Variable stiffness heating catheter

• US 7,066,931 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2004
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Micrus Corporation (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Micrus Corporation (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: O'Connor, Michael J., Ferrera, David A., Connors, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): FARAH, AHMED M
• Application Number:
  US10/930,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20050027287A1
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 606 13- 16, 606 27- 49, 607 96-103
• US Class Current: 606/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0064 which become stiffer or softer when heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/00 Catheters; Hollow probes dilators A61M29/00; peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00 ; for measuring or testing A61B; materials for catheters A61L29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0051 made from fenestrated or weakened tubing layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0053 having a variable stiffness along the longitudinal axis, e.g. by varying the pitch of the coil or braid

Abstract

The variable stiffness heating catheter includes a heating catheter shaft including at least one electrically conductive member, a reinforcing tube with apertures formed around the surface of the reinforcing tube, and at least one coaxial outer layer of a polymer, metal, or both for providing desired variations in stiffness along at least a portion of the length of the shaft. The apertures can be formed as axial or helical slits in the surface of the reinforcing tube, and the reinforcing tube can also be formed to be tapered at the point where the apertures are formed in the reinforcing tube to provide a heating catheter that is torqueable and pushable at the proximal end, yet soft and flexible at the distal end.

Claims

1. A variable stiffness heating catheter for use in interventional vascular therapy, comprising:

a heating catheter shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion, said heating catheter shaft including a heating element;

a reinforcing tube having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the reinforcing tube surrounding the heating catheter shaft, and the distal portion of said reinforcing tube having a surface defining a plurality of apertures to provide variations in stiffness along the length of the heating catheter shaft; and

at least one outer coaxial sheath over at least a portion of said heating catheter shaft and covering said plurality of apertures of said reinforcing tube.

2. The variable stiffness heating catheter of claim 1, wherein said plurality of apertures comprise axial slits formed in the surface of the reinforcing tube.

3. The variable stiffness heating catheter of claim 1, wherein the apertures can be formed as helical slits in the surface of the reinforcing tube.

4. The variable stiffness heating catheter of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the reinforcing tube is tapered along its length.

5. The variable stiffness heating catheter of claim 1, wherein the apertures comprise a plurality of lateral slits formed in the surface of the reinforcing tube.

6. The variable stiffness heating catheter of claim 1, wherein said plurality of apertures in said reinforcing tube are disposed at the distal portion of said heating catheter shaft.

7. The variable stiffness heating catheter of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the reinforcing tube is tapered at the distal portion of the reinforcing tube, whereby said heating catheter is torqueable and pushable at the proximal portion, yet soft and flexible at the distal portion.

8. The variable stiffness heating catheter of claim 1, wherein said outer coaxial sheath is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of a polymer, metal, or a combination thereof.

9. The variable stiffness heating catheter of claim 8, wherein said polymer comprises heat shrink polymeric material.

10. The variable stiffness heating catheter of claim 9, wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyetherethylketone, and polyphenylenesulfide.