Elongated medical instruments with flexibility enhancing features
US11986605B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 29, 2019 |
| Grant date | May 21, 2024 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 29, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61M2205/0266
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An elongated medical device includes an elongated tubular element with a series of flexibility enhancing features along a length of the elongated tubular element. Each flexibility enhancing feature may include a circumferential series of cuts. The cuts of one flexibility enhancing feature may be offset relative to the cuts of a longitudinally adjacent flexibility enhancing feature. The flexibility enhancing features may be grouped into two or more interleaved sets, with each set of circumferential cuts being offset relative to the next set of circumferential cuts. Methods for manufacturing such elongated medical devices are also disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.