Flexible delivery device

• US 20040243143A1
• Filed: 05/27/2003
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atrial Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cardia, Inc.
• Inventors: Marino, Joseph A., Corcoran, Michael P.
• Granted Patent: US 6,921,397 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0043 characterised by structural features
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0054 with regions for increasing flexibility

Abstract

This invention relates to catheter delivery systems, and more specifically, to a tubular device with improved torque and flexure characteristics. The present invention is a tubular device having improved torque and flexure characteristics which uses a series of permanently interlocking independent segments to provide the necessary torque and flexure characteristics.

Claims

1. A guidable tubular device with improved flexibility, the device comprising:

a tube;

a plurality of cuts in the tube which separate the tube into interlocking segments.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the interlocking segments comprise teeth and grooves.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the teeth of one interlocking segment fit into the grooves of an adjacent interlocking segment.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the plurality of cuts allows a gap to form between each interlocking segment.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein each of the plurality of cuts is shaped so that the teeth of one segment cannot be separated from the grooves of an adjacent interlocking segment.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein the interlocking segments can be pushed to remove the gap formed between each interlocking segment.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of cuts per unit length of the tube is variable.

8. A flexible tubular member for use in a percutaneous delivery system, the member comprising:

a plurality of tubular interlocking independent segments wherein each segment includes;

a proximal end;

a distal end; and

a plurality of contoured teeth on both the proximal and distal ends, shaped so that the proximal and distal ends interlock with the proximal and distal ends of adjacent segments, allowing flexing but not axial disconnection.

9. The tubular member of claim 8 wherein the plurality of tubular interlocking independent segments allows a gap to form between each independent segment.

10. The tubular member of claim 8 wherein the interlocking segments can be pushed to remove the gap formed between each interlocking segment.

11. The tubular member of claim 8 wherein the number of segments per unit length of the member is variable.

12. A guidable tubular device for use in a percutaneous delivery system, the device comprising:

a tubular member; and

a plurality of channels extending circumferentially around and through the tube, creating individual segments of tubing, wherein segments of tubing remain interlocked and cannot be disconnected from one another in the axial direction.

13. The guidable tubular device of claim 12 wherein the channels expand to give the device increased flexibility and decrease to give the device increased rigidity.

14. The guidable tubular device of claim 12 wherein the number of segments per unit length of the tubular device is variable.

15. The guidable tubular device of claim 12 wherein the channels comprise a dovetail cut.

16. A flexible tubular member for use in a percutaneous delivery system, the member comprising:

a plurality of modular interlocking independent segments wherein

each segment includes;

a proximal end;

a distal end; and

a plurality of dovetail cut contoured teeth on both the proximal and distal ends, shaped so that the proximal and distal ends interlock with the proximal and distal ends of adjacent segments allowing flexing but not axial disconnection.

17. The plurality of modular interlocking independent segments of claim 16 wherein the plurality of cuts allow a gap to form between each interlocking independent segment.

18. The member of claim 16 wherein the interlocking segments can compress when pushed to remove the gap formed between each interlocking segment.

19. The member of claim 16 wherein the number of segments per unit length of the member is variable.

20. The member of claim 16 wherein the dovetail cut comprises rounded edges.