Catheter with flexible, non-kinking elongate member
US7785289B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 17, 2006 |
| Grant date | Aug 31, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 1, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2018/0212
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A catheter may include an elongate member and a distal end therapy-providing portion attached at a distal portion of the elongate member. The elongate member may have an outer generally tubular structure having, firstly, an inner tube structure of rigid material having a circumferential cut through at least a portion of a longitudinal length of the inner tube structure to allow bending of the circumferentially-cut portion of the inner tube structure while maintaining a substantially uniform cross-sectional area and shape at a point of bending, and secondly, a separate outer tube that surrounds and is spaced apart from at least the circumferentially-cut portion of the inner tube structure. The circumferential cut may be a helical cut having a pitch that may vary over the portion of the longitudinal length. An inner diameter of the outer tube may be approximately 0.003″ greater than an outer diameter of the inner tube.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.