Tube with reverse necking properties
First Claim
1. A tubular structure comprisinga first helical tape component at a first wrap angle, and a second helical tape component at a second wrap angle in the same relative direction around the structure but oriented differently from the first wrap angle;
- the tubular structure having a first diameter and a first axial length;
wherein when the tubular structure is increased from the first axial length to an elongated second axial length, the first diameter increases to an enlarged second diameter;
wherein the tubular structure is formed from at least two helical components each applied in the same relative direction around the tubular structure but oriented at different angles relative to each other; and
wherein when axial force is applied to the tubular structure the relative angle between the helical components wrap increased to form the enlarged second diameter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved tubular structure adapted to increase in diameter upon application of axial force is provided. Increase in diameter is achieved by constructing the tube from multiple layers of material that move relative to each other during axial elongation of the tube. The tube of the present invention can be used both to avoid problems in “necking” found in many prior tube devices, and to provide additional benefits that increases in diameter of the tube during axial elongation can provide. As such, the tube of the present invention may be useful as a manufacturing aid, as a deployment sheath (for example, to deliver medical devices), and in other applications that may benefit from easier tubular sheath removal.
111 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A tubular structure comprising
a first helical tape component at a first wrap angle, and a second helical tape component at a second wrap angle in the same relative direction around the structure but oriented differently from the first wrap angle; -
the tubular structure having a first diameter and a first axial length; wherein when the tubular structure is increased from the first axial length to an elongated second axial length, the first diameter increases to an enlarged second diameter; wherein the tubular structure is formed from at least two helical components each applied in the same relative direction around the tubular structure but oriented at different angles relative to each other; and wherein when axial force is applied to the tubular structure the relative angle between the helical components wrap increased to form the enlarged second diameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A tubular structure having a longitudinal axis comprising
a wrap of at least one component at a first wrap angle of x, and a wrap of at least one component at a second wrap angle of y, with both wraps being in the same relative direction; -
x and y both formed at an angle of about 0 to 90 degrees relative to the axis of the tubular structure; x being an angle different from y, and x and y oriented at an acute included angle with respect to each other; wherein when axial force is applied to the tubular structure, both x and y decreases relative to the longitudinal axis, and the acute included angle between x and y increases. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification