Methods for modifying hypotubes

• US 8,816,247 B1
• Filed: 03/25/2014
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• 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:
  US14/224,599
• Time in Patent Office: 154 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 219/121.72
• 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 method of modifying a hypotube may include cutting the hypotube with a laser cut pattern, winding the hypotube in a spiral collector, and flowing gas into the spiral collector. Flowing the gas into the spiral collector may include cooling the hypotube. Flowing the gas into the spiral collector may include flowing the gas into the spiral collector at a temperature between 20° C. and 25° C. The gas may include air or inert gas. The method may include holding the hypotube at a height using a bushing, a plurality of collets, and a hypotube clamp. The bushing and plurality of collets may be configured to inhibit sag of the hypotube to be less than 3% of the height. The method may include inhibiting forming fissures in the hypotube. The pattern may include a plurality of patterns each comprising longitudinally-spaced rows.

Claims

1. A method of modifying a hypotube, the method comprising:

holding the hypotube at a height above a floor on which the method is carried out using a bushing, a plurality of collets, and a hypotube clamp,

wherein the bushing and plurality of collets are arranged to inhibit sag of the hypotube to be less than 3% of the height, and

wherein the bushing, the plurality of collets, and the hypotube clamp are aligned at the height;

focusing a laser beam at the hypotube, wherein focusing the laser beam at the hypotube comprises cutting a pattern into the hypotube for a duration,

wherein the pattern comprises;

a first plurality of longitudinally-spaced rows each comprising two kerfs and two stems, the stems of the first plurality of longitudinally-spaced rows being offset in a first circumferential direction, and

a second plurality of longitudinally-spaced rows each comprising two kerfs and two stems, the longitudinally-spaced rows of the second plurality of longitudinally-spaced rows interspersed with the longitudinally-spaced rows of the first plurality of longitudinally-spaced, the stems of the second plurality of longitudinally spaced rows being offset in a second circumferential direction opposite the first circumferential direction;

during cutting the pattern into the hypotube, longitudinally advancing the hypotube toward a spiral collector using the hypotube clamp,

winding the hypotube including the pattern in the spiral collector; and

flowing gas into the spiral collector,

wherein flowing the gas into the spiral collector comprises cooling the hypotube,

wherein flowing the gas into the spiral collector is for at least a portion of the duration.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein cooling the hypotube comprises reducing a heat affected zone.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the gas comprises air or inert gas.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein flowing the gas into the spiral collector comprises flowing the gas into the spiral collector at a temperature between 20°

C. and 25°

C.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein flowing the gas into the spiral collector is for the duration.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising inhibiting forming fissures in the hypotube.

7. A method of modifying a hypotube, the method comprising:

focusing a laser beam at the hypotube, wherein focusing the laser beam at the hypotube comprises cutting a pattern into the hypotube for a duration and directing gas into a laser nozzle and toward the hypotube being cut, wherein directing gas into the laser nozzle is through a first valve of a cooling subsystem;

during cutting the pattern into the hypotube, longitudinally advancing the hypotube toward a spiral collector;

winding the hypotube including the pattern in the spiral collector; and

flowing the gas into the spiral collector, wherein flowing the gas into the spiral collector comprises cooling the hypotube, and directing the gas into the spiral collector through a second valve of the cooling subsystem.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein cooling the hypotube comprises reducing a heat affected zone.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein flowing the gas into the spiral collector comprises flowing the gas into the spiral collector at a temperature between 20°

C. and 25°

C.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the gas comprises air or inert gas.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein flowing the gas into the spiral collector occurs for the duration.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein flowing the gas into the spiral collector is during a portion of the duration.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising holding the hypotube at a height above a floor on which the method is carried out using a bushing, a plurality of collets, and a hypotube clamp, wherein the bushing and plurality of collets are configured to inhibit sag of the hypotube to be less than 3% of the height.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the pattern comprises:

a first pattern of longitudinally-spaced rows each including two kerfs and two stems, the rows of the first pattern at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the hypotube, the two kerfs in each of the rows of the first pattern having rounded edges, the two stems in each of the rows of the first pattern circumferentially opposite, the stems of the first pattern offset in a first circumferential direction, a pitch of the longitudinally-spaced rows of the first pattern varying longitudinally along the hypotube, and

a second pattern of longitudinally-spaced rows each including two kerfs and two stems, the rows of the second pattern at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the hypotube, the two kerfs in each of the rows of the second pattern having rounded edges, the two stems in each of the rows of the second pattern circumferentially opposite, the rows of the second pattern singly alternatingly interspersed with the rows of the first pattern, the stems of the second pattern offset in a second circumferential direction opposite the first circumferential direction, a pitch of the longitudinally-spaced rows of the second pattern varying longitudinally along the hypotube.

15. A method of modifying a hypotube, the method comprising:

focusing a laser beam at the hypotube, wherein focusing the laser beam at the hypotube comprises cutting a pattern into the hypotube for a duration;

winding the hypotube in a spiral collector; and

flowing gas into the spiral collector, wherein flowing the gas into the spiral collector comprises cooling the hypotube, and flowing the gas into the spiral collector is during a portion of the duration which is less than the duration.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein flowing the gas into the spiral collector comprises flowing the gas into the spiral collector at a temperature between 20°

C. and 25°

C.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the gas comprises air or inert gas.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising holding the hypotube at a height above a floor on which the method is carried out using a bushing, a plurality of collets, and a hypotube clamp, wherein the bushing and plurality of collets are configured to inhibit sag of the hypotube to be less than 3% of the height.

19. The method of claim 15, comprising inhibiting forming fissures in the hypotube.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the pattern comprises a plurality of patterns each comprising longitudinally-spaced rows, each of the longitudinally-spaced rows comprising two kerfs and two stems, the stems within each of the plurality of patterns being offset in a circumferential direction, the circumferential direction of at least two patterns of the plurality of patterns being opposite.