Apparatus and methods for accessing and dilating bone structures using a narrow gauge cannula
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A catheter/expandable element assembly with proximal and distal assembly ends for medical applications comprising:
- (a) a single catheter shaft having a long axis and proximal and distal catheter portions;
(b) an expandable element comprising a conforming balloon portion with a balloon interior and also comprising a proximal neck portion bonded at a bond juncture to the distal catheter portion, wherein the distal catheter portion and the proximal neck portion of the expandable element have substantially the same outer diameters at a juncture location where they are butt-jointed and bonded to form a smooth, uninterrupted outer surface at and proximally and distally of the bond juncture such that the bond juncture and the balloon portion will fit through the interior of an 11-gauge medical cannula before and after inflation of the balloon portion; and
(c) a fluid passageway extending from the proximal catheter portion to the balloon interior;
and additionally comprising a floating mandrel element that extends through the distal catheter portion, and through the expandable element, to an interior distal wall portion of the expandable element, and wherein the floating mandrel element comprises a distal mandrel end bonded to the interior distal wall portion of the expandable element and a free, unbonded proximal mandrel end whereby the floating mandrel element can slide toward or away from the distal assembly end along or parallel to the long axis of the catheter shaft.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, apparatus and methods are disclosed for medical treatment comprising bone access and dilatation and/or cavity creation or enlargement using a narrow gauge, preferably 11-gauge or smaller, cannula wherein a catheter/expandable element assembly meeting medical protocols is designed, adapted and fabricated to fit through the interior of the associated 11-gauge or smaller cannula.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A catheter/expandable element assembly with proximal and distal assembly ends for medical applications comprising:
- (a) a single catheter shaft having a long axis and proximal and distal catheter portions;
(b) an expandable element comprising a conforming balloon portion with a balloon interior and also comprising a proximal neck portion bonded at a bond juncture to the distal catheter portion, wherein the distal catheter portion and the proximal neck portion of the expandable element have substantially the same outer diameters at a juncture location where they are butt-jointed and bonded to form a smooth, uninterrupted outer surface at and proximally and distally of the bond juncture such that the bond juncture and the balloon portion will fit through the interior of an 11-gauge medical cannula before and after inflation of the balloon portion; and
(c) a fluid passageway extending from the proximal catheter portion to the balloon interior;and additionally comprising a floating mandrel element that extends through the distal catheter portion, and through the expandable element, to an interior distal wall portion of the expandable element, and wherein the floating mandrel element comprises a distal mandrel end bonded to the interior distal wall portion of the expandable element and a free, unbonded proximal mandrel end whereby the floating mandrel element can slide toward or away from the distal assembly end along or parallel to the long axis of the catheter shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- (a) a single catheter shaft having a long axis and proximal and distal catheter portions;
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16. A catheter/expandable element assembly with proximal and distal assembly ends for medical applications comprising:
- a single catheter shaft having a long axis and proximal and distal catheter portions;
an expandable element comprising a conforming balloon portion with a balloon interior and also comprising a proximal neck portion bonded at a bond juncture to the distal catheter portion; and
a fluid passageway extending from the proximal catheter portion to the balloon interior, the fluid passageway having a circular cross-section with a passageway diameter defined by an inner wall of the catheter shaft such that the passageway diameter at the bond juncture is the same size as an inner diameter of the distal catheter portion;wherein the balloon portion of the expandable element and the bond juncture between the distal catheter portion and the proximal neck portion of the expandable element will fit through the interior of an 11-gauge medical cannula before and after inflation of the balloon portion; and additionally comprising a floating mandrel element that extends through the distal catheter portion, and through the expandable element, to an interior distal wall portion of the expandable element, and wherein the inner diameter of the distal catheter portion, the passageway diameter, and an inner diameter of the proximal neck portion of the expandable element are substantially the same size at a juncture location where the distal catheter portion and the proximal neck portion are butt-jointed and bonded to form the bond juncture. - View Dependent Claims (17)
- a single catheter shaft having a long axis and proximal and distal catheter portions;
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18. A catheter/expandable element assembly with proximal and distal assembly ends for medical applications comprising:
- a single catheter shaft having a long axis and proximal and distal catheter portions;
an expandable element comprising a conforming balloon portion with a balloon interior and also comprising a proximal neck portion butt-jointed and bonded at a bond juncture to the distal catheter portion; and
a fluid passageway extending from the proximal catheter portion to the balloon interior, the fluid passageway having a circular cross-section with a passageway diameter defined by an inner wall of the catheter shaft such that the passageway diameter at the bond juncture is the same size as an inner diameter of the distal catheter portion;wherein the balloon portion of the expandable element and the bond juncture between the distal catheter portion and the proximal neck portion of the expandable element will fit through the interior of an 11-gauge medical cannula before and after inflation of the balloon portion; and additionally comprising a floating mandrel element that extends through the distal catheter portion, and through the expandable element, to an interior distal wall portion of the expandable element, and wherein the bond juncture has substantially the same outer diameter as the outer diameters of the distal catheter portion and the proximal neck portion of the expandable element to form a smooth, uninterrupted outer surface at and proximally and distally of the bond juncture.
