Method and apparatus for forming cuts in catheters, guidewires and the like

• US 6,766,720 B1
• Filed: 12/22/1999
• Issued: 07/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SARCOS LC (Sarcos Technology & Robotics Corp.)
• Original Assignee: SARCOS LC (Sarcos Technology & Robotics Corp.)
• Inventors: Jacobsen, Stephen C., Davis, Clark C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goodman, Charles
• Application Number:
  US09/470,606
• Time in Patent Office: 1,679 Days
• Field of Search: 83/75, 83/62, 83/621, 83/63, 832/11, 833/61, 833/67, 833/68, 833/70, 832/09, 832/10, 832/40, 832/48, 832/57, 832/82, 834/09, 834/18, 834/21, 834/57, 834/65, 834/661, 834/712, 834/713, 834/85, 834/86, 834/861, 835/56, 835/63, 837/33, 838/63, 838/64, 838/81, 838/86, 837/50, 838/22, 269/254.R, 279/46.1
• US Class Current: 83/75
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09108 Methods for making a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0015 Making lateral openings in a catheter tube, e.g. holes, slits, ports, piercings of guidewire ports; Methods for processing the holes, e.g. smoothing the edges
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 45/124 the workpieces turning about their longitudinal axis during the cutting operations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/0385 Rotary scoring blade
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/05 With reorientation of tool between cuts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/0596 Cutting wall of hollow work
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/152 And modify another operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/446 With means to initiate tool feed by same control impulse
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/4463 Work-sensing means to initiate tool feed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/4506 Work feed means carried by tool or tool support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/4559 With means to vary magnitude or base position of tool stroke
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/4645 With means to clamp work during dwell
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/527 With means to control work-responsive signal system
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/536 Movement of work controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/538 Positioning of tool controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/541 Actuation of tool controlled in response to work-sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/6577 With means to adjust additional means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/6579 With means to press work to work-carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/6667 Work carrier rotates about axis fixed relative to tool station
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7573 Including clamping face of specific structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7587 : Gapped work-constrainer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7693 : Tool moved relative to work-support during cutting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7768 : With means to adjust path of reciprocation

Abstract

A system configured for forming precision cuts in an elongate object comprising a base member and a movable member carried by the base member and movable toward and away from the elongate member, and a cutting blade carried by the movable member; and a clamping device coupled to the base member, and configured to engage the elongate object while the cutting blade makes an incision therein; and a contact detection system configured for detecting contact between the cutting blade and the elongate object.

Claims

1. A system for forming precision cuts in an elongate object having a lengthwise axis, said system comprising:

a base;

a cutting instrument;

a moveable member movably carried by the base, configured to facilitate relative movement of the cutting instrument and the elongate object toward and away from each other so as to facilitate cutting of the elongate object by the cutting instrument;

an apparatus carried by one of the base and the moveable member and configured to hold the elongate object and translate and rotate the elongate object along, and around, respectively, the lengthwise axis of the elongate object,

a linear motion transducer configured to move the elongate object and cutting instrument with respect to each other with precision;

a clamping device configured to steady the elongate object during cutting;

a contact detection system further comprising a sensor configured for detecting contact between the cutting instrument and the elongate object; and

,

a controller configured to cooperate with the contact detection system and to control the relative movement of the elongate object and the cutting instrument, so as to control relative movement toward and away from each other, holding and releasing of the elongate object, relative translation and rotation of the cutting instrument and the elongate object along, and around, respectively, the lengthwise axis of the elongate member, and thereby control and facilitate precision relative positioning and depth of a plurality of cuts in the elongate object.

2. A system as in claim 1, further comprising:

a rotatable spindle carried by the moveable member, wherein the cutting instrument comprises a circular cutting blade carried by the rotatable spindle; and

,

a drive motor coupled to the at least one spindle, and configured for rotating the cutting blade; and

,

wherein the apparatus configured to hold the elongate object and translate and rotate the elongate object along, and around, the lengthwise axis of the elongate object further comprises a pinch roller assembly.

3. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the cutting instrument further comprises:

a plurality of circular saw blades mounted coaxially on the spindle; and

wherein the plurality of circular saw blades are equal in diameter.

4. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the cutting instrument comprises a cutting blade, and the controller, linear motion transducer, and contact detection system are configured to cooperate to sense wear of the cutting blade.

5. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the cutting instrument comprises a cutting blade and the contact detection system comprises an electrical conduction sensing circuit couplable to the cutting blade to the elongate object, wherein the elongate object is conductive, and said circuit being configured for notifying the controller when the cutting blade comes into contact with the electrically conductive elongate object.

6. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the cutting instrument comprises a cutting blade and the contact detection system comprises a mechanical drag detector operatively coupled to the cutting blade so as to sense when the blade contacts the elongate object.

7. A system as defined in claim 6, wherein the cutting blade is a circular rotatable blade and the mechanical drag detector comprises a rotation speed change detector which monitors rotation of the cutting blade and indicates a change in rotation speed, thereby determining when contact is made with the elongate object.

8. A system as defined in claim 6, wherein the mechanical drag detector comprises a torque detector which monitors a change in an amount of torque required to turn the cutting blade.

9. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the cutting instrument is a cutting blade, and the contact detection system comprises an optical detector configured for detecting a gap between the cutting blade and the elongate object.

10. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the clamping device is configured to grip and release the elongate object under control of the controller, the elongate object being gripped by the clamping device when the cutting instrument is cutting the elongate object, and released by the clamping device when the elongate object is moved.

11. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the cutting instrument comprises a saw blade.

12. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the contact detection system comprises:

an electrical conduction sensor comprising an electrical circuit operatively couplable to the cutting instrument and the elongate object, wherein the elongate object and cutting instrument are conductive, said circuit being configured to produce a signal indicating that the cutting instrument has come into contact with the electrically conductive elongate object, whereby control of a depth of cut into the elongate object from a location of said contact is facilitated.

13. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the apparatus configured to translate and rotate the elongate object along, and around, respectively, the lengthwise axis of the elongate object further comprises a further clamp configured to rotate with respect to the base and to simultaneously hold and rotate the elongate cylindrical object.

14. A system for forming precision cuts in an elongate object having a lengthwise axis, said system comprising:

a base;

a moveable member carried by the base;

a circular rotatable cutting blade rotatably carried by the movable member;

an apparatus, carried by the base, configured to grasp the elongate object and translate and rotate the elongate object along, and around, respectively, the lengthwise axis of the elongate object;

a clamp coupled to the base, and configured for holding the elongate object steady while the cutting blade makes an incision therein and releasing the elongate object when said apparatus manipulates the elongate object;

a contact detection system configured for detecting contact between the cutting blade and the elongate object; and

,

a controller, and at least one transducer, configured to cooperate with the contact detection system and to control and coordinate movement of the movable member and said cutting blade carried thereon, the clamp, and said apparatus configured to translate and rotate the elongate object,

the system being configured to provide precision automatic cutting of the elongate object and precision in relative positioning of cuts, both along, and rotated with respect to, the lengthwise axis of the elongate object, and precision in depth of cuts made in the elongate object from a point of first contact between the cutting blade and the elongate object.

15. A system as defined in claim 14, further comprising means for determining an extent of wear of the cutting blade.

16. A system as defined in claim 15, wherein the contact detection system comprises a mechanical drag detector configured for detecting drag on the blade while cutting.

17. A system as defined in claim 16, wherein the mechanical drag detector comprises a rotation detector which monitors rotation of the cutting blade, thereby determining when contact is made with the elongate object.

18. A system as defined in claim 16, wherein the mechanical drag detector comprises a torque detector which monitors a change in an amount of torque required to turn the cutting blade.

19. A system as defined in claim 15, wherein the means for determining an extent of wear of the cutting blade comprises an optical detector for detecting a gap between the cutting blade and the elongate object.

20. A system as defined in claim 14, wherein the at least one transducer comprises a precise linear motion transducer cooperating with the controller to control movement of the moveable member toward and away from the elongate object.

21. A system as defined in claim 20, wherein the contact detection system further comprises:

an electrical conduction sensing circuit coupled to the cutting blade and the elongate object, wherein the elongate object and the blade are conductive, said circuit being configured to produce a signal indicating that the cutting blade is one of;

i) immediately adjacent; and

, ii) in contact with, the electrically conductive elongate object.

22. A system as defined in claim 14, wherein the contact detection system comprises a mechanical drag detection means configured for detecting drag on the blade while cutting.

23. A system as defined in claim 22, wherein the mechanical drag detection means comprises a rotation detector which monitors a rate of rotation of the cutting blade, thereby determining when contact is made with the elongate object.

24. A system as defined in claim 22, wherein the mechanical drag detection means comprises a torque detector which monitors a change in an amount of torque required to turn the cutting blade while cutting.

25. A system as defined in claim 14, wherein the contact detection system comprises an optical detector for detecting a gap between the cutting blade and the elongate object.

26. A system for forming precision cuts in a small-diameter elongate cylindrical object configured to be used in one of a catheter and a guidewire configured for use in a patient'"'"'s anatomy, said object having a lengthwise axis, said system comprising:

a base;

a horizontally moveable member carried by the base and configured to move horizontally with respect to the base;

a linear motion transducer configured for moving the horizontally moveable member with respect to the base;

a rotatable spindle carried by the horizontally movable member;

a cutting blade disposed on the rotatable spindle;

a clamping device coupled to the base member, and configured for steadying the cylindrical object while the cutting blade makes an incision therein;

an apparatus configured to translate and rotate the elongate object along, and around, respectively, the lengthwise axis of the elongate object;

a contact detection system comprising a contact sensor configured for detecting contact between the cutting blade and the cylindrical object and producing a signal indicative thereof; and

,

a controller configured to cooperate with the contact sensor indicating contact between the cutting blade and the cylindrical object to control relative movement of the elongate object and the cutting blade, so as to thereby control and facilitate precision relative positioning and depth of a plurality of cuts in the elongate object.

27. A system as set forth in claim 26, wherein the contact detection system further comprises:

an electrical conduction sensing circuit coupled to the cutting blade and the cylindrical object, wherein the cylindrical object and the blade are conductive, said circuit being configured to produce the signal indicating that the cutting blade is one of;

i) immediately adjacent; and

, ii) in contact with, the electrically conductive cylindrical object.

28. A system as set forth in claim 27, wherein the sensing circuit employs a substantially constant direct current.

29. A system as set forth in claim 27, wherein the sensing circuit employs an oscillating current.

30. A system as set forth in claim 29, wherein the sensing circuit employs a current of alternating polarity.

31. A system as set forth in claim 27, wherein the apparatus configured to translate and rotate the elongate object along, and around, respectively, the lengthwise axis of the elongate object further comprises a further clamp configured to rotate with respect to the base and to simultaneously hold and rotate the elongate cylindrical object.

32. A system as set forth in claim 31, where the clamp comprises a non-rotating clamp immediately adjacent a location where the cutting blade contacts the elongate cylindrical object and is intermediate the further clamp and said location where the cutting blade contacts the elongate cylindrical object.