Medical devices with a slotted tubular member having improved stress distribution
First Claim
1. A medical device, comprising:
- an elongate tubular member including a first circumferential tube segment, a second circumferential tube segment disposed next to the first circumferential tube segment, and a third circumferential tube segment disposed next to the second circumferential tube segment;
wherein the first tube segment and the second tube segment are separated by a first pair of opposed slots both formed in the tubular member at a first longitudinal position along the tubular member;
wherein the second tube segment and the third tube segment are separated by a second pair of opposed slots both formed in the tubular member at a second longitudinal position along the tubular member;
wherein each of the slots includes a first rounded region having a first width, a second rounded region having a second width the same as the first width, and a middle region between the first rounded region and the second rounded region having a third width smaller than the first width;
wherein the second tube segment is connected to the first tube segment with a proximally-extending beam having a first longitudinal axis and being formed in the tubular member;
wherein the second tube segment is also connected to the third tube segment with a distally-extending beam having a second longitudinal axis and being formed in the tubular member, wherein the first and second longitudinal axes are circumferentially offset from each other and wherein each of the first and second longitudinal axes intersects at least one beam and at least one slot;
wherein a ring is defined in the second tube segment between the proximally-extending beam and the distally-extending beam; and
wherein the ring has a first portion with a first width, a second portion with a second width different from the first width, and a third portion with a third width that is the same as the first width.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Medical devices and methods for making and using the same. A medical device may include an elongate tubular member. The tubular member may include a first circumferential tube segment, a second circumferential tube segment disposed next to the first circumferential tube segment, and a third circumferential tube segment disposed next to the second circumferential tube segment. The first tube segment and the second tube segment may be separated by a first set of slots formed in the tubular member. The second tube segment and the third tube segment may be separated by a second set of slots formed in the tubular member. The second tube segment may be connected to the first tube segment with a proximally-extending beam formed in the tubular member. The second tube segment may also be connected to the third tube segment with a distally-extending beam formed in the tubular member. A ring may be defined in the second tube segment between the proximally-extending beam and the distally-extending beam. The ring may have a first portion with a first width and a second portion with a second width different from the first width.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A medical device, comprising:
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an elongate tubular member including a first circumferential tube segment, a second circumferential tube segment disposed next to the first circumferential tube segment, and a third circumferential tube segment disposed next to the second circumferential tube segment; wherein the first tube segment and the second tube segment are separated by a first pair of opposed slots both formed in the tubular member at a first longitudinal position along the tubular member; wherein the second tube segment and the third tube segment are separated by a second pair of opposed slots both formed in the tubular member at a second longitudinal position along the tubular member; wherein each of the slots includes a first rounded region having a first width, a second rounded region having a second width the same as the first width, and a middle region between the first rounded region and the second rounded region having a third width smaller than the first width; wherein the second tube segment is connected to the first tube segment with a proximally-extending beam having a first longitudinal axis and being formed in the tubular member; wherein the second tube segment is also connected to the third tube segment with a distally-extending beam having a second longitudinal axis and being formed in the tubular member, wherein the first and second longitudinal axes are circumferentially offset from each other and wherein each of the first and second longitudinal axes intersects at least one beam and at least one slot; wherein a ring is defined in the second tube segment between the proximally-extending beam and the distally-extending beam; and wherein the ring has a first portion with a first width, a second portion with a second width different from the first width, and a third portion with a third width that is the same as the first width. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A medical device, comprising:
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an elongate tubular member including a plurality of circumferential tube segments that are each defined between two longitudinally-adjacent sets of at least two slots each formed in the tubular member, the at least two slots of each set being disposed at a single longitudinal position along the tubular member; wherein each slot includes a first rounded region having a first width, a second rounded region having a second width the same as the first width, and a middle region between the first rounded region and the second rounded region having a third width smaller than the first width; wherein longitudinally-adjacent tube segments are connected together by flanking sets of beams that are disposed on opposite sides of each tube segment and that are circumferentially offset from one another; wherein each tube segment includes one or more rings that are defined between a pair of beams on opposing sides of the tube segment; and wherein at least one of the one or more rings has a varying width and has an hourglass shape, wherein each beam has a longitudinal axis extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongate tubular member, each beam axis extending through at least one slot, and wherein each beam has a varying height along its longitudinal axis from a first end to a second of the beam. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A slotted tubular member for use in a medical device, comprising:
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a tubular member including a first circumferential tube segment, a second circumferential tube segment disposed next to the first circumferential tube segment, and a third circumferential tube segment disposed next to the second circumferential tube segment; a first set of at least two slots defined in the tubular member and positioned between the first tube segment and the second tube segment at a first longitudinal position along the tubular member, each of the first set of at least two slots having a first rounded upper portion having a first width, a first rounded lower portion having the first width, and a first narrow portion between the first upper portion and the first lower portion having a second width smaller than the first width; a second set of at least two slots defined in the tubular member and positioned between the second tube segment and the third tube segment at a first longitudinal position along the tubular member, each of the second set of at least two slots having a second rounded upper portion having the first width, a second rounded lower portion having the first width, and a second narrow portion between the second upper portion and the second lower portion having a second width smaller than the first width; wherein a first beam is formed in the tubular member and extends between the first tube segment and the second tube segment; wherein a second beam is formed in the tubular member and extends between the second tube segment and the third tube segment, wherein the second beam is circumferentially offset from the first beam; wherein each of the first beam and the second beam has a longitudinal axis extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongate tubular member, each beam axis extending through at least one slot, and wherein each beam has a varying height along its longitudinal axis from a first end to a second of the beam; wherein a ring is defined in the second tube segment between the first beam and the second beam; wherein the ring is disposed between the first upper portion of one of the first set of at least two slots and the second lower portion of one of the second set of at least two slots; wherein the ring has a varying width and has an hourglass shape.
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Specification