Universal, programmable guide catheter
First Claim
1. A guide catheter apparatus, comprising:
- (a) a guide catheter portion comprising a plurality of electroactive polymer actuators disposed along its axial length, said actuators changing guide catheter portion shape based upon received control signals; and
(b) a control unit coupled to said plurality of actuators and sending said control signals to said plurality of actuators, wherein each of said plurality of electroactive polymer actuators comprises (a) an active member portion, (b) a counter-electrode portion and (c) a region comprising an electrolyte disposed between said active member portion and said counter-electrode portion, wherein said active member portion, said counter-electrode portion and said region comprising an electrolyte are disposed between a substrate layer and a barrier layer, wherein said substrate layer is in the shape of a tube.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A guide catheter apparatus that comprises the following: (a) a guide catheter portion that includes a plurality of electroactive polymer actuators disposed along its axial length and (b) a control unit coupled to the actuators and sending control signals to the actuators. The actuators change the shape of the guide catheter portion based upon the control signals that are received from the control unit. In another aspect of the present invention, a method of introducing a guide catheter into a body lumen is provided. The method comprises: (a) providing a guide catheter apparatus like that above, and (b) inserting the guide catheter portion of the guide catheter apparatus into the body lumen, while using the control unit to control the shape of the guide catheter portion.
237 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A guide catheter apparatus, comprising:
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(a) a guide catheter portion comprising a plurality of electroactive polymer actuators disposed along its axial length, said actuators changing guide catheter portion shape based upon received control signals; and (b) a control unit coupled to said plurality of actuators and sending said control signals to said plurality of actuators, wherein each of said plurality of electroactive polymer actuators comprises (a) an active member portion, (b) a counter-electrode portion and (c) a region comprising an electrolyte disposed between said active member portion and said counter-electrode portion, wherein said active member portion, said counter-electrode portion and said region comprising an electrolyte are disposed between a substrate layer and a barrier layer, wherein said substrate layer is in the shape of a tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A guide catheter apparatus, comprising:
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(a) a guide catheter portion comprising a plurality of electroactive polymer actuators disposed along its axial length, said actuators changing guide catheter portion shape based upon received control signals; and (b) a control unit coupled to said plurality of actuators and sending said control signals to said plurality of actuators, wherein each of said plurality of electroactive polymer actuators comprises (a) an active member portion, (b) a counter-electrode portion and (c) a region comprising an electrolyte disposed between said active member portion and said counter-electrode portion, wherein said active member portion, said counter-electrode portion and said region comprising an electrolyte are disposed between a substrate layer and a barrier layer, wherein said substrate layer is in the shape of a tube, wherein at least a portion of said electroactive polymer actuators are adapted to contract in a direction parallel to an axis of said tube.
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25. A guide catheter apparatus, comprising:
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(a) a guide catheter portion comprising a plurality of electroactive polymer actuators disposed along its axial length, said actuators changing guide catheter portion shape based upon received control signals; and (b) a control unit coupled to said plurality of actuators and sending said control signals to said plurality of actuators, wherein each of said plurality of electroactive polymer actuators comprises (a) an active member portion, (b) a counter-electrode portion and (c) a region comprising an electrolyte disposed between said active member portion and said counter-electrode portion, and wherein said active member portion, said counter-electrode portion and said region comprising an electrolyte are disposed between a substrate layer and a barrier layer.
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Specification