Catheter

• US 20070276287A1
• Filed: 05/12/2006
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Vadodaria, Sachin, Donaldson, Brenda
• Application Number:
  US11/433,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20070276287A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/564
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/462 characterised by constructional features of the display
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0021 characterised by the form of the tubing A61M25/0054 takes precedence

Abstract

A catheter includes a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. The catheter further includes a control handle coupled to the proximal end of the shaft. The catheter further includes a catheter tip coupled to the distal end of the shaft, wherein the catheter tip is incapable of cutting. The catheter further includes a conductor extending through the shaft and coupled to the handle and catheter tip. The outside diameter of the shaft is less than the outside diameter of the catheter tip.

Claims

1. A catheter comprising:

a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

a control handle coupled to the proximal end of the shaft;

a catheter tip coupled to the distal end of the shaft, wherein the catheter tip is incapable of cutting; and

a conductor extending through the shaft and coupled to the handle and catheter tip, wherein the outside diameter of the shaft is less than the outside diameter of the catheter tip and including a transition portion between the shaft and the catheter tip not greater than five millimeters, with the catheter tip and shaft configured as a unitary body.

2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the outside diameter of the shaft is less than the outside diameter of the catheter tip within a range of one to three millimeters.

3. The catheter of claim 2, wherein the outside diameter of the shaft is at least two French less than the outside diameter of the catheter tip.

4. The catheter of claim 1, including an ultrasound array encapsulated in the catheter tip and coupled to the conductor.

5. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the catheter tip is not removable from the shaft.

6. A system comprising:

a patient bed configured to support a patient in a patient care facility;

a medical imaging device configured to obtain internal medical images of the patient; and

a catheter configured to be inserted into the patient to cooperate with the medical imaging device to obtain the medical images, the catheter comprising;

a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

a control handle coupled to the proximal end of the shaft;

a catheter tip coupled to the distal end of the shaft, wherein the catheter tip is incapable of cutting; and

a conductor extending through the shaft and coupled to the handle and catheter tip, wherein the outside diameter of the shaft is less than the outside diameter of the catheter tip.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the outside diameter of the shaft is less than the outside diameter of the catheter tip within a range of one to three millimeters.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the outside diameter of the shaft is at least two French less than the outside diameter of the catheter tip.

9. The system of claim 7, including a transition portion between the shaft and the catheter tip not greater than 5 millimeters.

10. The system of claim 6, including an ultrasound array encapsulated in the catheter tip and coupled to the conductor.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the catheter tip and shaft are a unitary body.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the catheter tip is not removable from the shaft.

13. A catheter comprising:

a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

a control handle coupled to the proximal end of the shaft;

a catheter tip coupled to the distal end of the shaft, wherein the catheter tip is incapable of cutting; and

a conductor extending through the shaft and coupled to the handle and catheter tip, wherein the outside diameter of the shaft is less than the outside diameter of the catheter tip.

14. The catheter of claim 13, wherein the outside diameter of the shaft is less than the outside diameter of the catheter tip within a range of one to three millimeters.

15. The catheter of claim 14, wherein the outside diameter of the shaft is at least two French less than the outside diameter of the catheter tip.

16. The catheter of claim 14, including a transition portion between the shaft and the catheter tip not greater than 5 millimeters.

17. The catheter of claim 13, including an ultrasound array encapsulated in the catheter tip and coupled to the conductor.

18. The catheter of claim 13, wherein the catheter tip and shaft are a unitary body.

19. The catheter of claim 13, wherein the catheter tip is not removable from the shaft.