Catheter tip assembled with a spring
First Claim
1. A flexible catheter, comprising:
- a longitudinal catheter body extending from a proximal end to a distal end; and
a flexible catheter tip located at said distal end of said longitudinal catheter body, said flexible catheter tip including a spring element having a proximal end and a distal end that is a distal-most end of the flexible catheter, said spring element defining an inner lumen having an inner luminal diameter and an outer diameter;
wherein said spring element is a wire coil having pitch space between two or more coils in a first region and tightly packed coils in a second region, said second region being distal of said first region, andwherein said wire coil having a decreasing cross-sectional diameter from the proximal end of the spring element to the distal end of the spring element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter tip having a spring element that imparts longitudinal flexibility, pushability and radial rigidity to the catheter tip, thereby improving deliverability, is provided. The spring element also provides radial support to the distal edge of the catheter tip. The spring element may taper distally, but may have a substantially constant inner luminal diameter. The spring element may be partially covered or embedded, leaving its distal end exposed. The spring element may also include spaced coils in a proximal region. The apparatus may be used with any interventional catheter system, but is particularly suitable for use with balloon-expandable stent systems and balloon-angioplasty systems, where flexibility of the catheter tip and minimal flaring of the distal edge of the catheter tip is desirable.
72 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A flexible catheter, comprising:
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a longitudinal catheter body extending from a proximal end to a distal end; and a flexible catheter tip located at said distal end of said longitudinal catheter body, said flexible catheter tip including a spring element having a proximal end and a distal end that is a distal-most end of the flexible catheter, said spring element defining an inner lumen having an inner luminal diameter and an outer diameter; wherein said spring element is a wire coil having pitch space between two or more coils in a first region and tightly packed coils in a second region, said second region being distal of said first region, and wherein said wire coil having a decreasing cross-sectional diameter from the proximal end of the spring element to the distal end of the spring element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A flexible catheter, comprising:
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a longitudinal catheter body extending from a proximal end to a distal end; and a flexible catheter tip located at said distal end of said longitudinal catheter body, said flexible catheter tip including a spring element having a proximal end and a distal end that is a distal-most end of the flexible catheter, said spring element defining an inner lumen having n inner luminal diameter and an outer diameter; wherein said spring element is a wire coil having pitch space between two or more coils in a first region and tightly packed coils in a second region, said second region being distal of said first region, wherein said wire coil having a decreasing cross-sectional diameter from the proximal end of the spring element to the distal end of the spring element, and wherein said inner luminal diameter tapers at a lesser rate than the outer diameter of the spring element.
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Specification