- a single catheter shaft having a long axis and proximal and distal catheter portions;
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19. A catheter/expandable element assembly with proximal and distal assembly ends for medical applications comprising:
- a catheter shaft having a long axis and proximal and distal catheter portions;
an expandable element comprising a conforming balloon portion with a balloon interior and also comprising a proximal neck portion bonded at a bond juncture to the distal catheter portion; and
a fluid passageway extending from the proximal catheter portion to the balloon interior;wherein the balloon portion of the expandable element and the bond juncture between the distal catheter portion and the proximal neck portion of the expandable element will fit through the interior of an 11-gauge medical cannula before and after inflation of the balloon portion; and additionally comprising a floating mandrel element that extends through the distal catheter portion, and through the expandable element, to an interior distal wall portion of the expandable element, and also wherein the floating mandrel element comprises a distal mandrel end bonded to the interior distal wall portion of the expandable element and a free, unbonded proximal mandrel end whereby the floating mandrel element can slide toward or away from the distal assembly end along or parallel to the long axis of the catheter shaft; the assembly further comprising a helically coiled mandrel bonding spring element that is attached at the distal mandrel end where it extends beyond the distal mandrel end and is encapsulated with a material that fills the spring'"'"'s interior and covers the exterior of its most distal length of coils. - View Dependent Claims (20)
- a catheter shaft having a long axis and proximal and distal catheter portions;
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21. A catheter/expandable element assembly with proximal and distal assembly ends for medical applications comprising:
- a catheter shaft having a long axis and proximal and distal catheter portions;
an expandable element comprising a conforming balloon portion with a balloon interior and also comprising a proximal neck portion bonded at a bond juncture to the distal catheter portion; and
a fluid passageway extending from the proximal catheter portion to the balloon interior;wherein the balloon portion of the expandable element and the bond juncture between the distal catheter portion and the proximal neck portion of the expandable element will fit through the interior of an 11-gauge medical cannula before and after inflation of the balloon portion; and additionally comprising a floating mandrel element that extends through the distal catheter portion, and through the expandable element, to an interior distal wall portion of the expandable element, and also wherein the floating mandrel element comprises a distal mandrel end bonded to the interior distal wall portion of the expandable element and a free, unbonded proximal mandrel end whereby the floating mandrel element can slide toward or away from the distal assembly end along or parallel to the long axis of the catheter shaft; and also wherein the distal mandrel end comprises braided wires or a hypotube with holes or slots, or otherwise comprises openings in the distal mandrel end whereby a bonding material can be applied to fill in the openings and form a strong mechanical bond between the mandrel end and the interior distal wall portion of the expandable element when the bonding material hardens.
- a catheter shaft having a long axis and proximal and distal catheter portions;
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22. A catheter/expandable element assembly with proximal and distal assembly ends for medical applications comprising:
- a catheter shaft having a long axis and proximal and distal catheter portions;
an expandable element comprising a conforming balloon portion with a balloon interior and also comprising a proximal neck portion bonded at a bond juncture to the distal catheter portion; and
a fluid passageway extending from the proximal catheter portion to the balloon interior;wherein the balloon portion of the expandable element and the bond juncture between the distal catheter portion and the proximal neck portion of the expandable element will fit through the interior of an 11-gauge medical cannula before and after inflation of the balloon portion; and additionally comprising a floating mandrel element that extends through the distal catheter portion, and through the expandable element, to an interior distal wall portion of the expandable element, and also wherein the floating mandrel element comprises a distal mandrel end bonded to the interior distal wall portion of the expandable element and a free, unbonded proximal mandrel end whereby the floating mandrel element can slide toward or away from the distal assembly end along or parallel to the long axis of the catheter shaft; and also wherein a distal mandrel portion comprises a reduced diameter section, or a spring section, or a flattened section to provide increased flexibility for a mandrel portion located inside the expandable element.
- a catheter shaft having a long axis and proximal and distal catheter portions;
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23. A catheter/expandable element assembly with proximal and distal assembly ends for medical applications comprising:
- a catheter shaft having a long axis and proximal and distal catheter portions;
an expandable element comprising a conforming balloon portion with a balloon interior and also comprising a proximal neck portion bonded at a bond juncture to the distal catheter portion; and
a fluid passageway extending from the proximal catheter portion to the balloon interior;wherein the balloon portion of the expandable element and the bond juncture between the distal catheter portion and the proximal neck portion of the expandable element will fit through the interior of an 11-gauge medical cannula before and after inflation of the balloon portion; and additionally comprising a floating mandrel element that extends through the distal catheter portion, and through the expandable element, to an interior distal wall portion of the expandable element, and also wherein the floating mandrel element comprises a distal mandrel end bonded to the interior distal wall portion of the expandable element and a free, unbonded proximal mandrel end whereby the floating mandrel element can slide toward or away from the distal assembly end along or parallel to the long axis of the catheter shaft; the assembly further comprising a spring element located inside the expandable element and also wherein the distal mandrel end comprises a core wire with a hooked or angled end that can engage a distal portion of the spring element to provide active deflection of the distal end of the expandable element.
- a catheter shaft having a long axis and proximal and distal catheter portions;
Specification