IMPROVED MEDICAL DEVICE SHAFT DESIGNS

• US 20070208323A1
• Filed: 03/06/2006
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Davis, Liza, Gregorich, Daniel, Yoon, Soo-Young, Eidenschink, Tracee
• Granted Patent: US 8,235,969 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/523
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0059 having means for preventing the catheter, sheath or lumens from collapsing due to outer forces, e.g. compressing forces, or caused by twisting or kinking
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0023 by the form of the lumen, e.g. cross-section, variable diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0043 characterised by structural features
• 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

Devices and methods for transferring forces down a catheter shaft while also maintaining an open fluid pathway are disclosed. In some of the designs, inner and outer members of the catheter interact, allowing improved transfer of forces down the catheter shaft. These designs also allow for maintenance of a fluid pathway along the length of the shaft, including at locations where the inner and outer members are interacting with one another. Structures are disclosed which extend at least a portion of the length of the shaft, allowing improved force transfer and resistance to kinking. Structures are also disclosed which specifically allow for inner and outer members to engage one another at at least one point along the shaft, improving the transfer of forces down the shaft.

Claims

1. An intracorporeal device comprising:

an elongate shaft having inner and outer elongate members and a fluid flow lumen defined by a space between the inner and outer elongate members, the lumen in fluid communication with a balloon disposed on a distal end of the shaft;

wherein an outer surface of the inner elongate member or an inner surface of the outer elongate member comprises at least one raised portion, the at least one raised portion having a width and a height; and

wherein at least one dimension of the at least one raised portion is varied along the length of the shaft, imparting a variable stiffness along the length of the shaft.

2. The intracorporeal device of claim 1, wherein the height of the raised portions is less in a distal section of the shaft than in a proximal section of the shaft.

3. The intracorporeal device of claim 1, wherein the width of the raised portions is less in a distal section of the shaft than in a proximal section of the shaft.

4. The intracorporeal device of claim 1, wherein the number of raised portions is varied along the length of the shaft.

5. The intracorporeal device of claim 1, wherein raised portions extend the entire length of the member on which they are formed.

6. The intracorporeal device of claim 1, wherein there are four raised portions.

7. The intracorporeal device of claim 1, wherein the inner and outer members are tubular and are substantially coaxial with one another.

8. The intracorporeal device of claim 1, wherein the sides of the at least one raised portion extend substantially along a radii extending out from an axis running down the center of the shaft.

9. The intracorporeal device of claim 1, wherein the at least one raised portion is disposed on a first elongate member, the top of the raised portion being in the shape of an arc, the arc substantially matching an arc defined by an adjacent surface of a second elongate element.

10. The intracorporeal device of claim 1, wherein the at least one raised portion is shaped like one-half of an I-beam.

11. The intracorporeal device of claim 1, comprising at least two raised portions, wherein the at least two raised portions are distributed on an elongate member at even intervals around the circumference of the elongate member.

12. The intracorporeal device of claim 1, further comprising at least two raised portions, wherein the raised portions have the same shape and dimensions.

13. An intracorporeal device comprising:

an elongate shaft having inner and outer elongate members and a fluid flow lumen defined by a space between the inner and outer elongate members, the lumen in fluid communication with a balloon disposed on a distal end of the shaft;

wherein an outer surface of the inner elongate member or an inner surface of the outer elongate member comprises at least one raised portion; and

wherein the number of raised portions is varied along the length of the shaft, imparting a variable stiffness along the length of the shaft.

14. The intracorporeal device of claim 13, wherein the raised portions have a height and a width, and wherein at least one dimension of the at least one raised portion is varied along the length of the shaft.

15. The intracorporeal device of claim 14, wherein the height of the raised portions is less in a distal section of the shaft than in a proximal section of the shaft.

16. The intracorporeal device of claim 14, wherein the width of the raised portions is less in a distal section of the shaft than in a proximal section of the shaft.

17. The intracorporeal device of claim 13, wherein raised portions extend the entire length of the member on which they are formed.

18. The intracorporeal device of claim 13, wherein there are four raised portions.

19. The intracorporeal device of claim 13, wherein the inner and outer members are tubular and are substantially coaxial with one another.

20. The intracorporeal device of claim 13, wherein the sides of the at least one raised portion extend substantially along a radii extending out from an axis running down the center of the shaft.

21. The intracorporeal device of claim 13, wherein the at least one raised portion is disposed on a first elongate member, the top of the raised portion being in the shape of an arc, the arc substantially matching an arc defined by an adjacent surface of a second elongate element.

22. The intracorporeal device of claim 13, wherein the at least one raised portion is shaped like one-half of an I-beam.

23. The intracorporeal device of claim 13, comprising at least two raised portions, wherein the at least two raised portions are distributed on an elongate member at even intervals around the circumference of the elongate member.

24. The intracorporeal device of claim 13, further comprising at least two raised portions, wherein the raised portions have the same shape and dimensions.

