Catheter shape control by collapsible inner tubular member
US5632734A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 10, 1995 |
| Grant date | May 27, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 10, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S138/08
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A composite catheter is formed by the combination of a catheter body and a tubular member insertable or secured inside the catheter body. The tubular member contains a series of relatively rigid segments alternating with flexible, collapsible segments which permit the rigid segments to effectively stack against one another when the tubular member is compressed axially. The shape that results when the rigid segments are forced together differs from that of the shape memory of the catheter body in certain embodiments of the invention, and changing the tubular member from a relaxed condition to the compressed condition inside the catheter body can therefore cause a change in shape of the catheter body.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.