Steerable catheter using flat pull wires and method of making same
First Claim
1. A catheter assembly, comprising:
- an inner liner made of flexible material; and
an outer layer having a steering mechanism, the steering mechanism comprising;
at least one flat wire; and
a corresponding lumen for each of the at least one flat wire through which the flat wire may travel.
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Abstract
A catheter assembly includes an inner liner made of flexible material and an outer layer having a steering mechanism. The steering mechanism includes at least one flat wire and a corresponding lumen through which the flat wire may travel. The steering mechanism may also include at least one pull ring to which the flat wires are attached. A layer of heat shrink material may encompass the outer layer. A braided wire assembly, which may have a braid density that varies along the length of the catheter, may also be provided in the outer layer. The overall cross-section of the catheter assembly is preferably substantially circular. A catheter shaft may include a plurality of segments of differing hardness characteristics. The outer layer typically comprises a melt processing polymer such that the catheter assembly may be laminated using heat.
318 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A catheter assembly, comprising:
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an inner liner made of flexible material; and
an outer layer having a steering mechanism, the steering mechanism comprising;
at least one flat wire; and
a corresponding lumen for each of the at least one flat wire through which the flat wire may travel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of manufacturing a catheter, comprising the steps of:
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providing a mandrel;
placing a lining material over the mandrel to form an inner liner;
providing at least one flat shaped wire;
placing a flexible liner over each of the at least one flat shaped wires to create at least one flat lumen;
placing a braided wire assembly over the inner liner and the at least one flat lumen;
covering the braided wire assembly with a melt processing polymer;
applying sufficient heat to the melt processing polymer to raise the temperature of the polymer above its melting point;
cooling the assembly; and
removing the mandrel, thereby forming a catheter. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method of manufacturing a steerable introducer catheter, comprising the steps of:
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providing a mandrel;
laminating the mandrel with a lining material to form an inner liner;
providing at least one flat shaped wire;
covering the inner liner and the at least one flat shaped wire with a melt processing polymer;
applying sufficient heat to the melt processing polymer to raise the temperature of the melt processing polymer above its melting point;
cooling the assembly; and
removing the mandrel, thereby forming a steerable introducer catheter. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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36. A pull ring assembly for a catheter, comprising:
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a pull ring having at least one rectangular slot; and
at least one flat pull wire, wherein each of the at least one flat pull wires is secured to the at least one rectangular slot of the pull ring. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39)
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40. A pull ring assembly for a catheter, comprising:
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a pull ring having at least two rectangular slots; and
at least two pull wires, wherein each of the at least two pull wires is secured to a corresponding rectangular slot of the at least two rectangular slots. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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Specification