Catheter support structure
First Claim
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1. A catheter having a longitudinal axis, said catheter comprising:
- a flexible hollow shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, said distal end sized to be inserted into a patient'"'"'s body lumen;
said shaft including at least a segment having;
A. a flexible tubular layer having an inner lumen with said tubular layer enclosing said catheter lumen;
B. a support structure secured to said layer for maintaining said inner lumen and for transmitting forces along a length of said segment, said support structure including;
(a) a plurality of support struts each having first and second ends longitudinally spaced apart along said axis, said struts extending at least partially around said axis from said first ends to said second ends;
(b) said plurality of support struts including a first set of said struts and a second set of said struts;
(c) said struts of said first set curving around said axis in a clockwise direction relative to a first end of said segment;
(d) said struts of said second set curving around said axis in a counter-clockwise direction relative to said first end of said segment; and
(e) said struts of said first and second sets disposed in a common radial layer spaced from said axis.
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Abstract
A catheter has a support segment which includes a plurality of support struts. Each of the struts has first and second ends longitudinally spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the segment. The struts curve at least partially around the axis from the first ends to the second ends. The support struts include a first set and a second set. The struts of the first set extend around the axis in a clockwise direction. The struts of the second set extend around the axis in a counter-clockwise direction.
152 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A catheter having a longitudinal axis, said catheter comprising:
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a flexible hollow shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, said distal end sized to be inserted into a patient'"'"'s body lumen; said shaft including at least a segment having; A. a flexible tubular layer having an inner lumen with said tubular layer enclosing said catheter lumen; B. a support structure secured to said layer for maintaining said inner lumen and for transmitting forces along a length of said segment, said support structure including; (a) a plurality of support struts each having first and second ends longitudinally spaced apart along said axis, said struts extending at least partially around said axis from said first ends to said second ends; (b) said plurality of support struts including a first set of said struts and a second set of said struts; (c) said struts of said first set curving around said axis in a clockwise direction relative to a first end of said segment; (d) said struts of said second set curving around said axis in a counter-clockwise direction relative to said first end of said segment; and (e) said struts of said first and second sets disposed in a common radial layer spaced from said axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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9. A catheter according to claim comprising a plurality of circumferential supports surrounding said axis and spaced along said longitudinal dimension.
Specification
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Current AssigneeCovidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
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Original AssigneeIntratherapeutics Incorporated (Sulzer Medica)
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InventorsVidlund, Robert M., Klima, Daniel J.
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Primary Examiner(s)Stright, Jr., Ronald
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Assistant Examiner(s)Bianco, Patricia
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Application NumberUS08/985,810Time in Patent Office823 DaysField of Search604/280, 604/282, 604/264, 604/281, 604/523-28, 604/533, 604/534, 138/123, 138/124, 138/125, 138/127, 138/137, 138/138, 138/140, 138/141, 138/143, 138/145, 138/146, 138/153, 138/144, 138/172, 606/194, 606/198US Class Current604/524CPC Class CodesA61M 25/005 with embedded materials for...A61M 25/0052 Localized reinforcement, e....
