Hollow lumen cable apparatus

• US 6,685,696 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2001
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• 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): Casler, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RODRIGUEZ, CRIS LOIREN
• Application Number:
  US09/780,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20010021831A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 604/523-526, 604/533, 604/264, 604/103.09, 600/139-141, 600/585, 606/194, 138/144, 138/129
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/135 inside a blood vessel, e.g. using grafting
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/148 in line with a blood vessel using resection or like techniques, e.g. permanent endovascular heart assist devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/216 including a rotating member acting on the blood, e.g. impeller
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/408 the force acting on the blood contacting member being mechanical, e.g. transmitted by a shaft or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/857 Implantable blood tubes

Abstract

A hollow lumen cable is formed by helically winding inner and outer coils with the helices of each coil being in an abutting relationship and the outer coil inner peripheral 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 a medical apparatus. The cable is bendable about the tight radii and has a high torque transfer resolution while having a small cable outer diameter, a relatively long life, and has a hollow lumen in which there is no structure or through which fluid, wires or medial devices may pass. Also, there is a handle assembly for operating a movable guide wire between positions for straightening the guide wire and allowing it to assume its generally J-shape.

Claims

1. A hollow lumen cable for medical procedures comprising:

a. a first helically wound flexible coil having a coil central axis and wound in a first direction;

b. a second helically wound flexible coil wound in an opposite direction of said first helically wound coil with adjacent convolutions in contact and in an interfering fit relationship with said first helically wound coil; and

c. a third helically wound flexible coil wound in an opposite direction of said second coil with adjacent convolutions of said third helically wound coil in contact and in an interference fit with said second helically wound coil wherein the cable is sufficiently flexible and having high torque resolution as to form a drive connection rotatable at relatively high speeds even when bent around relatively tight radii of curvature in cardiac and vascular systems.

2. A cable according to claim 1 wherein the inner diameter of said third coil, in a non-assembled condition, is about 0.002″

to about 0.010″

less than the outer diameter of said second coil.

3. A coil assembly according to claim 1 wherein at least on of said coils comprises round wire.