Micro-catheter device and method of using same
First Claim
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1. A catheter having a proximal and a distal end, the catheter comprising:
- a tubular inner member;
a support structure layer that surrounds at least a portion of the tubular inner member;
a magnetically responsive member on the distal end of the inner member;
at least two sleeves axially disposed over the inner member the support structure layer, the at least two sleeves having at least two different flexibilities; and
an encapsulating layer that surrounds the magnetically responsive member on the distal end, enclosing the magnetic member on the inner member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The micro-catheter has regions of different flexibility along its length, and has a magnetic element responsive to an applied magnetic field disposed in the distal end. The magnetic field may be applied with at least one stationary or at least one moveable magnet external to the subject body. The distal end of the micro-catheter is sufficiently flexible and the tip is sized such that the tip can bend or deflect at least 50 degrees when subjected to a magnetic field of as low as 0.1 Tesla and more preferably as low as 0.08 Tesla having a reference angle 90 degrees relative to the orientation of the distal end of the catheter.
200 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A catheter having a proximal and a distal end, the catheter comprising:
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a tubular inner member;
a support structure layer that surrounds at least a portion of the tubular inner member;
a magnetically responsive member on the distal end of the inner member;
at least two sleeves axially disposed over the inner member the support structure layer, the at least two sleeves having at least two different flexibilities; and
an encapsulating layer that surrounds the magnetically responsive member on the distal end, enclosing the magnetic member on the inner member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A micro-catheter having a proximal and distal end;
- the micro-catheter comprising;
a tubular inner member extending from the proximal end to the distal end and having a lumen therebetween;
a layer of reinforcing wire disposed around the outside of at least a portion of the inner member;
a magnetically responsive sleeve axially disposed on the inner member and disposed over at least a portion of the reinforcing wire adjacent the distal end of the micro-catheter;
a plurality of sleeves of varying lengths and stiffnesses, which are axially disposed over the inner member proximal to the magnetically responsive sleeve, the sleeves arranged in decreasing order of stiffness toward the distal end;
an encapsulating layer disposed on the distal end and surrounding at least the magnetic sleeve. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- the micro-catheter comprising;
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20. An improved micro-catheter device having a proximal and distal end and a lumen therebetween;
- the improvement comprising;
a tubular inner member;
a layer of reinforcing wire disposed around the outside of the inner liner;
a magnetically responsive sleeve axially disposed over the reinforcing wire on the distal end of the inner member;
a plurality of sleeves of varying lengths and stiffnesses, which are axially disposed over the reinforcing wire layer proximal to the magnetic sleeve, wherein the plurality of sleeves are sequentially arranged in a manner such that the stiffness of the sleeves generally decreases toward the distal end; and
an encapsulating layer disposed on the distal end and surrounding the magnetic sleeve. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
- the improvement comprising;
Specification