Devices for slag removal

• US 8,803,030 B1
• Filed: 03/25/2014
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Insera Therapeutics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Insera Therapeutics, Inc.
• Inventors: Janardhan, Vallabh, Janardhan, Vikram
• Primary Examiner(s): PELHAM, JOSEPH MOORE
• Application Number:
  US14/224,576
• Time in Patent Office: 140 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 219/121.84
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12109 in a blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12113 within an aneurysm
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12122 within the heart for closing a cardiac septal defect A61B17/0057
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12172 having a pre-set deployed three-dimensional shape methods of manufacturing A61B2017/00526
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22 Implements for squeezing-off ulcers or the like on the inside of inner organs of the body; Implements for scraping-out cavities of body organs, e.g. bones; Calculus removers; Calculus smashing apparatus; Apparatus for removing obstructions in blood vessels, not otherwise provided for dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22031 Gripping instruments, e.g. forceps, for removing or smashing calculi A61B17/221 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22032 having inflatable gripping elements balloon catheters A61M25/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/221 Gripping devices in the form of loops or baskets for gripping calculi or similar types of obstructions surgical snare instruments A61B17/32056
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32056 Surgical snare instruments for removing or smashing calculi A61B2017/2212; tonsillotomes A61B17/26
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3207 Atherectomy devices working by cutting or abrading; Similar devices specially adapted for non-vascular obstructions A61B17/32037 takes precedence; endoscopic cutting instruments A61B17/320016
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00575 for closure at remote site, e.g. closing atrial septum defects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00592 Elastic or resilient implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00606 Implements H-shaped in cross-section, i.e. with occluders on both sides of the opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00641 for closing fistulae, e.g. anorectal fistulae
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00778 Operations on blood vessels A61B2017/22097, A61B2017/320741 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22001 Angioplasty, e.g. PCTA
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22002 preventing restenosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22034 for gripping the obstruction or the tissue part from inside
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22035 for retrieving or repositioning foreign objects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22067 : Blocking; Occlusion A61B2017/22054 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3966 : Radiopaque markers visible in an X-ray image
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 : Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/011 : Instruments for their placement or removal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/018 : made from tubes or sheets of material, e.g. by etching or laser-cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 : Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/84 : Drainage tubes; Aspiration tips for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/90; for surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0042 : Microcatheters, cannula or the like having outside diameters around 1 mm or less
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/06 : Solids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/10 : Device therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/12 : Blood circulatory system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0023 : by the form of the lumen, e.g. cross-section, variable diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10 : Balloon catheters A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02; inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 ; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/00 : Dilators with or without means for introducing media, e.g. remedies instruments for performing visual medical inspections of cavities or tubes of the body A61B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/083 : Devices involving movement of the workpiece in at least one axial direction
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/14 : using a fluid stream, e.g. a jet of gas, in conjunction with the laser beam; Nozzles therefor B23K26/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/142 : for the removal of by-products
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/1435 : involving specially adapted flow control means
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/146 : the fluid stream containing a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/20 : Bonding soldering by means of radiant energy B23K1/005; joining of preformed plastics parts by heating using laser beam B29C65/16
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/38 : by boring or cutting
• CPC Class Codes: B26F 3/004 : by means of a fluid jet methods for use of abrasive blasting for cutting B24C1/045; guns for abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; perforating by non-mechanical means, e.g. by fluid jet B26F1/26
• CPC Class Codes: D04C 1/06 : Braid or lace serving particular purposes
• CPC Class Codes: D04C 1/12 : Cords, lines, or tows
• CPC Class Codes: D04C 3/48 : Auxiliary devices
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/0333 : with tubular portions of variable diameter or distinct axial orientation
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2509/06 : Vascular grafts; stents
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8376 : Combined
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/85954 : Closed circulating system
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 : Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49913 : by constricting outer annulus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49995 : Shaping one-piece blank by removing material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 82/2521 : Bar feeder

Abstract

A system for removal of slag during laser cutting of a hypotube by a laser cutting system may include a cooling system and a cooling fluid inlet regulator. The cooling system may be configured to be coupled to a laser nozzle of a laser cutting system. The cooling system may include a supply of gas and a gas inflow valve configured to regulate the gas that flows into the laser nozzle from the supply of gas. The cooling fluid inlet regulator may be configured to inject cooling fluid into an inner lumen of a hypotube during laser cutting by the laser cutting system at a velocity configured to facilitate removal of slag generated during the laser cutting of the hypotube. The cooling fluid inlet regulator may be configured to cool the hypotube during the laser cutting.

