SPIRAL CUT HYPOTUBE

• US 20090157048A1
• Filed: 12/18/2007
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Belton, Craig, Sutermeister, Derek, Rassat, Jay, Eidenschink, Tracee E.J.
• Application Number:
  US11/959,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20090157048A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/523
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/085 Macromolecular materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0058 having an electroactive polymer material, e.g. for steering purposes, for control of flexibility, for locking, for opening or closing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0063 having means, e.g. stylets, mandrils, rods or wires to reinforce or adjust temporarily the stiffness, column strength or pushability of catheters which are already inserted into the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0045 multi-layered, e.g. coated coating materials A61L29/08
• 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 25/0158 with magnetic or electrical means, e.g. by using piezo materials, electroactive polymers, magnetic materials or by heating of shape memory materials

Abstract

A medical device such as a catheter may have an elongate shaft that includes a hypotube having a helical cutting formed therein. The elongate shaft may define a lumen that extends within the elongate shaft. An electroactive polymer may be disposed over at least a portion of the hypotube. A medical device may include a spiral cut hypotube having a constant pitch and may be configured to reversibly and temporarily alter the pitch of at least a portion of the spiral cut hypotube. In some cases, the medical device may be configured to reversibly and/or temporarily alter a compressive strength of at least a portion of the spiral cut hypotube.

Claims

1. A catheter comprising:

an elongate shaft comprising a hypotube with a helical cutting formed therein, the elongate shaft defining a lumen; and

an electroactive polymer disposed over at least a portion of the hypotube.

2. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising a conductive pattern disposed adjacent the hypotube.

3. The catheter of claim 2, wherein the hypotube defines the conductive pattern.

4. The catheter of claim 2, further comprising a conductive wire disposed within the lumen.

5. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the helical cutting defines a pitch, and the electroactive polymer is arranged to reversibly alter the pitch of at least a portion of the hypotube.

6. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the hypotube has a pushability, and the electroactive polymer is arranged to reversibly alter the pushability of at least a portion of the hypotube.

7. The catheter of claim 1, wherein subjecting the electroactive polymer to a current causes available ions to move into the electroactive polymer, thereby causing the electroactive polymer to swell.

8. The catheter of claim 7, wherein the electroactive polymer comprises an electroactive polymer doped with an immobile anion.

9. The catheter of claim 8, wherein the electroactive polymer comprises polypyrrole and the immobile anion comprises sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate.

10. The catheter of claim 7, wherein the available ions are provided in an electrolyte solution within the lumen.

11. The catheter of claim 7, wherein the available ions comprise a blood component available within a patient'"'"'s blood.

12. A medical device comprising:

a spiral cut hypotube having a constant cutting pitch;

wherein the medical device is configured to reversibly alter a pitch of at least a portion of the spiral cut hypotube.

13. The medical device of claim 12, wherein the medical device further comprises an electroactive polymer disposed about at least a portion of the spiral cut hypotube.

14. The medical device of claim 13, wherein the spiral cut hypotube comprises an exterior surface and a helical cutting formed within the exterior surface, the electroactive polymer disposed on at least a portion of the exterior surface between adjacent turns of the helical cutting.

15. The medical device of claim 13, wherein the electroactive polymer is arranged to unwind the spiral cut hypotube when activated.

16. The medical device of claim 13, wherein the electroactive polymer is arranged to wind the spiral cut hypotube when activated.

17. A medical device comprising:

a spiral cut hypotube having a constant pitch;

wherein the medical device is configured to reversibly alter a compressive strength of at least a portion of the spiral cut hypotube.

18. The medical device of claim 17, wherein the medical device further comprises an electroactive polymer disposed about at least a portion of the spiral cut hypotube.

19. The medical device of claim 18, wherein the spiral cut hypotube comprises an exterior surface and a helical cutting formed within the exterior surface, the electroactive polymer disposed on at least a portion of the exterior surface spanning adjacent turns of the helical cutting.

20. The medical device of claim 18, wherein the electroactive polymer is arranged to limit winding and unwinding of the spiral cut hypotube.

21. A medical device comprising:

a spiral cut polymeric tube, the polymeric tube having a conductive layer, and an electro active polymer disposed on at least a portion of the exterior surface.

22. The medical device of claim 21 wherein the polymeric tube includes PEBAX, multi-layer tubing nylon, HDPE, or PEEK.