Catheter with variable stiffness
First Claim
1. A medical device, comprising:
- an elongate inner member having a guidewire lumen extending therethrough;
an outer member disposed about the inner member;
wherein an inflation lumen is formed between the inner member and the outer member;
wherein the medical device is configured to have a first stiffness when the inflation lumen is free of inflation media and a second stiffness different from the first stiffness when inflation media is disposed within the inflation lumen; and
wherein the inner member includes a collapsible region that is configured to deflect radially inward when inflation media is disposed within the inflation lumen; and
wherein the medical device is free of an expandable balloon.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include an elongate inner member having a guidewire lumen extending therethrough. An outer member may be disposed about the inner member. An inflation lumen may be formed between the inner member and the outer member. The medical device may be configured to have a first stiffness when the inflation lumen is free of inflation media and a second stiffness different from the first stiffness when inflation media is disposed within the inflation lumen. In addition, the inner member may include a collapsible region that is configured to deflect radially inward when inflation media is disposed within the inflation lumen.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A medical device, comprising:
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an elongate inner member having a guidewire lumen extending therethrough; an outer member disposed about the inner member; wherein an inflation lumen is formed between the inner member and the outer member; wherein the medical device is configured to have a first stiffness when the inflation lumen is free of inflation media and a second stiffness different from the first stiffness when inflation media is disposed within the inflation lumen; and wherein the inner member includes a collapsible region that is configured to deflect radially inward when inflation media is disposed within the inflation lumen; and wherein the medical device is free of an expandable balloon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for navigating a medical device through the vasculature, the method comprising:
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providing a catheter, the catheter comprising; an elongate inner member having a guidewire lumen extending therethrough, an outer member disposed about the inner member, and wherein an inflation lumen is defined between the inner member and the outer member and wherein the catheter is free of an expandable balloon; advancing a guidewire through the vasculature to a position adjacent to an area of interest; advancing the catheter over the guidewire; infusing inflation media into the inflation lumen; wherein infusing inflation media into the inflation lumen increases the stiffness of the catheter; and wherein infusing inflation media into the inflation lumen collapses a portion of the inner member radially inward along an entire length of the inner member such that the inner member engages the guidewire. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A variable stiffness catheter, comprising:
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a catheter shaft including an inner shaft and an outer shaft; wherein a lumen is formed between the inner shaft and the outer shaft; wherein infusion of a media into the lumen increases the stiffness of the catheter shaft; wherein the inner shaft has a collapsible region extending an entire length of the inner shaft that is configured to deflect radially inward when media is infused into the lumen, and wherein the catheter is free of an expandable balloon.
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Specification