Adjustable stiffness catheter

• US 8,303,570 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2011
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Gregorich, Daniel J., Yoon, Soo-Young, Meyer, Michael P., Davis, Liza J.
• Primary Examiner(s): STIGELL, THEODORE J
• Application Number:
  US13/210,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20110301574A1
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 604523-527
• US Class Current: 604/525
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00078 with stiffening means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0046 Coatings for improving slidability
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0058 having an electroactive polymer material, e.g. for steering purposes, for control of flexibility, for locking, for opening or closing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0063 having means, e.g. stylets, mandrils, rods or wires to reinforce or adjust temporarily the stiffness, column strength or pushability of catheters which are already inserted into the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0065 which become stiffer or softer when becoming wet or humid, e.g. immersed within a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0045 multi-layered, e.g. coated coating materials A61L29/08
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0054 with regions for increasing flexibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0097 characterised by the hub connectors A61M39/10

Abstract

Medical devices such as catheters can include structure or provision that permit a physician or other health care professional to adjust the stiffness of at least a portion of the medical device. In some instances, the medical device may be adjusted prior to inserting the medical device into a patient. In some cases, the medical device may be adjusted while in use within the patient.

Claims

1. An adjustable catheter, the catheter having a distal region and a proximal region, the catheter comprising:

an elongate polymeric shaft extending from the proximal region to the distal region;

a first spiral-cut hypotube disposed within the elongate polymeric shaft; and

a second spiral-cut hypotube disposed about the first spiral-cut hypotube;

wherein the first spiral-cut hypotube translates from a relatively proximal position to a relatively distal position, thereby increasing stiffness of the distal region of the catheter;

wherein the second spiral-cut hypotube has a relaxed position in which the second spiral-cut hypotube has a relaxed inner diameter, the first spiral-cut hypotube has a relaxed position in which the first spiral-cut hypotube has a relaxed outer diameter, and the relaxed inner diameter of the second spiral-cut hypotube is larger than the relaxed outer diameter of the first spiral-cut hypotube; and

wherein the second spiral-cut hypotube is adapted such that rotating the second spiral-cut hypotube with respect to the first spiral-cut hypotube causes the second hypotube to constrict onto the first spiral-cut hypotube.

2. An adjustable catheter, the catheter having a distal region and a proximal region, the catheter comprising:

an elongate polymeric shaft extending from the proximal region to the distal region;

a first spiral-cut hypotube disposed within the elongate polymeric shaft and

a second spiral-cut hypotube disposed about the first spiral-cut hypotube;

wherein the first spiral-cut hypotube translates from a relatively proximal position to a relatively distal position, thereby increasing stiffness of the distal region of the catheter;

wherein the second spiral-cut hypotube has a relaxed position in which the second spiral-cut hypotube has a relaxed inner diameter, the first spiral-cut hypotube has a relaxed position in which the first spiral-cut hypotube has a relaxed outer diameter, and the relaxed inner diameter of the second spiral-cut hypotube is larger than the relaxed outer diameter of the first spiral-cut hypotube; and

wherein the first spiral-cut hypotube is adapted such that rotating the first spiral-cut hypotube with respect to the second spiral-cut hypotube causes the first spiral-cut hypotube to expand onto the second spiral-cut hypotube.

3. An adjustable catheter, the catheter having a distal region and a proximal region, the catheter comprising:

an elongate polymeric shaft extending from the proximal region to the distal region;

a first spiral-cut hypotube disposed within the elongate polymeric shaft and

a second spiral-cut hypotube disposed about the first spiral-cut hypotube;

wherein the first spiral-cut hypotube translates from a relatively proximal position to a relatively distal position, thereby increasing stiffness of the distal region of the catheter; and

wherein the first spiral-cut hypotube and the second spiral-cut hypotube are adapted such that each are independently translatable relative to each other.

4. An adjustable catheter, the catheter having a distal region and a proximal region, the catheter comprising:

an elongate polymeric shaft extending from the proximal region to the distal region;

a first spiral-cut hypotube disposed within the elongate polymeric shaft and

a second spiral-cut hypotube disposed about the first spiral-cut hypotube;

wherein an outer surface of the first spiral-cut hypotube is spaced apart from an inner surface of the second spiral-cut hypotube;

wherein relative movement between the first spiral-cut hypotube and the second spiral-cut hypotube causes the distal region to become more stiff;

wherein relative movement between the first spiral-cut hypotube and the second spiral-cut hypotube creates interference between the first spiral-cut hypotube and the second spiral-cut hypotube; and

wherein relative movement between the first spiral-cut hypotube and the second spiral-cut hypotube consists of contracting the second spiral-cut hypotube onto the outer surface of the first spiral-cut hypotube.

5. The adjustable catheter of claim 4, wherein the second spiral-cut hypotube is contracted onto the outer surface of the first spiral-cut hypotube by rotating the second spiral-cut hypotube.

6. An adjustable catheter, the catheter having a distal region and a proximal region, the catheter comprising:

an elongate polymeric shaft extending from the proximal region to the distal region;

a first spiral-cut hypotube disposed within the elongate polymeric shaft and

a second spiral-cut hypotube disposed about the first spiral-cut hypotube;

wherein an outer surface of the first spiral-cut hypotube is spaced apart from an inner surface of the second spiral-cut hypotube;

wherein relative movement between the first spiral-cut hypotube and the second spiral-cut hypotube causes the distal region to become more stiff;

wherein relative movement between the first spiral-cut hypotube and the second spiral-cut hypotube creates interference between the first spiral-cut hypotube and the second spiral-cut hypotube; and

wherein relative movement between the first spiral-cut hypotube and the second spiral-cut hypotube consists of expanding the first spiral-cut hypotube into contact with the inner surface of the second spiral-cut hypotube.

7. The adjustable catheter of claim 6, wherein the first spiral-cut hypotube is expanded into contact with the inner surface of the second spiral-cut hypotube by rotating the first spiral-cut hypotube.

8. The adjustable catheter of claim 6, wherein the first spiral-cut hypotube is expanded into contact with the inner surface of the second spiral-cut hypotube by axially compressing the first spiral-cut hypotube.