FLEXIBLE CATHETER AND METHODS OF FORMING SAME

• US 20160100942A1
• Filed: 10/13/2015
• Published: 04/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Morrissey, Michael Shane
• Granted Patent: US 10,751,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0055 Constructional details of insertion parts, e.g. vertebral elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00314 Separate linked members
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2436 Deployment by retracting a sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/97 the outer sleeve being splittable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0083 using hook and loop-type fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0091 connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2240/001 Designing or manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0138 having flexible regions as a result of weakened outer material, e.g. slots, slits, cuts, joints or coils

Abstract

A delivery device for a collapsible prosthetic heart valve includes an outer shaft having a first end and a second end, an inner shaft disposed inside the outer shaft and longitudinally movable relative to the outer shaft, and a distal sheath coupled to the inner shaft and movable with the inner shaft to selectively cover and uncover a compartment for housing the valve. The outer shaft includes a plurality of disks each having at least two hinges to allow articulation of adjacent disks relative to one another, and at least one rib for coupling the adjacent disks to one another.

Claims

1. A delivery device for a collapsible prosthetic heart valve, the delivery device comprising:

an outer shaft having a first end and a second end;

an inner shaft disposed inside of the outer shaft and longitudinally movable relative to the outer shaft; and

a distal sheath coupled to the inner shaft and movable with the inner shaft to selectively cover and uncover a compartment for housing the valve;

the outer shaft including a plurality of disks, each disk having at least one hinge to allow articulation of adjacent disks relative to one another and at least one rib for coupling the adjacent disks to one another.

2. The delivery device of claim 1, wherein the at least one rib has a generally rectangular head.

3. The delivery device of claim 1, wherein the at least one hinge has a substantially circular head.

4. The delivery device of claim 1, wherein each disk includes two hinges disposed on opposite sides of the disk.

5. The delivery device of claim 1, wherein each disk includes two ribs circumferentially arranged about the disk.

6. The delivery device of claim 1, wherein the at least one hinge of each disk is axially aligned with other hinges of adjacent disks.

7. The delivery device of claim 1, wherein the at least one hinge of each disk is circumferentially offset from the at least one hinge of adjacent disks by a predetermined amount.

8. The delivery device of claim 7, wherein the predetermined amount is between about 0 degrees and about 60 degrees.

9. The delivery device of claim 1, wherein each disk is capable of a maximum articulation of between about 2 degrees and about 8 degrees relative to an adjacent disk.

10. The delivery device of claim 1, wherein adjacent disks are capable of articulating relative to one another such that the outer shaft is capable of a maximum bending angle of between about 30 degrees and about 50 degrees with respect to a central axis of the second end of the outer shaft.

11. The delivery device of claim 1, wherein the outer shaft is capable of articulating in one direction relative to a central axis at the second end the outer shaft.

12. The delivery device of claim 1, wherein the outer shaft is capable of articulating in multiple directions relative to a central axis at the second end the outer shaft.

13. The delivery device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of disks includes an equal number of ribs and hinges.

15. A catheter comprising:

an elongated tubular body having a first end and a second end and including a plurality of disks, each disk having at least two hinges to allow articulation of adjacent disks relative to one another and at least one rib for coupling adjacent disks to one another.

16. A method of forming a delivery device for a collapsible prosthetic heart valve comprising:

providing an outer shaft having a first end and a second end, an inner shaft disposed inside of the outer shaft and longitudinally movable relative to the outer shaft, and a distal sheath coupled to the inner shaft and movable with the inner shaft to selectively cover and uncover a compartment for housing the valve; and

cutting a series of circumferential patterns on the outer shaft at different axial lengths to form a plurality of disks, each disk having at least two hinges to allow articulation of adjacent disks relative to one another and at least one rib for coupling adjacent disks to one another.

14. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

a polymeric jacket disposed on an outer surface of the outer shaft.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein cutting comprises cutting alternating hinges and ribs on each of the plurality of disks around the circumference of each disk.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

coupling a polymeric jacket to the outer shaft after cutting the outer shaft.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein cutting comprises cutting a pattern on each of the plurality of disks, the pattern on each of the plurality of disks being offset in a circumferential direction from the pattern on an adjacent disk.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein cutting comprises using a laser to cut the outer shaft.