Catheter having a torque transmitting sleeve
First Claim
1. A catheter comprising a handle and a guide tube enclosing an interior bore, the guide tube including an array of slots subtending the tube along its length to impart flexibility, the guide tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the improvement comprising an elongated tapered sleeve joining the proximal end of the guide tube to the handle, said sleeve extending from the handle and frictionally, with a tight interference fit, gripping a portion of the guide tube beyond the handle for transmitting torque applied at the handle to the distal end of the guide tube.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter has a handle and a guide tube enclosing an interior bore. The guide tube has a proximal end and a distal end. A friction sleeve joins the proximal end of the guide tube to the handle. The friction sleeve extends from the handle and grips a portion of the guide tube beyond the handle. The friction sleeve forms a hand grip for the user beyond the confines of the handle. It also serves to effectively transmit torque applied at the handle to the distal end of the guide tube.
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Citations
4 Claims
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1. A catheter comprising a handle and a guide tube enclosing an interior bore, the guide tube including an array of slots subtending the tube along its length to impart flexibility, the guide tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the improvement comprising an elongated tapered sleeve joining the proximal end of the guide tube to the handle, said sleeve extending from the handle and frictionally, with a tight interference fit, gripping a portion of the guide tube beyond the handle for transmitting torque applied at the handle to the distal end of the guide tube.
- 2. A catheter comprising a handle and a guide tube enclosing an interior bore, the guide tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the improvement comprising an elongated tapered sleeve having a length substantially equal to that of the handle joining the proximal end of the guide tube to the handle, the sleeve extending from the handle and frictionally gripping a portion of the guide tube beyond the handle, with a tight interference fit, thereby forming a hand grip for the user beyond the confines of the handle.
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4. A catheter comprising a handle and a guide tube enclosing an interior bore, the guide tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the improvement comprising an elongated tapered sleeve extending from the handle and frictionally gripping a portion of the guide tube beyond the handle, wherein both the inner and outer surfaces of said sleeve are tapered away from said handle, said inner surface comprising a bore that progressively tapers into a tight interference fit on said guide tube and grips a portion of the guide tube beyond the handle for transmitting torque applied at the handle to the distal end of the guide tube.
Specification