MEDICAL APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME

• US 20140257246A1
• Filed: 05/16/2014
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Original Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Inventors: Sokel, Justin W., Zukowski, Stanislaw L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,426,922 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/523
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/962 having an outer sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/97 the outer sleeve being splittable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0067 characterised by the distal end, e.g. tips A61M25/0054, A61M25/04 take precedence; balloon catheters A61M25/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0069 Tip not integral with tube
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49863 with prestressing of part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49908 Joining by deforming
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49913 by constricting outer annulus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49934 by axially applying force

Abstract

A catheter assembly includes a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end; an expandable device releasably attached to the catheter near the distal end; a generally tubular constraining sleeve extending around and compressing the device to an outer peripheral dimension suitable for endoluminal delivery; a tip fixedly secured to the distal end of the catheter; and a bridge member disposed between the tip and the expandable device so as to fill a gap therebetween as the catheter assembly is bent during endoluminal delivery of the expandable device to a treatment site.

Claims

1. A catheter assembly comprising:

a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;

an expandable device releasably attached to the catheter near the distal end and maintained toward an outer peripheral dimension suitable for endoluminal delivery;

a tip fixedly secured to the distal end of and generally coaxial with the catheter; and

a bridge member generally coaxial with the catheter and compressed between the tip and the expandable device to fill a gap therebetween.

2. A catheter assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bridge member is generally annular and includes a tapered surface radially engaging at least one of the expandable device and constraining sleeve.

3. A catheter assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein the tapered surface outwardly radially tensions at least one of the expandable device and constraining sleeve.

4. A catheter assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein the tapered surface is generally frustoconically shaped.

5. A catheter assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the catheter includes a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, the catheter assembly further comprising a tubular member extending through the lumen and having an end fixedly secured to the tip.

6. A catheter assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein the tubular member includes a guidewire lumen extending axially therethrough.

7. A catheter assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein the bridge member generally annular and includes a bore which receives the tubular member therethrough.

8. A catheter assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bridge member fills a gap between the tip and the expandable device and provides a transition therebetween upon bending of the distal end of the catheter during deployment at an angled treatment site.

9. A catheter assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bridge member is elastically deformed upon compression between the tip and the expandable device.

10. A catheter assembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein the bridge member is axially movable with respect to the catheter.

11. A catheter assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the bridge member is fixedly secured to the tip or catheter.

12. A catheter assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein a portion of the bridge member is fixedly secured to the tubular member so that a remaining portion of the bridge member is axially movable with respect to the catheter.

13. A catheter assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the tip includes a bore generally axially aligned with the guidewire lumen to allow a guidewire to be fed through the catheter and the tip.

14. A catheter assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bridge member includes a frustoconically shaped leading surface that faces the tip, which upon compression between the expandable device and tip provides a transition between the tip and the constraining sleeve.

15. A catheter assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bridge member includes portions of varying durometer.

16. A catheter assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bridge member includes a generally tubular shaped side wall and includes a wire frame coupled thereto to help the side maintain the gap between the tip and the device as the catheter assembly is bent during endoluminal delivery of the expandable device to a treatment site.