Medical device having flexible distal tip

• US 20040087876A1
• Filed: 11/05/2002
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Eskuri, Alan D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,993,285 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/585
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0081 Soft tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09175 having specific characteristics at the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0069 Tip not integral with tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/008 Strength or flexibility characteristics of the catheter tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires

Abstract

A medical device having a flexible distal tip. In some embodiments, a medical device includes a shaft and a distal tip. The distal tip can include an outer member having one or more balls disposed therein.

Claims

1. A medical device, comprising:

an elongate member having a proximal portion and a distal tip portion;

wherein the distal tip portion includes an outer member; and

one or more balls disposed within the outer member.

2. The medical device in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one or more of the balls comprise metal or metal alloy.

3. The medical device in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one or more of the balls comprise polymer, glass, or ceramic.

4. The medical device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the balls are disposed within a lumen defined by the outer member and wherein the balls are tightly packed within the outer member.

5. The medical device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the balls are disposed within a lumen defined by the outer member and wherein the balls are loosely packed within the outer member.

6. The medical device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the balls are spherical.

7. The medical device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the balls are non-spherical.

8. The medical device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the outer member comprises a polymeric sheath.

9. The medical device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the outer member comprises a coil.

10. The medical device in accordance with claim 9, further comprising a distal solder tip disposed at a distal end of the outer member.

11. The medical device in accordance with claim 9, further comprising a proximal weld disposed at a proximal end of the outer member to attach the outer member to the elongate member.

12. The medical device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the balls include a channel extending there through.

13. The medical device in accordance with claim 12, further comprising an inner shaft extending longitudinally through the outer member and passing through the channels.

14. A medical device, comprising:

an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; and

a distal tip disposed near the distal end, the distal tip including an enclosure having one or more beads disposed therein.

15. The medical device in accordance with claim 14, wherein the beads comprise metal or metal alloy.

16. The medical device in accordance with claim 14, wherein the beads comprise polymer, ceramic, or glass.

17. The medical device in accordance with claim 14, wherein the beads are tightly packed within the enclosure.

18. The medical device in accordance with claim 14, wherein the beads are loosely packed within the enclosure.

19. The medical device in accordance with claim 14, wherein the beads are spherical.

20. The medical device in accordance with claim 14, wherein the beads are non-spherical.

21. The medical device in accordance with claim 14, wherein the enclosure comprises a polymeric sheath.

22. The medical device in accordance with claim 14, wherein the enclosure comprises a coil.

23. The medical device in accordance with claim 22, further comprising a distal solder tip disposed at a distal end of the enclosure.

24. The medical device in accordance with claim 22, further comprising a proximal weld disposed at a proximal end of the enclosure to attach the enclosure to the enclosure to the elongate shaft.

25. The medical device in accordance with claim 14, wherein the heads include a channel extending there through.

26. The medical device in accordance with claim 25, further comprising an inner shaft extending longitudinally through the enclosure and passing through the channels.

27. A medical device, comprising:

an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

a tip disposed at the distal end; and

wherein the tip includes an outer member defining an inner lumen, wherein one or more beads disposed within the lumen.

28. A medical device, comprising:

an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

means for providing a flexible distal tip portion.

29. The medical device in accordance with claim 28, wherein the means for providing a flexible distal tip portion includes a outer member disposed at the distal end of the shaft.

30. The medical device in accordance with claim 29, further comprising one or more balls disposed within the outer member.

31. The medical device in accordance with claim 29, wherein the outer member includes a polymeric sheath.

32. The medical device in accordance with claim 29, wherein the outer member includes a coil.