Medical device shaft designs
First Claim
1. An intracorporeal device comprising:
- an elongate shaft having inner and outer elongate members and a fluid flow lumen defined by a space between the inner and outer elongate members, the lumen in fluid communication with a balloon disposed on a distal end of the shaft;
wherein an outer surface of the inner elongate member or an inner surface of the outer elongate member comprises at least one raised portion; and
wherein the number of raised portions is varied along the length of the shaft, imparting a variable stiffness along the length of the shaft;
wherein the sides of the at least one raised portion each extend substantially along a different radius extending out from an axis running down the center of the shaft.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods for transferring forces down a catheter shaft while also maintaining an open fluid pathway are disclosed. In some of the designs, inner and outer members of the catheter interact, allowing improved transfer of forces down the catheter shaft. These designs also allow for maintenance of a fluid pathway along the length of the shaft, including at locations where the inner and outer members are interacting with one another. Structures are disclosed which extend at least a portion of the length of the shaft, allowing improved force transfer and resistance to kinking. Structures are also disclosed which specifically allow for inner and outer members to engage one another at at least one point along the shaft, improving the transfer of forces down the shaft.
32 Citations
12 Claims
-
1. An intracorporeal device comprising:
-
an elongate shaft having inner and outer elongate members and a fluid flow lumen defined by a space between the inner and outer elongate members, the lumen in fluid communication with a balloon disposed on a distal end of the shaft; wherein an outer surface of the inner elongate member or an inner surface of the outer elongate member comprises at least one raised portion; and wherein the number of raised portions is varied along the length of the shaft, imparting a variable stiffness along the length of the shaft; wherein the sides of the at least one raised portion each extend substantially along a different radius extending out from an axis running down the center of the shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. An intracorporeal device comprising:
-
an elongate shaft having inner and outer elongate members and a fluid flow lumen defined by a space between the inner and outer elongate members, the lumen in fluid communication with a balloon disposed on a distal end of the shaft; wherein an outer surface of the inner elongate member or an inner surface of the outer elongate member comprises at least one raised portion, the at least one raised portion having a width and a height; and wherein at least one dimension of the at least one raised portion is varied along the length of the shaft, imparting a variable stiffness along the length of the shaft; wherein the sides of the at least one raised portion each extend substantially along a different radius extending out from an axis running down the center of the shaft; wherein the number of raised portions is varied along the length of the shaft.
-
Specification