Flexible, biocompatible, metal alloy catheter
First Claim
1. A flexible biocompatible catheter at least partially fabricated from a metal alloy, the metal alloy comprising:
- (i) titanium; and
(ii) from about 10 wt. % to about 20 wt. % niobium or from about 35 wt. % to about 50 wt. % niobium;
wherein the alloy is free of toxic elements, except such amounts of said toxic elements as may occur as impurities in the alloy and as contaminants as a result of alloy processing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Cardiovascular and other medical implants fabricated from low-modulus Ti--Nb--Zr alloys to provide enhanced biocompatibility and hemocompatibility. The cardiovascular implants may be surface hardened by oxygen or nitrogen diffusion or by coating with a tightly adherent, hard, wear-resistant, hemocompatible ceramic coating. The cardiovascular implants include heart valves, total artificial heart implants, ventricular assist devices, vascular grafts, stents, electrical signal carrying devices such as pacemaker and neurological leads, defibrillator leads, and the like. It is contemplated that the Ti--Nb--Zr alloy can be substituted as a fabrication material for any cardiovascular implant that either comes into contact with blood thereby demanding high levels of hemocompatibility, or that is subject to microfretting, corrosion, or other wear and so that a low modulus metal with a corrosion-resistant, hardened surface would be desirable.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A flexible biocompatible catheter at least partially fabricated from a metal alloy, the metal alloy comprising:
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(i) titanium; and (ii) from about 10 wt. % to about 20 wt. % niobium or from about 35 wt. % to about 50 wt. % niobium; wherein the alloy is free of toxic elements, except such amounts of said toxic elements as may occur as impurities in the alloy and as contaminants as a result of alloy processing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A flexible biocompatible catheter at least partially fabricated from a metal alloy, the metal alloy comprising:
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(i) titanium; and (ii) niobium and tantalum, wherein the combined wt. % of niobium and tantalum is from about 10 to about 20 wt. % or from about 35 wt. % to about 50 wt. %; wherein the alloy is free of toxic elements, except such amounts of said toxic elements as may occur as impurities in the alloy and as contaminants as a result of alloy processing. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification