MEDICAL DEVICE FOR NAVIGATION THROUGH ANATOMY AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME

• US 20080021408A1
• Filed: 07/31/2007
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Precision Vascular Systems, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Precision Vascular Systems, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: NORTHROP, CLAY, LAYMAN, TED, BACKMAN, D., SNYDER, EDWARD, DAVIS, CLARK, JACOBSEN, STEPHEN, OLSON, KEVIN, TURNLUND, TODD
• Application Number:
  US11/831,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20080021408A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/164.13
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09016 with mandrils

Abstract

Medical devices for navigation through anatomy, including guidewires, which may have a core wire, a slotted tubular member, or both. Embodiments may have coils, including non-circular cross-section edge-wound marker coils, extended coil tips, and soldered or glued mesial joint coils. Core wires may have a step, ridge, or taper at the joints to the tubular member, and may be flattened at the distal tip. Radiopaque material may be located inside the tubular member, and the distal tip may be heat treated to make it shapeable. Additional tubular members or coils may be used concentrically or in line and may enhance flexibility, provide radiopacity, reduce friction, or reduce material or manufacturing cost. Tubular members may be chamfered or tapered continuously or incrementally. Slots may be arranged in groups, such as groups of three, and may be equal in depth or unequal in depth to provide a steerable or compressible tip.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a medical device, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a core member;

providing a tubular member, the tubular member having a plurality of slots formed therein;

wherein the tubular member includes a material having super elastic properties;

heat treating a region of the tubular member to locally reduce the super elastic properties of the material at the heat treated region; and

disposing the tubular member over at least a portion of the core member.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising disposing an edge wound coil adjacent to the core member.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the tubular member includes a nickel-titanium alloy.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein heat treating a region of the tubular member to locally reduce the super elastic properties of the material at the heat treated region includes heat treating a distal region of the tubular member.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein heat treating a region of the tubular member to locally reduce the super elastic properties of the material at the heat treated region allows the heat treated region of the tubular member to be shapeable.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein heat treating a region of the tubular member to locally reduce the super elastic properties of the material at the heat treated region includes heating the region of the tubular member to about 600 degrees Celsius.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein heating the region of the tubular member to about 600 degrees Celsius includes heating the region of the tubular member to about 600 degrees Celsius for about 10 seconds.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein heat treating a region of the tubular member to locally reduce the super elastic properties of the material at the heat treated region allows a user to achieve a permanent bend in the tubular member.

9. A medical device manufactured according to the method of claim 1.

10. A medical device, comprising:

a core member;

a nickel-titanium alloy tubular member disposed over at least a portion of the core member, the tubular member having a plurality of slot formed therein, a first section, and a second section;

wherein the first section of the tubular member has super elastic properties; and

wherein the second section of the tubular member is shapeable.

11. The medical device of claim 10, further comprising an edge wound coil disposed adjacent to the core member.

12. The medical device of claim 10, wherein the second section is defined by heat treating a portion of the tubular member.

13. The medical device of claim 10, wherein the second section is defined by heating a portion of the tubular member to about 600 degrees Celsius.

14. The medical device of claim 13, wherein the portion of the tubular member heated to about 600 degrees Celsius is heated to about 600 degrees Celsius for about 10 seconds.

15. The medical device of claim 10, wherein the second section is defined by annealing a portion of the tubular member.

16. The medical device of claim 10, wherein the second section is disposed adjacent to a distal end of the tubular member.

17. The medical device of claim 10, wherein the second section of the tubular member is adapted to take a permanent bend.

18. A method for manufacturing a medical device, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a tubular member, the tubular member including a material having super elastic properties;

forming a plurality of slots in the tubular member; and

reducing the super elastic properties in a first portion of the tubular member while leaving intact the super elastic properties in a second portion of the tubular member.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the tubular member includes a nickel-titanium alloy.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the first portion of the tubular member is disposed adjacent to a distal end of the tubular member.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the first portion of the tubular member is shapeable.

22. The method of claim 18, reducing the super elastic properties in a first portion of the tubular member while leaving intact the super elastic properties in a second portion of the tubular member includes heating the first portion of the tubular member to about 600 degrees Celsius.

23. The method of claim 22, heating the first portion of the tubular member to about 600 degrees Celsius includes heating the first portion of the tubular member to about 600 degrees Celsius for about 10 seconds.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein reducing the super elastic properties in a first portion of the tubular member while leaving intact the super elastic properties in a second portion of the tubular member includes annealing the first portion of the tubular member.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein reducing the super elastic properties in a first portion of the tubular member while leaving intact the super elastic properties in a second portion of the tubular member allows a user to achieve a permanent bend in the tubular member.

26. A medical device manufactured according to the method of claim 18.