25. An intracorporeal device comprising:

an elongate shaft having inner and outer elongate members and a fluid flow lumen defined by a space between the inner and outer elongate members, the lumen in fluid communication with a balloon disposed on a distal end of the shaft;

wherein an inner surface of the outer elongate member and an outer surface of the inner elongate member each comprise at least one raised portion; and

wherein the raised portions of the inner member are shaped and configured to engage with the raised portions outer member, facilitating transfer of forces down the length of the shaft.

26. The intracorporeal device of claim 25, wherein the raised portions have a width and a height and wherein at least one dimension of the raised portions of the inner elongate member is varied along the length of the shaft, imparting a variable stiffness along the length of the shaft.

27. The intracorporeal device of claim 26, wherein the height of the raised portions is less in a distal section of the shaft than in a proximal section of the shaft.

28. The intracorporeal device of claim 26, wherein the width of the raised portions is less in a distal section of the shaft than in a proximal section of the shaft.

29. The intracorporeal device of claim 25, wherein the number of raised portions is varied along the length of the shaft.

30. The intracorporeal device of claim 26, wherein the number of raised portions is varied along the length of the shaft.

31. The intracorporeal device of claim 25, wherein a side of the raised portions of the inner member contact a side of the raised portions of the outer member when the members are rotated with respect to one another.

32. The intracorporeal device of claim 25, wherein the raised portions of the inner member interlock in a radial direction with the raised portions of the outer member.

33. The intracorporeal device of claim 32, wherein the raised portions of both the inner and outer members are in the shape of one-half of an I-beam, with the bottoms of the I-beam of the inner and outer members interlocking with the bottoms of the I-beam of the outer and inner members, respectively.

34. The intracorporeal device of claim 25, wherein the number of raised portions on at least one of the shafts is varied along the length of the shaft.

35. The intracorporeal device of claim 25, wherein the number of raised portions on both the inner and outer shafts is varied along the length of the shaft.

36. The intracorporeal device of claim 25, wherein raised portions of the inner member extend the entire length of the inner member.

37. The intracorporeal device of claim 25, wherein raised portions of the outer member extend the entire length of the outer member.

38. The intracorporeal device of claim 25, wherein there are four raised portions on both the inner and outer member.

39. The intracorporeal device of claim 25, wherein the inner and outer members are tubular and are substantially coaxial with one another.

40. The intracorporeal device of claim 25, wherein both the inner and outer members comprise at least two raised portions, wherein the at least two raised portions are distributed on both the inner and outer members at even intervals around the circumference of the elongate member.

41. The intracorporeal device of claim 25, the inner member further comprising at least two raised portions, wherein the raised portions of the inner member have the same shape and dimensions.

42. The intracorporeal device of claim 25, the outer member further comprising at least two raised portions, wherein the raised portions of the outer member have the same shape and dimensions.

43. An intracorporeal device comprising:

an elongate shaft with inner and outer elongate members with a fluid flow lumen defined by a space between the inner and outer elongate members, the lumen in fluid communication with a balloon disposed on a distal end of the shaft;

wherein the outer elongate member and the inner elongate member are shaped and configured to engage one another in a transition area, transferring force down the shaft; and

wherein the transition area further comprises a fluid pathway to allow fluid flow from proximal of the transition area to distal of the transition area when the elongate members are engaged with one another.

44. The intracorporeal device of claim 43, wherein the inner member transitions from a relatively small outer diameter proximal of the transition area to a relatively large outer diameter distal of the transition area, the transition between diameters creating an inner force transfer surface;

wherein the outer member transitions from a relatively small inner diameter proximal of the transition area to a relatively large inner diameter distal of the transition area, the transition between diameters creating an outer force transfer surface; and

wherein the inner and outer force transfer surfaces can move from a first position where they are not engaged to a second position where they are engaged.

45. The intracorporeal device of claim 44, wherein the inner and outer force transfer surfaces move from the first to the second position when the outer member moves distally with respect to the inner member.

46. The intracorporeal device of claim 44, wherein the inner force transfer surface is substantially perpendicular to an axis extending down the center of the shaft, wherein the outer force transfer surface is disposed on an adjacent wall of the outer member, and the outer force transfer surface is substantially perpendicular to an axis extending down the wall of the outer member.

47. The intracorporeal device of claim 44, wherein the fluid pathway comprises a first cut-out in the inner member and a second cut-out in the outer member, wherein the cut-outs substantially line up with one another.

48. The intracorporeal device of claim 47, wherein the cut-outs are in the shape of wedges.

49. The intracorporeal device of claim 44, wherein the force transfer surfaces are formed to allow fluid to flow between the force transfer surfaces.

50. The intracorporeal device of claim 43, wherein the inner surface of the outer member has a set of female threads and the outer surface of the inner member has a set of male threads, the threads shaped and disposed to engage one another in the transition area.

51. The intracorporeal device of claim 50, wherein the threads are different heights, forming a fluid pathway through helical channel down the thread pattern.

52. The intracorporeal device of claim 50, wherein the threads in the outer member have at least one channel formed in them, forming a fluid pathway through the transition area.

53. The intracorporeal device of claim 50, wherein the threads in the inner member have at least one channel formed in them, forming a fluid pathway through the transition area.