Claims

1. A system for removal of slag during laser cutting of a hypotube by a laser cutting system, the system comprising:

a laser nozzle configured to flow gas onto an external surface of a hypotube during laser cutting, a gas cooling system, a water inlet regulator; and

a slag collecting device,

wherein the gas cooling system comprises;

a gas supply;

a connection member fluidly coupling the gas supply and the laser nozzle; and

a gas inflow valve positioned along the connection member, wherein the gas inflow valve is configured to regulate the gas that flows into the laser nozzle from the gas supply through the connection member, and

wherein the water inlet regulator comprises;

a source of water;

a plurality of water injection tubes coupled to the source of water and configured to be coupled to an end of the hypotube, the plurality of water injection tubes arranged in series, with a diameter of each successive water injection tube being smaller than the preceding water injection tube;

a pressure valve configured to flow water through the plurality of water injection tubes; and

a water inlet gate configured to inject the water into an inner lumen of the hypotube at a velocity configured to facilitate removal of slag generated during the laser cutting of the hypotube, wherein the external water inlet regulator is configured to cool the hypotube during laser cutting, and

wherein the slag collecting device is configured to collect the removed slag.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the gas comprises ambient air.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the gas comprises inert gas.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the gas has a temperature between 20°

C. and 25°

C.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of water injection tubes consists essentially of:

a first water injection tube coupled to the source of water;

a second water injection tube;

a third water injection tube, the second water injection tube between the first water injection tube and the third water injection tube; and

a fourth water injection tube configured to be proximate to the end of the hypotube, the third water injection tube between the second water injection tube and the fourth water injection tube.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first water injection tube has a first diameter, the second water injection tube has a second diameter, the third water injection tube has a third diameter, and the fourth injection tube has a fourth diameter, and wherein the fourth diameter is less than the third diameter, the third diameter is less than the second diameter, and the second diameter is less than the first diameter.

7. A system for removal of slag during laser cutting of a hypotube by a laser cutting system, the system comprising:

a laser nozzle configured to flow gas onto an external surface of a hypotube during laser cutting, a cooling system, and a fluid inlet regulator,

wherein the cooling system includes;

a supply of gas;

a connection member fluidly coupling the supply of gas and the laser nozzle; and

a gas inflow valve positioned along the connection member, wherein the gas inflow valve is configured to regulate the gas that flows into the laser nozzle from the supply of gas through the connection member, and

wherein the fluid inlet regulator includes;

a source of fluid;

a fluid injection tube coupled to the source of fluid and configured to be coupled to an end of the hypotube, the fluid injection tube comprising a plurality of fluid injection tubes arranged in series, with a diameter of each successive fluid injection tube being smaller than the preceding fluid injection tube;

a pressure valve configured to flow fluid through the fluid injection tube; and

an inlet gate configured to inject the fluid into an inner lumen of the hypotube at a velocity configured to facilitate removal of slag generated during the laser cutting of the hypotube.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the fluid comprises ethylene glycol.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the fluid comprises slurry.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the fluid comprises water.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the gas comprises ambient air.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the gas comprises inert gas.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the gas has a temperature between 20°

C. and 25°

C.

14. A system for removal of slag during laser cutting of a hypotube by a laser cutting system, the system comprising:

a cooling system configured to be coupled to a laser nozzle of a laser cutting system, the cooling system including a supply of gas and a gas inflow valve configured to regulate the gas that flows into the laser nozzle from the supply of gas; and

a cooling fluid inlet regulator configured to inject cooling fluid into an inner lumen of a hypotube during laser cutting by the laser cutting system at a velocity configured to facilitate removal of slag generated during the laser cutting of the hypotube, and wherein the cooling fluid inlet regulator is configured to cool the hypotube during the laser cutting, the cooling fluid inlet regulator comprising a plurality of injection tubes arranged in series, with a diameter of each successive injection tube being smaller than the preceding injection tube.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the gas comprises ambient air.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the gas comprises inert gas.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the gas has a temperature between 20°

C. and 25°

C.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the cooling fluid comprises water.