Catheter with spiral cut transition member
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A catheter assembly, comprising:
- an elongate outer tube having a transition in flexibility;
an elongate inner member having a proximal end and a distal end, the inner member being co-axially disposed within the lumen of the outer tube to form an annular lumen therebetween, the inner member having a transition in flexibility; and
a transition tube co-axially disposed within the annular lumen between the inner member and outer tube, the transition tube positioned adjacent at least a portion of the transition in flexibility of the inner member, and having a spiral cut therethrough along at least a portion thereof, wherein the transition tube overlaps at least a portion of the transition in flexibility of the inner member.
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Abstract
A spiral cut transition member is disclosed for controlling the transition in stiffness of a catheter from a stiffer more pushable proximal section to a more flexible and trackable distal section and increasing kink resistance. The transition member has a spiral cut provided therein to vary the flexibility of the transition member over its length. The pitch of the spiral cut can be varied to facilitate a gradual transition in flexibility along the catheter. The transition member may be used in conjunction with any type of catheter including single-operator-exchange type catheters, over-the wire type catheters, and/or fixed-wire type catheters.
266 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A catheter assembly, comprising:
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an elongate outer tube having a transition in flexibility;
an elongate inner member having a proximal end and a distal end, the inner member being co-axially disposed within the lumen of the outer tube to form an annular lumen therebetween, the inner member having a transition in flexibility; and
a transition tube co-axially disposed within the annular lumen between the inner member and outer tube, the transition tube positioned adjacent at least a portion of the transition in flexibility of the inner member, and having a spiral cut therethrough along at least a portion thereof, wherein the transition tube overlaps at least a portion of the transition in flexibility of the inner member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A catheter assembly, comprising:
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an elongate outer tube having a proximal outer section and a distal outer section joined together at a junction, the distal outer section being more flexible than the proximal outer section;
an elongate inner tube having a proximal end and a distal end with a guide wire lumen extending therethrough, the inner tube being co-axially disposed within the lumen of the outer tube to form an annular lumen therebetween, the inner tube having a transition in flexibility; and
a transition tube co-axially disposed within the annular lumen between the inner and outer tubes, the transition tube having a proximal end and a distal end with a side wall extending from the proximal end to the distal end defining a lumen therethrough, the proximal end of the transition tube being located proximal of the junction and the distal end of the transition tube being located distal of the Junction, the side wall of the transition tube having a spiral cut therethrough along at least a portion thereof, wherein the transition tube overlaps at least a portion of the transition in flexibility of the inner member. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification