Hollow lumen cable apparatus

• US 6,210,395 B1
• Filed: 10/20/1997
• Issued: 04/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lake Region Manufacturing Incorporated (Integer Holdings Corporation Inc)
• Original Assignee: Lake Region Manufacturing Incorporated (Integer Holdings Corporation Inc)
• Inventors: Fleischhacker, Mark G., Fleischhacker, Joseph F. Jr., Hanson, Donald W., Hargreaves, Thomas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kennedy, Sharon
• Assistant Examiner(s): RODRIGUEZ, CRIS LOIREN
• Application Number:
  US08/953,059
• Time in Patent Office: 1,261 Days
• Field of Search: 604/523-526, 604/533, 604/264, 604/103.09
• US Class Current: 604/526
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3207 Atherectomy devices working by cutting or abrading; Similar devices specially adapted for non-vascular obstructions A61B17/32037 takes precedence; endoscopic cutting instruments A61B17/320016
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/245 for removing obstructions in blood vessels or calculi
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09066 having a coil without a core possibly combined with a sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09091 where a sheath surrounds the coil at the distal part
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09191 made of twisted wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0105 Steering means as part of the catheter or advancing means; Markers for positioning systems for detection of markers A61B
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires

Abstract

A hollow lumen cable is formed by helically winding inner and outer coils with the helices of each coil being in abutting relationship and the outer coil inner diameter being less than the outer coil inner diameter being less than the outer, peripheral, diameter of the inner coil. Preferably, each coil is multifilar. After the coils are wound, an unwinding force is applied to the outer coil and the inner coil is inserted into the outer coil to have its winding inclined opposite to that of the outer coil; and thence, the outer coil is allowed to contract to form an interference fit with the inner coil. The cable may be incorporated as part of various medical systems e.g., implantable pumps or other rotatable medical apparatuses. The cable is bendable about the tight radii, has a high torque transfer, a small outer diameter, and a hollow lumen through which fluid, wires or medial devices may pass.

Claims

1. A catheter comprising an axially elongated multifilar metal inner coil having convolutions in abutting relationship, a distal end portion, a proximal end portion and an inner peripheral wall portion, an axially elongated multifilar outer metal coil having convolutions in abutting relationship, a distal end portion, a proximal end portion and an outer peripheral wall portion, the outer coil throughout at least substantially its entire axial length in its relaxed condition being of a smaller inner diameter than the outer diameter of the inner coil in its relaxed condition and being in coaxial abutting relationship to the inner coil, first means for joining the proximal end portions of the coils to one another, second means for joining the distal end portions of the coils to one another in fixed relationship, and third means for forming a generally tubular resilient portion joined to at least one of the inner and outer coil peripheral wall portions to extend radially outwardly and radially inwardly relative to the respective one of the peripheral wall portions to which it is joined, said third means extending at least nearly the axial length of the coils, including axially more remote from the proximal end portions of the coils than the distal end portions of the coils, and having a distal outlet opening, the coils being helically wound in opposite directions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that the third means is made of a plastic material and that there is provided a catheter luer fitting joined to the proximal end portions of the coils in fixed relationship therto, and that each coil in a linear relaxed condition has its adjacent helices in abutting relationship throughout its axial length.