Steerable stylet
First Claim
1. A device comprisinga flexible, elongated tubular member having a central axis extending therethrough and a stylet having a shape-memory tube made of shape-memory material and formed to include a lumen extending therethrough, the shape-memory tube being positioned in the tubular member to permit movement of the shape-memory tube relative to the tubular member along the central axis, the movement of the shape-memory tube relative to the tubular member along the central axis occurring during insertion or removal of the stylet into or out of the tubular member during a medical procedure.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A medical device is provided that includes a catheter and a stylet positioned in the catheter. The stylet is configured to guide the catheter through a passage of a patient. The stylet is preferable tubular and made of a shape-memory material that changes shape when heated to bend or turn the catheter.
71 Citations
57 Claims
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1. A device comprising
a flexible, elongated tubular member having a central axis extending therethrough and a stylet having a shape-memory tube made of shape-memory material and formed to include a lumen extending therethrough, the shape-memory tube being positioned in the tubular member to permit movement of the shape-memory tube relative to the tubular member along the central axis, the movement of the shape-memory tube relative to the tubular member along the central axis occurring during insertion or removal of the stylet into or out of the tubular member during a medical procedure.
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13. A device comprising
a tubular member having a lumen formed therein and a shape-memory member having a lumen formed therein, the shape-memory member being received in the lumen of the tubular member and configured for removal from the lumen, the shape-memory member being movable in response to a change in temperature of the shape-memory member, the shape of the tubular member changing upon movement of the shape-memory member.
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25. A device configured to be inserted into a passage, the device comprising
a catheter formed to include a lumen therein and a stylet insertable into the lumen of the catheter and having a tubular member made of a shape-memory material configured to alter a physical characteristic of the catheter in response to activation of the shape-memory material.
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37. A medical device configured to be inserted into a passage of a patient, the medical device comprising
a flexible, elongated member having a distal end configured to be inserted into a passage of a patient and a proximal end spaced apart from the distal end, the flexible, elongated member including a primary member, a secondary member, and means for coupling the primary member to the secondary member, the primary member having a lumen formed therein and being made of a shape-memory material, the primary member being made of a first material having a first modulus of elasticity, the secondary member being made of a second material having a second modulus of elasticity that is greater than the first modulus of elasticity.
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45. A medical device configured to be inserted into a passage of a patient, the medical device comprising
a flexible elongated catheter having a lumen formed therein, and a flexible, elongated member having a distal end configured to be inserted into a passage of a patient and a proximal end spaced apart from the distal end, the flexible, elongated member including a primary member and a secondary member coupled to the primary member, the primary member having a lumen formed therein and being made of a shape-memory material, the secondary member being made of an electrically conductive material, the flexible, elongated member being received within the catheter for contemporaneous removal from the catheter and passage of the patient, and the primary member being configured to change a physical characteristic of the catheter upon activation of the shape-memory material of the primary member.
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55. A medical device configured to be inserted into a passage of a patient, the medical device comprising
a flexible, elongated member having a distal end configured to be inserted into a passage of a patient and a proximal end spaced apart from the distal end, the flexible, elongated member including a primary member and a secondary member coupled to the primary member, the primary member having a lumen formed therein and being made of a shape-memory material, the secondary member being made of a metallic material, the primary member including a proximal end and a distal end, the secondary member terminating short of the distal end of the primary member.
Specification