Tether equipped catheter

• US 20040236367A1
• Filed: 05/22/2003
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Noberg, John R., Hill, Jason, Brown, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 8,685,053 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/194
• 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 2025/0175 having telescopic features, interengaging nestable members movable in relations to one another
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10 Balloon catheters A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02; inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 ; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00

Abstract

A catheter assembly comprises a manifold positioned at a proximal end of the catheter assembly. A tether member has a proximal end region fixedly engaged to a portion of the manifold. A proximal tubular member has a first end region engaged to the manifold. The proximal tubular member is disposed about at least a portion of the tether member. At least a portion of the tether member distal of the manifold is fixedly engaged to at least a portion of the proximal tubular member.

Claims

1. A catheter assembly comprising:

a manifold, the manifold being positioned at a proximal end of the catheter assembly;

a tether member, the tether member having a proximal end region and a distal end region, at least a portion of the proximal end region being fixedly engaged to a portion of the manifold;

a proximal tubular member, the proximal tubular member having a first end region and a second end region, at least a portion of the first end region being engaged to the manifold, the proximal tubular member being disposed about at least a portion of the tether member, at least a portion of the tether member distal of the manifold being fixedly engaged to at least a portion of the proximal tubular member.

2. The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the tether member is fixedly engaged to at least a portion of second end region of the proximal tubular member.

3. The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein the tether member is comprised of at least one wire.

4. The catheter assembly of claim 3 wherein the at least one wire is at least partially constructed of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of:

stainless steel, Elgiloy, nitinol, cobalt, chrome, titanium, nickel, tantalum and any combination thereof.

5. The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein the tether member is at least partially constructed of at least one material of the group consisting of:

stainless steel, Elgiloy, nitinol, cobalt, chrome, titanium, tantalum, carbon fiber, Kevlar, Dacron and any combination thereof.

6. The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the tether member has a diameter of about 0.002 to about 0.015 inches.

7. The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the tether member has a diameter of about 0.005 inches.

8. The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the first end region of the proximal tubular member is engaged to a portion of the tether member.

9. The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein the portion of the tether member distal of the manifold is in substantially continuous engagement with at least a portion of the proximal tubular member.

10. The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein the proximal tubular member comprises a hypo-tube.

11. The catheter assembly of claim 10 wherein the hypo-tube is at least partially constructed of at least one metal.

12. The catheter assembly of claim 10 wherein the hypo-tube is at least partially constructed of at least one polymeric material.

13. The catheter assembly of claim 10 further comprising a mid-shaft member, at least a portion of the second end region of the hypo-tube being engaged to a portion of the mid-shaft member, at least a portion of the distal end region of the tether member being engaged to at least a portion of the mid-shaft member.

14. The catheter assembly of claim 13 wherein the mid-shaft member is more flexible than the hypo-tube.

15. The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein the proximal tubular member comprises a first portion and a second portion, a distal end of the first portion being engaged to a proximal end of the second portion, the tether member being engaged to at least one region of each of the first portion and second portion.

16. The catheter assembly of claim 1 further comprising a distal outer tubular member, at least a portion of the second end region of the proximal tubular member being engaged to at least a portion of the distal outer tubular member.

17. The catheter assembly of claim 16 wherein the tether member is engaged to at least a portion of the distal outer tubular member.

18. The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein a distal portion of the catheter defines a stent mounting region.

19. The catheter assembly of claim 1 further comprising a medical balloon, the medical balloon.

20. The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein the proximal tubular member defines a lumen, the tether member extending distally from the manifold and at least partially through the lumen of the proximal tubular member.

21. A catheter assembly comprising:

a proximal end and a distal end;

a proximal tubular member, the proximal tubular member having a distal end region and a proximal end region;

a tether member, the tether member having a proximal end region and a distal end region, at least a portion of the distal end region of the tether member being fixedly engaged to the distal end

22. A catheter assembly comprising:

a tubular member, the tubular member having a proximal end region and a distal end region, the tubular member defining a lumen therethrough; and

a tether member, the tether member having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, the distal end portion of the tether member being fixedly engaged to a portion of the distal end region of the tubular member, and the proximal end portion of the tether member extending proximally through the lumen to the proximal end region of the tubular member.