nonlinear superelastic nickel titanium alloy material, said alloy material exhibiting a substantially constant stress upon unloading of between about 170 MPa and 400 MPa; an occlusion device on the distal end of the elongate body; at least one perforation in the body near the distal end; and a valve member attached over the at least one perforation to control fluid flow through the perforation.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 23 words

The irrigation catheter of claim 28 , wherein the occlusion device is a balloon in fluid communication with the lumen of the body.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 19 words

The irrigation catheter of claim 28 , wherein the at least one perforation is proximal to the occlusion device.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 19 words

The irrigation catheter of claim 28 , wherein a threshold fluid pressure within the lumen activates the valve member.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 15 words

The irrigation catheter of claim 31 , wherein the valve member is an elastomeric membrane.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 20 words

The irrigation catheter of claim 28 , wherein the valve member is provided inside the lumen of the elongate body.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 25 words

The irrigation catheter of claim 28 , further comprising a coil member extending from the distal end of the body and in fluid communication therewith.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2005-04-22	2005-10-22	2006-04-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2009-04-22	2009-10-22	2010-04-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2013-04-22	2013-10-22	2014-04-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Hollow medical wires and methods of constructing same

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