Catheter articulation segment with alternating cuts
First Claim
1. A device for configuring a catheter tube as a ring, wherein the catheter tube comprises:
- a distal section biased to bend in a plane around a first axis to form the ring in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first axis; and
a transition section having a first end and a second end, with the first end of the transition section being connected to the distal section, wherein the transition section is helically biased to move between a first configuration wherein the transition section is substantially straight to define a base line oriented substantially perpendicular to the first axis, and a second configuration wherein the first axis of the distal section is substantially aligned parallel with the base line;
wherein the catheter tube has a wall and defines a longitudinal axis, and the transition section is formed with a plurality of first slits cut through the wall in respective planes substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, with each first slit extending azimuthally in an arc partway around the axis from a first end to a second end and defining a center midway therebetween, and wherein the respective centers of the first slits are aligned along a first substantially helical path, the tube being further formed with a plurality of second slits cut through the wall in respective planes substantially perpendicular to the axis, with each second slit extending azimuthally in an arc partway around the axis from a first end to a second end and defining a center midway therebetween, and wherein the respective centers of the second slits are aligned along a second substantially helical path, with each said first slit being located between a pair of adjacent second slits and each said second slit being located between a pair of adjacent first slits, and with said second helical path being substantially diametrically opposite said first substantially helical path relative to said axis to allow for the selective helical bending of the transition section.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An articulation segment for a catheter includes a tube formed with a first plurality of axially aligned slits that are respectively oriented in planes perpendicular to the axis, with each slit extending azimuthally in an arc partway around the axis. The tube is also formed with a second plurality of similarly formed slits that are axially offset and diametrically opposed relative to the slits of the first plurality to allow for a bending of the catheter in a plurality of different planes. In a particular embodiment, the slits are arranged to allow the articulation segment to be reconfigured from a straight, substantially cylindrically shaped tube to a configuration in which a portion of the articulation segment is formed in the shape of a ring.
228 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A device for configuring a catheter tube as a ring, wherein the catheter tube comprises:
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a distal section biased to bend in a plane around a first axis to form the ring in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first axis; and a transition section having a first end and a second end, with the first end of the transition section being connected to the distal section, wherein the transition section is helically biased to move between a first configuration wherein the transition section is substantially straight to define a base line oriented substantially perpendicular to the first axis, and a second configuration wherein the first axis of the distal section is substantially aligned parallel with the base line; wherein the catheter tube has a wall and defines a longitudinal axis, and the transition section is formed with a plurality of first slits cut through the wall in respective planes substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, with each first slit extending azimuthally in an arc partway around the axis from a first end to a second end and defining a center midway therebetween, and wherein the respective centers of the first slits are aligned along a first substantially helical path, the tube being further formed with a plurality of second slits cut through the wall in respective planes substantially perpendicular to the axis, with each second slit extending azimuthally in an arc partway around the axis from a first end to a second end and defining a center midway therebetween, and wherein the respective centers of the second slits are aligned along a second substantially helical path, with each said first slit being located between a pair of adjacent second slits and each said second slit being located between a pair of adjacent first slits, and with said second helical path being substantially diametrically opposite said first substantially helical path relative to said axis to allow for the selective helical bending of the transition section. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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5. A device for configuring a catheter tube as a ring, wherein the catheter tube comprises:
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a distal section biased to bend in a plane around a first axis to form the ring in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first axis; a proximal section biased to bend in a plane around a second axis; and an transition section interconnecting the distal section with the proximal section, wherein the transition section is helically biased to move the first axis of the distal section between a first configuration wherein the first axis is substantially parallel to the second axis of the proximal section and a second configuration wherein the first axis is substantially perpendicular to the second axis of the proximal section; wherein the catheter tube has a wall and defines a longitudinal axis, and the transition section is formed with a plurality of first slits cut through the wall in respective planes substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, with each first slit extending azimuthally in an arc partway around the axis from a first end to a second end and defining a center midway therebetween, and wherein the respective centers of the first slits are aligned along a first substantially helical path, the tube being further formed with a plurality of second slits cut through the wall in respective planes substantially perpendicular to the axis, with each second slit extending azimuthally in an arc partway around the axis from a first end to a second end and defining a center midway therebetween, and wherein the respective centers of the second slits are aligned along a second substantially helical path, with each said first slit being located between a pair of adjacent second slits and each said second slit being located between a pair of adjacent first slits, and with said second helical path being substantially diametrically opposite said first substantially helical path relative to said axis to allow for the selective helical bending of the transition section. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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Specification