Catheter articulation segment with alternating cuts
First Claim
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1. An articulation segment of a catheter for selectively bending the catheter in a plurality of planes, the articulation segment comprising:
- a hollow tube having a wall and defining a longitudinal axis, the tube being formed with a first slit through the wall lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis and extending azimuthally in an arc partway around the axis;
the tube being further formed with a second slit through the wall lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis and extending azimuthally in an arc partway around the axis;
wherein the first slit is axially and azimuthally offset from the second slit to allow for the selective bending of the catheter.
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Abstract
An articulation segment for a catheter includes a tube formed with a first plurality of axially aligned slits that are respectively oriented in planes perpendicular to the axis, with each slit extending azimuthally in an arc partway around the axis. The tube is also formed with a second plurality of similarly formed slits that are axially offset and diametrically opposed relative to the slits of the first plurality to allow for a bending of the catheter in a plurality of different planes.
84 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An articulation segment of a catheter for selectively bending the catheter in a plurality of planes, the articulation segment comprising:
- a hollow tube having a wall and defining a longitudinal axis, the tube being formed with a first slit through the wall lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis and extending azimuthally in an arc partway around the axis;
the tube being further formed with a second slit through the wall lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis and extending azimuthally in an arc partway around the axis;
wherein the first slit is axially and azimuthally offset from the second slit to allow for the selective bending of the catheter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- a hollow tube having a wall and defining a longitudinal axis, the tube being formed with a first slit through the wall lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis and extending azimuthally in an arc partway around the axis;
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10. An articulation segment of a catheter for selectively bending the catheter in a plurality of planes, the articulation segment comprising:
- a hollow tube having a wall and defining an axis and formed with a plurality of first slits each having a center and a substantially same arc length, with the plurality of first slits cut into the tube through the wall in planes substantially perpendicular to the axis with their respective centers aligned substantially parallel to the axis;
the tube being further formed with a plurality of second slits each having a center and a substantially same arc length, with the plurality of second slits cut into the tube through the wall in planes substantially perpendicular to the axis with their respective centers aligned substantially parallel to the axis;
wherein the centers of the plurality of first slits are azimuthally offset from the centers of the plurality of second slits, and the plurality of first slits are axially offset from adjacent slits in the plurality of second slits to allow for the selective bending of the catheter. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- a hollow tube having a wall and defining an axis and formed with a plurality of first slits each having a center and a substantially same arc length, with the plurality of first slits cut into the tube through the wall in planes substantially perpendicular to the axis with their respective centers aligned substantially parallel to the axis;
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16. A method for manufacturing an articulation segment for a catheter to allow for a selective bending of the catheter in a plurality of planes, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a hollow tube having a wall and defining a longitudinal axis;
orienting a laser system to cut a plurality of first slits into the tube through the wall with the first slits lying in respective planes substantially perpendicular to the axis and with each first slit having a same azimuthal orientation and extending in an arc partway around the axis and having a center aligned with the centers of other first slits along a first line substantially parallel to the axis; and
using the system to cut a plurality of second slits into the tube through the wall with the second slits lying in respective planes substantially perpendicular to the axis and with each second slit having a same azimuthal orientation and extending in an arc partway around the axis and having a center aligned with the centers of other second slits along a second line substantially parallel to the axis, wherein slits in the plurality of first slits are axially offset from slits in the plurality of second slits, and wherein the fist line is azimuthally offset from the second slit line to allow for the selective bending of the catheter. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification