Catheter cutting tool

• US 8,006,594 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2008
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Gordon, Lucas S., Keech, Evan M., Hayner, Louis R.
• Primary Examiner(s): MICHALSKI, SEAN M
• Application Number:
  US12/189,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20100031793A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 83/13, 83/17, 83/18, 83/54, 835/91, 83451-455, 835/44, 30/92, 30 93- 96, 30/912, 30/901, 30/902, D24/112, 604/95.05, 604523-532
• US Class Current: 83/54
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 3/16 Cutting rods or tubes transversely cutting tubes longitudinally B26D3/001
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 3/166 Trimming tube-ends
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 5/083 Rack-and-pinion means
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/01 Means for holding or positioning work
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/02 Other than completely through work thickness
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/0419 By distorting within elastic limit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/0596 Cutting wall of hollow work
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/647 With means to convey work relative to tool station
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/728 In pivotal or arcuate movement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/75 With or to tool guide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7593 Work-stop abutment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/889 Tool with either work holder or means to hold work supply

Abstract

Systems and methods for cutting, or trimming, a catheter at a specified location along the length of the catheter. The catheter preferably includes a stop feature comprising a difference in a physical characteristic between a first portion of the catheter and a second portion of the catheter which interacts with an elongate member of the cutting system to determine the catheter is in a proper position to be cut.

Claims

1. A method of cutting a catheter, comprising:

providing a catheter cutting body, wherein the catheter cutting body comprises a cutting body bore and a cutting member guide;

positioning a first portion of an elongate member and a first portion of a catheter within the catheter cutting body bore, wherein the catheter comprises a stop feature comprising a difference in a physical characteristic between the first portion of the catheter and a second portion of the catheter;

positioning the first portion of the elongate member within the first portion of the catheter;

engaging the elongate member with the stop feature to detect positioning of the catheter at a desired cutting location;

advancing a cutting member comprising a cutting element through the cutting member guide thereby cutting the catheter with the cutting element.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein cutting the catheter with the cutting element comprises cutting the catheter with the cutting element at a location that is determined by the axial position of the stop feature.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first portion of the elongate member comprises a first end, and wherein positioning the first portion of the elongate member within the catheter cutting body bore comprises securing the first end of the elongate member within the catheter cutting body bore at a predetermined distance measured from an edge of the cutting member guide.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising securing the catheter in place relative to the elongate member before cutting the catheter with the cutting element.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein advancing the cutting member through the cutting member guide comprises rotating the catheter.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein rotating the catheter comprises engaging a first catheter rotation element with a second catheter rotation element.