Controllable flexibility catheter with eccentric stiffener
First Claim
1. A catheter comprising:
- an elongate housing having an opening extending from a proximal end to a distal end of its length; and
controllable stiffening means coupled to a substantially stiffenable portion of the length of the elongate housing to provide at least a first higher flexibility of said substantially stiffenable portion of the elongate housing and a second lower flexibility of said substantially stiffenable portion of the elongate housing as selected by a user of the catheter, the controllable stiffening means comprising a primary chamber having at least a first wall portion and a second wall portion and adapted to be filled with a fluid, which chamber is eccentrically disposed around the elongate housing along said substantially stiffenable portion of the length, said first wall portion being formed by a portion of said elongate housing, wherein when said chamber is filled with a fluid, said second wall portion is elongate with respect to said first wall portion.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A guiding catheter 20 of variable, operator-controlled flexibility to be used in the performance of a percutaneous translumenal coronary angioplasty procedure is described which includes an elongate housing 42 suitable for insertion into an artery, as well as an operator-controlled variable stiffener coupled to the distal aspect of the catheter to permit the operator performing the angioplasty procedure to increase the rigidity of the catheter. In a preferred embodiment the stiffening apparatus consists of a fluid-filled chamber eccentrically displaced along the longitudinal axis of the catheter housing nearly encompassing the housing that contains a segment capable of asymmetric elongation when subjected to hydrostatic pressure resulting in the development of torque and increased rigidity of the distal end as desired by the operator. Increasing the rigidity of the guiding catheter, once installed within the coronary ostium, precludes disengagement of the guiding catheter, thus expediting the performance and enhancing the safety of the procedure.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A catheter comprising:
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an elongate housing having an opening extending from a proximal end to a distal end of its length; and controllable stiffening means coupled to a substantially stiffenable portion of the length of the elongate housing to provide at least a first higher flexibility of said substantially stiffenable portion of the elongate housing and a second lower flexibility of said substantially stiffenable portion of the elongate housing as selected by a user of the catheter, the controllable stiffening means comprising a primary chamber having at least a first wall portion and a second wall portion and adapted to be filled with a fluid, which chamber is eccentrically disposed around the elongate housing along said substantially stiffenable portion of the length, said first wall portion being formed by a portion of said elongate housing, wherein when said chamber is filled with a fluid, said second wall portion is elongate with respect to said first wall portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A catheter comprising:
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an elongate housing an opening extending from a proximal end to a distal end of its length; controllable stiffening means coupled to a portion of the length of the elongate housing to provide at least a first higher flexibility of that portion of the elongate housing and a second lower flexibility of that portion of the elongate housing as selected by a user of the catheter, the controllable stiffening means comprising a primary chamber adapted to be filled with a fluid, which chamber is eccentrically disposed around the elongate housing along the portion of the length; a channel extending from the primary chamber to the proximal end to permit pressurization of the primary chamber; and a secondary chamber disposed along the elongate housing more proximal to the distal end than the primary chamber. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A catheter comprising:
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an elongate housing having an opening extending from a proximal end to a distal end of its length; controllable stiffening means coupled to a portion of the length of the elongate housing to provide at least a first higher flexibility of that portion of the elongate housing as second lower flexibility of that portion of the elongate housing and a selected by a user of the catheter, the controllable stiffening means comprising a primary chamber adapted to be filled with a fluid, which chamber is eccentrically disposed around the elongate housing along the portion of the length; and an angioplasty dilation catheter disposed within the opening.
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24. A method for performing an angioplasty procedure using a guiding catheter having controllable stiffening means comprising a primary chamber adapted to be filled with a fluid which chamber is eccentrically disposed around the guiding catheter and affixed to a portion of the guiding catheter in proximity to the distal end comprising:
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introducing the guiding catheter to a desired position within a patient; employing the controllable stiffening means to increase the rigidity of the portion of the catheter to which the controllable stiffening means is affixed; performing the angioplasty procedure; employing the controllable stiffening means to reduce the rigidity of the portion of the catheter; and removing the catheter.
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Specification