Mechanical interlock for catheters

• US 10,646,689 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2017
• Issued: 05/12/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cephea Valve Technologies, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cephea Valve Technologies, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: von Oepen, Randolf, McNiven, Sean A., Valencia, Francisco
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Vi X
• Application Number:
  US15/662,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20180028779A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00309 Cut-outs or slits
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00323 Cables or rods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00783 Valvuloplasty
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00991 Telescopic means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2427 Devices for manipulating or deploying heart valves during implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0004 having two or more concentrically arranged tubes for forming a concentric catheter system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0006 which can be secured against axial movement, e.g. by using a locking cuff
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0063 having means, e.g. stylets, mandrils, rods or wires to reinforce or adjust temporarily the stiffness, column strength or pushability of catheters which are already inserted into the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0161 wherein the distal tips have two or more deflection regions
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0175 having telescopic features, interengaging nestable members movable in relations to one another
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0681 Systems with catheter and outer tubing, e.g. sheath, sleeve or guide tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0045 multi-layered, e.g. coated coating materials A61L29/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/005 with embedded materials for reinforcement, e.g. wires, coils, braids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0051 made from fenestrated or weakened tubing layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0102 Insertion or introduction using an inner stiffening member, e.g. stylet or push-rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0136 Handles therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0138 : having flexible regions as a result of weakened outer material, e.g. slots, slits, cuts, joints or coils
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0141 : having flexible regions as a result of using materials with different mechanical properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0147 : with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0662 : Guide tubes

Abstract

An intravascular device delivery system has an elongated member with a flexible hypotube. The hypotube can be rotationally keyed to a steerable catheter. The flexible hypotube includes one or more cuts to allow bending of the flexible hypotube within a first plane. The steerable catheter is steerable to bend the flexible hypotube within the first plane, and longitudinally movable relative to the flexible hypotube to allow distal movement of the steerable catheter relative to a distal end of the flexible hypotube.

Claims

1. An intravascular device delivery system, the system comprising:

an elongated member, the elongated member including;

a steerable catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween; and

a flexible hypotube sheath positioned radially outside and circumferentially about the steerable catheter and coaxial with the steerable catheter, the flexible hypotube sheath including at least one island cut and at least one slit cut to direct flexibility of the flexible hypotube,

wherein the flexible hypotube and the steerable catheter are rotationally fixed to one another at a first key assembly.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the flexible hypotube and the steerable catheter are rotationally fixed at a second key assembly distal of the first key assembly.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the flexible hypotube and the steerable catheter are longitudinally movable relative to one another.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the flexible hypotube has the at least one slit cut and at least one island cut in a bend region to preferentially direct flexibility of the flexible hypotube in a direction at the bend region.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the flexible hypotube and the steerable catheter are rotationally fixed at a second key assembly distal of the first key assembly and proximal to the bend region.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the steerable catheter is steerable in at least two planes.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the flexible hypotube further comprises a plurality of spines angularly between the at least one slit cut and the at least one island cut, the spines being angularly opposed to one another.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the steerable catheter extends distally from a distal end of the flexible hypotube.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the flexible hypotube comprises a mechanical interlock.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the mechanical interlock comprises at least one finger received in at least one channel, the at least one finger being formed in a first hypotube portion and the at least one channel being formed in a second hypotube portion, the first hypotube portion and the second hypotube portion having different stiffnesses.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a stiffening member disposed within a lumen of the elongated member.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one island cut and at least one slit cut for a flexibility pattern and the stiffening member is slidably disposed within the lumen between a first position at least partially overlapping flexibility pattern and a second positions spaced from the flexibility pattern.