Patent JPS5439983A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0937481A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Catheter or guidewire with varying flexibility
Assignee: Precision Vascular Systems Inc
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Filing: 1999-02-09
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2019-02-09
Abstract
Abstract A catheder/guidewire for threading into a vasculature passageway includes an elongate body dimensioned for threading into the passageway, where the body has one or more sections intermediate the proximal end and distal end, further to be more flexible than other intermediate sections so that the more flexible sections coincide with curves in the passageway when the elongate body is threaded into the passageway. The variation in flexibility is realized by radially cutted slots. Number of cuts per length unit, depth and width of slots determine the local stiffness.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen C. Jacobsen
- 👤 John Lippert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 23:27
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/09; A61M25/0043; A61M25/0054; A61M25/0105; A61M25/0133; A61M25/0138
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
A catheter/guidewire device for threading into a vasculature
passageway having a determinable pathway profile of curves and generally linear
sections, said device comprising an elongate body having a distal end, a proximal
end and intermediate sections, wherein selected intermediate sections are formed
to be more flexible than other intermediate sections so that the selected sections
coincide with the curves of the pathway profile when the device is threaded into
the vasculature passageway.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
28 words
A catheter/guidewire device as in Claim 1 wherein said selected
intermediate sections are formed with a plurality of generally transverse cuts
spaced-apart longitudinally along said selected intermediate sections.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A catheter/guidewire device as in Claim 2 wherein certain of said
selected intermediate sections are formed to be more flexible than other of said
selected intermediate sections, by spacing the cuts closer together.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A catheter/guidewire device as in Claim 2 wherein certain of said
selected intermediate sections are formed to be more flexible than other of said
selected intermediate sections, by forming the cuts to be deeper.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A catheter/guidewire device as in Claim 2 wherein certain of said
selected intermediate sections are formed to be more flexible than other of said
selected intermediate sections, by forming the cuts to be wider.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
A catheter/guidewire device as in Claim 1 wherein certain of said
selected intermediate sections are formed to be more flexible than other of said
selected intermediate sections, so that said certain of said selected intermediate
sections coincide with the curves of the pathway profile which have the greatest
curvature, when the device is threaded into the vasculature passageway.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A catheter/guidewire device as in Claim 1 wherein at least some of the
selected intermediate sections vary from one another in flexibility.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A catheter/guidewire device as in Claim 1 wherein the distal end of the
wire is formed to be more flexible than other sections of the wire.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A catheter/guidewire device as in Claim 1 wherein at least one selected
intermediate section is formed to be more flexible than the distal end.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A catheter/guidewire device as in Claim 1 wherein certain of said
selected intermediate sections are formed to be more flexible than other of said
selected intermediate sections, by annealing said certain sections.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A catheter/guidewire device as in Claim 1 wherein certain of said
selected intermediate sections are formed to be more flexible than other of said
selected intermediate sections, by abrading said certain sections.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A catheter/guidewire device as in Claim 1 wherein certain of said
selected intermediate sections are formed to be more flexible than other of said
selected intermediate sections, by reducing the device wall thickness at said certain
sections.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
A catheter/guidewire for threading into a vasculature passageway
comprising an elongate body dimensioned for threading into the passageway, and
including one or more sections intermediate the proximal end and the distal end,
formed to be more flexible than other intermediate sections, some closer to the
proximal end and some closer to the distal end.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A catheter/guidewire as in Claim 13 wherein said one or more
sections are formed with a plurality of generally transverse cuts spaced-apart
longitudinally along said one or more sections.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A catheter/guidewire as in Claim 14 wherein the longitudinal locations
of said one ore more sections coincide generally with the longitudinal locations in
the vasculature passageway having the greatest curvature.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
A catheter/guidewire for threading into a vasculature passageway
comprising an elongate body dimensioned for threading into the passageway,
wherein the proximal end is more flexible than the distal end.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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