TUBULAR MEMBER HAVING TAPERED TRANSITION FOR USE IN A MEDICAL DEVICE

• US 20070287955A1
• Filed: 08/08/2007
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: NORTHROP, CLAY, LAYMAN, TED
• Granted Patent: US 7,914,467 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/585
• 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 25/01 Introducing, guiding, advancing, emplacing or holding catheters A61M25/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires

Abstract

An elongated medical device and components therefore, and methods for making and using the same. An example embodiment includes an elongated metallic tubular member including a tapered transition region disposed between two sections having different physical characteristics, such as flexibility characteristics. In some cases, the tubular member includes a section including a plurality of slots formed therein. Some example embodiments include a medical device including such a tubular member.

Claims

1. A medical device, comprising:

an elongate inner member having a proximal section and a distal section; and

a elongated metallic tubular member disposed about the inner member, the tubular member including a first section, a tapered section, and a slotted section having a plurality of slots defined therein, wherein the tapered section is disposed between the first section and the slotted section.

2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the slotted section is more flexible than the first section and the tapered section includes flexibility characteristics that transition between the flexibility of the first section and the slotted section.

3. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the first section is substantially free of slots formed therein.

4. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the tapered section is substantially free of slots formed therein.

5. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the first section has a first outer diameter, and the tapered section has a tapered outer diameter that tapers to a reduced outer diameter relative to the first outer diameter.

6. The medical device of claim 5, wherein the slotted section has an outer diameter that is substantially the same as the first outer diameter.

7. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the metallic tubular member comprises a nickel-titanium alloy.

8. The medical device of claim 7, wherein the nickel-titanium alloy comprises a super-elastic nickel-titanium alloy.

9. The medical device of claim 7, wherein the nickel-titanium alloy comprises a non-super-elastic nickel-titanium alloy.

10. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the elongated metallic tubular member comprises a single monolith of material that defines the first section and the tapered section.

11. The medical device of claim 10, wherein the single monolith of material also defines the slotted section.

12. The medical device of claim 10, wherein the slotted section is a discrete section that is affixed to the single monolith of material.

13. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the elongated metallic tubular member comprises a single monolith of material that defines the tapered section and the slotted section.

14. The medical device of claim 13, wherein the first section is a discrete section that is affixed to the single monolith of material.

15. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the first, tapered, and slotted sections are each discrete tubular sections that are affixed together.

16. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the first section is a proximal section, and the slotted section is a distal section, and tapered section is disposed between the proximal and distal sections.

17. The medical device of claim 1, wherein inner member is a core wire.

18. The medical device of claim 1, wherein inner member is an elongated inner tubular member defining a lumen extending there through.

19. The medical device of claim 18, wherein inner tubular member comprises a polymeric material.

20. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising an intermediate member disposed between the inner member and the elongated metallic tubular member.

21. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising a sheath disposed over at least a portion of the elongated metallic tubular member.

22. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the elongated metallic tubular member includes a length and defines a lumen extending there through, the lumen having an inner diameter, and wherein the inner diameter of the lumen remains substantially constant along the length of the tubular member.

23. A medical device, comprising:

an elongate inner member having a proximal section and a distal section; and

a elongated metallic tubular member disposed about the inner member, the tubular member including a proximal section having a first lateral flexibility, a slotted distal section having a plurality of slots defined therein and having a second lateral flexibility that is greater than the first lateral flexibility, and means for providing a transition in flexibility characteristics between the proximal section and the slotted distal section.

24. A method for making a medical device, the method comprising:

providing an elongated metallic tubular member having a first section, a slotted section, and a tapered section between the first section and the slotted section;

providing an elongated inner member; and

disposing the tubular member about the inner member.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising affixing the elongated metallic tubular member to the elongated inner member.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the slotted section is more flexible than the first Section and the tapered section includes flexibility characteristics that transition between the flexibility of the first section and the slotted section.

27. An elongate tubular component for use in a medical device, the tubular component comprising:

an elongated metallic tubular member defining a lumen extending there through, the metallic tubular member including;

a first section having a first degree of lateral flexibility;

a third section including a plurality of slots formed therein and having a second degree of lateral flexibility that is greater than the first degree lateral flexibility; and

a second intermediate section that is tapered and is disposed between and interconnects the first and third section, wherein the tapered intermediate section provides for flexibility characteristics that transition between the first and second degrees of lateral flexibility.

28. The elongate tubular component of claim 27, wherein the first section is substantially free of slots formed therein.

29. The elongate tubular component of claim 27, wherein the second intermediate section is substantially free of slots formed therein.

30. The elongate tubular component of claim 27, wherein the first section has a first outer diameter, and the tapered section has a tapered outer diameter that tapers to a reduced outer diameter relative to the first outer diameter.

31. The elongate tubular component of claim 27, wherein the third section has an outer diameter that is substantially the same as the first outer diameter.

32. The elongate tubular component of claim 27, wherein the metallic material comprises a nickel-titanium alloy.

33. The elongated tubular component of claim 32, wherein the nickel-titanium alloy comprises a super-elastic nickel-titanium alloy.

34. The elongated tubular component of claim 32, wherein the nickel-titanium alloy comprises a non-super-elastic nickel-titanium alloy.

35. The elongate tubular component of claim 27, wherein the elongated metallic tubular member comprises a single monolith of material that defines the first section and the second intermediate section.

36. The elongate tubular component of claim 35, wherein the single monolith of material also defines the third section.

37. The elongate tubular component of claim 35, wherein the third section is a discrete section that is affixed to the single monolith of material.

38. The elongate tubular component of claim 27, wherein the elongated metallic tubular member comprises a single monolith of material that defines the second intermediate section, and the third section.

39. The elongate tubular component of claim 38, wherein the first section is a discrete section that is affixed to the single monolith of material.

40. The elongate tubular component of claim 27, wherein the first, second, and third sections are each discrete tubular sections that are affixed together.

41. The elongate tubular component of claim 27, wherein the first section is a proximal section, and the third section is a distal section, and intermediate section is disposed between the proximal and distal sections.

42. A method of making an elongate tubular component for use in a medical device, the method comprising:

creating an elongated metallic tubular member including;

a first section having a first degree of lateral flexibility;

a third section including a plurality of slots formed therein and having a second degree of lateral flexibility that is greater than the first degree lateral flexibility, and

a second intermediate section that is tapered and is disposed between and interconnects the first and third section, wherein the tapered intermediate section provides for flexibility characteristics that transition between the first and second degrees of lateral flexibility.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the elongate tubular member comprises a single monolith of material that defines the first section and the second intermediate section.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the single monolith of material also defines the third section.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein the third section is a section that is distinct from the single monolith of material, and the method further includes affixing the third section to the second intermediate section.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein the elongate tubular member comprises a single monolith of material that defines the second intermediate section and the third section.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the first section is a section that is distinct from the single monolith of material, and the method further includes affixing the first section to the second intermediate section.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein the first, second, and third sections are each discrete tubular sections, and the method further includes affixing the third section to the second intermediate section and affixing the first section to the second intermediate section.