Method for providing stiffness enhanced filaments
First Claim
1. A method of providing a stiffness enhancing material to a pliable filament having a distal tip comprising the steps of:
- providing a mold having a contoured opening dimensioned such that the distal tip with a length of the filament can extend into the contoured opening without contact with the mold;
filling the contoured opening with a stiffness enhancing material, said material having an initial liquid state;
immersing the filament into the stiffness enhancing material;
maintaining the filament in the mold until the stiffness enhancing material achieves a solid state; and
withdrawing the filament from the mold once the material achieves the solid state, whereby said filament is thereby encased in a stiffness enhancing material, wherein the filament is an electrically conductive wire.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods for making biocompatible stiffness enhanced pliable electrically conductive filaments configured for contact with living tissue and electrical communication with such tissue. The pliability of a filament allows the distal end of the filament to remain at the original site of penetration into the tissue despite the movement of the tissue relative to its surrounding environment. To temporarily stiffen the filament, a soluble stiffness enhancing coating is disposed over the filament. The coating may be in the form of a liquid which dries to a solid state after being applied to the filament and renders the filament sufficiently rigid such that under appropriate force, the filament is capable of penetrating into dense tissue. Once in place the stiffness enhancing coating dissolves due to contact with body fluids, the filament, in the absence of such coating, returns to its initial pliability.
2 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of providing a stiffness enhancing material to a pliable filament having a distal tip comprising the steps of:
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providing a mold having a contoured opening dimensioned such that the distal tip with a length of the filament can extend into the contoured opening without contact with the mold; filling the contoured opening with a stiffness enhancing material, said material having an initial liquid state; immersing the filament into the stiffness enhancing material; maintaining the filament in the mold until the stiffness enhancing material achieves a solid state; and withdrawing the filament from the mold once the material achieves the solid state, whereby said filament is thereby encased in a stiffness enhancing material, wherein the filament is an electrically conductive wire. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of providing a stiffness enhancing material to a pliable filament comprising the steps of:
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providing an anti-inflammatory drug to the filament; providing a mold having a contoured opening dimensioned to receive the filament along its length without contact with the filament; filling the contoured opening with a stiffness enhancing material, said material having an initial liquid state; immersing the filament into the stiffness enhancing material; maintaining the filament in the mold until the stiffness enhancing material achieves a solid state; and withdrawing the filament from the mold once the material achieves the solid state, whereby said filament is thereby encased in a stiffness enhancing material. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification