Joined metal tubing and method of manufacture

• US 20070233039A1
• Filed: 03/29/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Codman & Shurtleff Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Codman & Shurtleff Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Mitelberg, Vladimir
• Granted Patent: US 7,785,317 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/523
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09108 Methods for making a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0915 having features for changing the stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0013 Weakening parts of a catheter tubing, e.g. by making cuts in the tube or reducing thickness of a layer at one point to adjust the flexibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0054 with regions for increasing flexibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0138 having flexible regions as a result of weakened outer material, e.g. slots, slits, cuts, joints or coils
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires

Abstract

A generally hollow article for use as or incorporation within a medical instrument navigable through body vessels of a human subject is provided. The article is defined by two metal pieces, such as nitinol and stainless steel, having different performance characteristics. At least a portion of the two pieces are arranged into an alternating pattern and joined together to define a joint or junction. The two pieces may each be provided as a tube having a spiral-cut section that is configured to be intermeshed with the spiral-cut section of the other metal. The article may also include a radiopaque material for improved placement within the body, which material may also be provided as a tube with a spiral-cut section to be intermeshed and joined with the first and second pieces.

Claims

1. A generally hollow tubular article for a medical device adapted to be received by a body vessel, comprising:

a first hollow piece substantially comprised of a first metal;

a second hollow piece substantially comprised of a second metal, wherein at least a portion of said first hollow piece and said second hollow piece are joined together in a generally alternating pattern to define a tubular portion; and

at least one of said first hollow piece and said second hollow piece is comprised of a tube having a spiral-cut section.

2. The article of claim 1, wherein said tubular portion defines a generally uniform outer diameter and a generally uniform inner diameter.

3. The article of claim 1, wherein each of said first hollow piece and said second hollow piece is comprised of a tube having a spiral-cut section.

4. The article of claim 3, wherein said spiral-cut sections have substantially identical outer diameters and substantially identical inner diameters.

5. The article of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the spiral-cut sections of said tubes are joined together in a generally alternating pattern.

6. The article of claim 5, wherein said spiral-cut sections are joined together by solder.

7. The article of claim 5, wherein said spiral-cut sections are joined together by an adhesive.

8. The article of claim 5, wherein said spiral-cut sections are joined together by shrink tubing.

9. The article of claim 1, wherein said first metal is different from and more flexible at human body temperature than said second metal.

10. The article of claim 1, wherein said first metal has superelastic properties.

11. The article of claim 1, wherein said first metal is a nitinol material.

12. The article of claim 1, wherein said first metal is a nitinol material and said second metal is stainless steel.

13. The article of claim 1, further comprising a third hollow piece substantially comprised of a radiopaque material, wherein said third hollow piece is joined together with said first hollow piece and said second hollow piece in a generally alternating pattern to define said tubular portion.

14. A method of creating a generally hollow tubular article for a medical device adapted to be received by a body vessel, comprising:

providing a first tube substantially comprised of a first metal and having a spiral-cut section;

providing a second tube substantially comprised of a second metal and having a spiral-cut section;

arranging at least a portion of said spiral-cut sections of the first tube and the second tube in a generally alternating pattern to define a tubular portion; and

joining at least a portion of said spiral-cut sections.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said joining includes soldering at least a portion of said spiral-cut sections together in an alternating pattern.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said joining includes adhering at least a portion of said spiral-cut sections together in an alternating pattern.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said joining includes applying a shrink tubing to at least a portion of said spiral-cut sections.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said providing a first tube includes providing a first tube substantially comprised of a nitinol material, and wherein said providing a second tube includes providing a second tube substantially comprised of stainless steel.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of providing a third tube substantially comprised of a radiopaque material and having a spiral-cut section.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said arranging includes arranging at least a portion of said spiral-cut sections of the first tube, the second tube, and the third tube in a generally alternating pattern to define a single layer tubular portion.