Atraumatic ureteral access sheath

• US 8,535,293 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2011
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gyrus ACMI, Inc. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Gyrus ACMI, Inc. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Faherty, Rich, Tremaglio, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): BOUCHELLE, LAURA A
• Application Number:
  US13/170,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20110288532A1
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 604523-527
• US Class Current: 604/525
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0004 having two or more concentrically arranged tubes for forming a concentric catheter system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0012 with embedded structures, e.g. coils, braids, meshes, strands or radiopaque coils
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0017 specially adapted for long-term hygiene care, e.g. urethral or indwelling catheters to prevent infections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0045 multi-layered, e.g. coated coating materials A61L29/08
• 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 25/0108 using radio-opaque or ultrasound markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0662 Guide tubes

Abstract

Ureteral access sheaths can have a nonuniform axial-stiffness. A nonuniform axial-stiffness ureteral access sheath can have an inner liner defining a longitudinally extending and generally uniform bore. A non-uniform axial-stiffness outer jacket can define a longitudinally tapered outer surface, and a reinforcement layer can be encapsulated between the inner liner and the non-uniform axial-stiffness outer jacket. The reinforcement layer can have a non-uniform axial-stiffness. For example, a proximal portion of the reinforcement layer can be thicker than a distal portion of the reinforcement layer. A coil of wire can be included in the reinforcement layer, and a diameter of the wire in a proximal portion of the reinforcement layer can be larger than a diameter of the wire in a distal portion of the reinforcement layer. In some instances, the diameter of the wire tapers from the proximal portion to the distal portion.

Claims

1. A non-uniform axial-stiffness ureteral sheath, comprising:

an inner liner defining a longitudinally extending and generally uniform bore;

a non-uniform axial-stiffness outer jacket defining a longitudinally tapered outer surface; and

a reinforcement layer encaencapsulated between the inner liner and the non-uniform axial stiffness outer jacket

wherein at least a portion of the inner liner is so spaced from the non-uniform axial-stiffness outer jacket as to define a region devoid of reinforcement layer structure.

2. The sheath of claim 1, wherein the non-uniform axial-stiffness outer jacket, defines a longitudinally tapered inner surface of the outer jacket.

3. The sheath of claim 1, wherein the non-uniform axial-stiffness outer jacket comprises at least a jacket proximal portion and a jacket distal portion coaxially and tandemly disposed over the reinforcement layer structure, the jacket proximal portion and the jacket distal portion having dissimilar axial-stiffness, wherein the jacket proximal portion and the jacket distal portion are respectively in contact with a radial outer surface of the inner liner.

4. The sheath of claim 1, wherein the non-uniform axial-stiffness outer jacket conforms to a profile of the reinforcement layer.

5. The sheath of claim 4, wherein the non-uniform axial-stiffness outer jacket encases a portion of the reinforcement layer in material forming the outer jacket.

6. The sheath of claim 1, wherein the region is at least partially occupied by a radiopaque element.

7. The sheath of claim 1, wherein the non-uniform axial-stiffness outer jacket defines a jacket distal portion and jacket proximal portion, and along a length of the sheath spanning the jacket distal portion and the jacket proximal portion, there at least a space between the inner liner and the outer jacket that is devoid of reinforcement layer structure.

8. The sheath of claim 1, wherein the reinforcement layer as non-uniform axial-stiffness.

9. The sheath of claim 8, wherein a proximal portion of the reinforcement layer is thicker than a distal portion of the reinforcement layer.

10. The sheath of claim 9, wherein the reinforcement layer comprises a coil of wire, wherein a diameter of the wire in a proximal portion of the reinforcement layer is larger than a diameter of the wire in a distal portion of the reinforcement layer.

11. The sheath of claim 10, wherein the diameter of the tapers from a relatively larger diameter in the proximal portion of the reinforcement layer to a relatively small diameter in the distal portion of the reinforcement layer.

12. The sheath of claim 8, wherein the non-uniform axial-stiffness outer jacket defines a longitudinally tapered inner surface of the outer jacket.

13. The sheath of claim 8, wherein the non-uniform axial-stiffness outer jacket comprises at least a jacket proximal portion and a jacket distal portion coaxially and tandemly disposed over the reinforcement layer structure, the jacket proximal portion and the jacket distal portion having dissimilar axial-stiffness, wherein the jacket proximal portion and the jacket distal portion are respectively in contact with a radial outer surface of the inner liner.

14. The sheath of claim 8, wherein the non-uniform axial-stiffness outer jacket conforms to a profile of the reinforcement layer.

15. The sheath of claim 14, wherein the non-uniform axial-stiffness outer jacket encases a portion of the reinforcement layer in material forming the outer jacket.

16. The sheath of claim 8, wherein at least a portion of the inner liner is so spaced from the non-uniform axial-stiffness outer jacket as to define a region devoid of reinforcement layer structure.

17. The sheath of claim 16, wherein the region is at least partially occupied by a radiopaque element.

18. The sheath of claim 8, wherein the non-uniform axial-stiffness outer jacket defines a jacket distal portion and jacket proximal portion, and along a length of the sheath spanning the jacket distal portion and the jacket proximal portion, there is at least a space between the inner liner and the outer jacket that is devoid of reinforcement layer structure.