Torqueable and deflectable medical device shaft
First Claim
1. A medical device shaft for connection with a handle and for insertion within a body, comprising:
- an elongated, deflectable shaft having a proximal shaft portion, an intermediate shaft portion, and a distal shaft portion, the elongated, deflectable shaft having a transition in stiffness from the proximal shaft portion to the distal shaft portion;
wherein the elongated, deflectable shaft includes a longitudinal axis and a plurality of slits that extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the deflectable shaft, wherein at least one of the number of slits, the location of slits, the frequency of slits, the orientation of the slits, the size of the slits and the depth of the slits are varied to vary the transition of stiffness in the shaft.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A medical device shaft for connection with a handle and for insertion within a body includes an elongated, deflectable shaft having a proximal shaft portion, an intermediate shaft portion, and a distal shaft portion. The elongated, deflectable shaft includes a transition in stiffness from the proximal shaft portion to the distal shaft portion. In a preferred implementation, the shaft includes a plurality of slits that extend perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the shaft. Varying at least one of the number of slits, the location of slits, the frequency of slits, the orientation of the slits, the size of the slits, and the depth of the slits varies the transition of stiffness.
253 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A medical device shaft for connection with a handle and for insertion within a body, comprising:
- an elongated, deflectable shaft having a proximal shaft portion, an intermediate shaft portion, and a distal shaft portion, the elongated, deflectable shaft having a transition in stiffness from the proximal shaft portion to the distal shaft portion;
wherein the elongated, deflectable shaft includes a longitudinal axis and a plurality of slits that extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the deflectable shaft, wherein at least one of the number of slits, the location of slits, the frequency of slits, the orientation of the slits, the size of the slits and the depth of the slits are varied to vary the transition of stiffness in the shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- an elongated, deflectable shaft having a proximal shaft portion, an intermediate shaft portion, and a distal shaft portion, the elongated, deflectable shaft having a transition in stiffness from the proximal shaft portion to the distal shaft portion;
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17. A medical device shaft for connection with a handle and for insertion within a body, comprising:
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an elongated, deflectable shaft having a proximal shaft portion, an intermediate shaft portion, and a distal shaft portion, the elongated, deflectable shaft having a transition in stiffness from the proximal shaft portion to the distal shaft portion;
wherein the elongated, deflectable shaft includes a longitudinal axis and a plurality of slits that extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the deflectable shaft, wherein the shaft includes a greater number of slits near the distal shaft portion than near the proximal shaft portion.
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18. A medical device shaft for connection with a handle and for insertion within a body, comprising:
- an elongated, deflectable shaft having a proximal shaft portion, an intermediate shaft portion, and a distal shaft portion, the elongated, deflectable shaft having a transition in stiffness from the proximal shaft portion to the distal shaft portion;
wherein the elongated, deflectable shaft includes a longitudinal axis and a plurality of slits that extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the deflectable shaft, and wherein the number of slits per unit length is greater near the distal shaft portion than near the proximal shaft portion.
- an elongated, deflectable shaft having a proximal shaft portion, an intermediate shaft portion, and a distal shaft portion, the elongated, deflectable shaft having a transition in stiffness from the proximal shaft portion to the distal shaft portion;
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19. A medical device shaft for connection with a handle and for insertion within a body, comprising:
- an elongated, deflectable shaft having a proximal shaft portion, an intermediate shaft portion, and a distal shaft portion, the elongated, deflectable shaft having a transition in stiffness from the proximal shaft portion to the distal shaft portion;
wherein the elongated, deflectable shaft includes a longitudinal axis and a plurality of slits that extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the deflectable shaft, and wherein the slits on the shaft have a depth and slits on the shaft near the distal shaft portion are deeper than the slits on the shaft near the proximal shaft portion.
- an elongated, deflectable shaft having a proximal shaft portion, an intermediate shaft portion, and a distal shaft portion, the elongated, deflectable shaft having a transition in stiffness from the proximal shaft portion to the distal shaft portion;
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20. A medical device shaft for connection with a handle and for insertion within a body, comprising:
- an elongated, deflectable shaft having a proximal shaft portion, an intermediate shaft portion, and a distal shaft portion, the elongated, deflectable shaft having a transition in stiffness from the proximal shaft portion to the distal shaft portion;
wherein the elongated, deflectable shaft includes a longitudinal axis and a plurality of slits that extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the deflectable shaft, and wherein the depth of the slits increases gradually from a point on the shaft near the proximal shaft portion to a point on the shaft near the distal shaft portion.
- an elongated, deflectable shaft having a proximal shaft portion, an intermediate shaft portion, and a distal shaft portion, the elongated, deflectable shaft having a transition in stiffness from the proximal shaft portion to the distal shaft portion;
Specification