MEDICAL DEVICE

• US 20090227983A1
• Filed: 05/21/2009
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: LIM, ELAINE, MIRIGIAN, GREGORY E., GRIFFIN, STEPHEN
• Granted Patent: US 8,182,465 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/526
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/02 Inorganic materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0046 Coatings for improving slidability
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0216 Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0227 Materials having sensing or indicating function, e.g. indicating a pressure increase
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0266 Shape memory materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/001 Forming the tip of a catheter, e.g. bevelling process, join or taper
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0045 multi-layered, e.g. coated coating materials A61L29/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0051 made from fenestrated or weakened tubing layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0053 having a variable stiffness along the longitudinal axis, e.g. by varying the pitch of the coil or braid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0054 with regions for increasing flexibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0097 characterised by the hub connectors A61M39/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0108 using radio-opaque or ultrasound markers

Abstract

A medical device including a shaft having an elongated inner member and an elongated tubular reinforcing member disposed over at least a portion of the inner member. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the outer surface of the inner member is spaced from the inner surface of the reinforcing member, defining a space substantially free of any other structures of the device. In some embodiments, the shaft can include a tip structure disposed on a distal portion of the inner member. In some such embodiments, the reinforcing member has a distal end, and the tip structure is disposed on the distal portion of the inner member adjacent the distal end of the reinforcing member. Additionally, in some embodiments, the reinforcing member can include a plurality of apertures defined therein, for example, to enhance the flexibility or other such characteristics of all or portions of the reinforcing member.

Claims

1. A catheter shaft, comprising:

a metallic tubular body having a distal end, an inner surface, and a lumen extending therethrough;

wherein a portion of the body has slots formed therein;

a liner disposed along the inner surface of the tubular body, wherein a distal region of the liner extends distally beyond the distal end of the body; and

wherein at least a portion of the liner is radially spaced from the inner surface of the tubular body.

2. The catheter shaft of claim 1, wherein tubular body includes a nickel-titanium alloy.

3. The catheter shaft of claim 2, wherein the tubular body includes a super elastic nickel-titanium alloy.

4. The catheter shaft of claim 2, wherein the tubular body includes a linear elastic nickel-titanium alloy.

5. The catheter shaft of claim 1, wherein the distal region of the liner forms a distal tip of the catheter shaft.

6. The catheter shaft of claim 1, wherein the liner defines a guidewire lumen.

7. The catheter shaft of claim 1, further comprising a hub attached to a proximal end of the tubular body.

8. The catheter shaft of claim 1, wherein the portion of the liner that is radially spaced from the inner surface of the tubular body defines a space between the tubular body and the liner, and wherein the space is substantially free of any other structures of the catheter shaft.

9. The catheter shaft of claim 1, wherein the slots formed in the tubular body extend through the tubular body and allow for fluid communication between the inner surface and an outer surface of the tubular body in the finished catheter shaft along substantially the entire length of the catheter shaft.

10. The catheter shaft of claim 1, wherein the tubular body is free of an encasing that closes the slots.

17. The catheter shaft of claim 1, wherein the tube is free of an encasing that closes the slots.

11. A catheter, comprising:

a nickel-titanium alloy tube having a distal end, an inner surface, and a lumen extending therethrough;

wherein the tube has a plurality of slots formed therein;

a liner disposed along the inner surface of the tube, wherein a distal region of the liner extends distally beyond the distal end of the body; and

wherein at least a portion of the liner is radially spaced from the inner surface of the tube.

12. The catheter of claim 11, wherein the tube includes a super elastic nickel-titanium alloy.

13. The catheter of claim 11, wherein the tube includes a linear elastic nickel-titanium alloy.

14. The catheter of claim 11, wherein the distal region of the liner forms a distal tip of the catheter.

15. The catheter of claim 11, wherein the portion of the liner that is radially spaced from the inner surface of the tube defines a space between the tube and the liner, and wherein the space is substantially free of any other structures of the catheter.

16. The catheter of claim 11, wherein the slots formed in the tube extend through the tube and allow for fluid communication between the inner surface and an outer surface of the tube in the finished catheter along substantially the entire length of the catheter.

18. A catheter, comprising:

a tubular member having a distal end, an inner surface, and a lumen extending therethrough;

wherein the tubular member has a plurality of slots formed therein;

a liner disposed along the inner surface of the tubular member; and

wherein at least a portion of the liner is radially spaced from the inner surface of the tubular member and defines a space between the tubular member and the liner, and wherein the space is substantially free of any other structures of the catheter.

19. The catheter of claim 18, wherein the distal region of the liner forms a distal tip of the catheter.

20. The catheter of claim 18, wherein the slots formed in the tubular member extend through the tubular member and allow for fluid communication between the inner surface and an outer surface of the tubular member in the finished catheter along substantially the entire length of the catheter.