Embryo-implanting catheter assembly and method for making the same
US6165165A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 9, 1999 |
| Grant date | Dec 26, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 9, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61M2025/0681
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An embryo implant catheter assembly includes an outer guide cannula and an inner catheter which is slidably disposed in the guide cannula. The inner catheter is operable to engage an embryo to be implanted in a female's uterus. The embryo is disposed in a distal end of the catheter, which distal end is inserted into the uterus during the implant procedure. The catheter has a varying stiffness from the distal end to an opposite proximal end, the distal end being softer and the proximal end being more rigid. The result is a catheter that is non-abraisive at its distal end, and resistant to wobble at its proximal end. The catheter is produced by extruding mixtures of resins which have different durometers, and varying the percentage of the resins in the mixture along the length of the catheter.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.