US20090093674A1
Active / In Force
US
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Sphincterotome with Improved Orientation
Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed Inc
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Filing: 2008-10-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2028-10-06
Abstract
Abstract A sphincterotome including a cutting wire may be configured such that, when activated, the cutting wire assumes a desired cutting position at or near the “12 o'clock” position or any other desired angular configuration. A sphincterotome may have controlled bending characteristics. A distally located micromachined hypotube may, in some instances, provide desired bending characteristics to a sphincterotome.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark L. Adams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 01:36
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/3205; A61B17/32056; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00292; A61B2017/003; A61B2017/00831; A61B2017/00867; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B2018/1405; A61B2018/1407
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
1 . A sphincterotome comprising: an elongate shaft including a distal region and a proximal region; a cutting element lumen extending through at least a portion of the elongate shaft; a micromachined hypotube disposed within the distal region of the elongate shaft; and a cutting element disposed within the cutting element lumen having an exposed portion of the cutting element disposed exterior to the micromachined hypotube, the cutting element having a distal end and a proximal end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
1 . A sphincterotome comprising: an elongate shaft including a distal region and a proximal region; a cutting element lumen extending through at least a portion of the elongate shaft; a micromachined hypotube disposed within the distal region of the elongate shaft; and a cutting element disposed within the cutting element lumen having an exposed portion of the cutting element disposed exterior to the micromachined hypotube, the cutting element having a distal end and a proximal end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
2 . The sphincterotome of claim 1 , wherein the micromachined hypotube is embedded within the elongate shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
3 . The sphincterotome of claim 1 , wherein the micromachined hypotube is disposed about the elongate shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
4 . The sphincterotome of claim 1 , wherein the micromachined hypotube is configured to have a greater flexibility in a first bending plane, and a lesser flexibility in a second bending plane perpendicular to the first bending plane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
5 . The sphincterotome of claim 4 , wherein the micromachined hypotube has a first side and an opposing second side, and comprises a first plurality of slots formed along the first side and a second plurality of slots formed along the second side.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
6 . The sphincterotome of claim 5 , wherein the micromachined hypotube is configured such that when bending along the first bending plane, at least some of the plurality of slots along the first side increase in width and at least some of the plurality of slots along the second side decrease in width.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
7 . The sphincterotome of claim 4 , wherein the sphincterotome is movable between a non-cutting position in which the exposed portion of the cutting element is substantially parallel with the elongate shaft and a cutting position in which the exposed portion of the cutting element pulls away from at least a portion of the elongate shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
8 . The sphincterotome of claim 7 , wherein the micromachined hypotube bends along the first bending plane when the sphincterotome moves from the non-cutting position to the cutting position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
9 . The sphincterotome of claim 7 , wherein the micromachined hypotube is configured to provide the distal region of the sphincterotome with a smooth curvature when the sphincterotome is in the cutting position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
10 . The sphincterotome of claim 1 , further comprising a handle positioned at the proximal region of the elongate shaft, the handle comprising a stationary portion secured to the elongate shaft and a movable portion slidingly disposed about the stationary portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
11 . The sphincterotome of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the cutting element is secured to the distal portion of the micromachined hypotube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
12 . The sphincterotome of claim 10 , wherein the proximal end of the cutting element is secured to the movable portion of the handle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
13 . The sphincterotome of claim 10 , wherein the stationary portion of the handle comprises a thumb ring and the movable portion of the handle comprises a finger pull member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
14 . The sphincterotome of claim 1 , further comprising a guidewire lumen disposed within the elongate shaft.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
15 . The sphincterotome of claim 1 , wherein the cutting element comprises a cutting wire.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
16 . A sphincterotome, comprising: an elongate shaft defining a cutting wire lumen; a cutting wire disposed within the cutting wire lumen; and a bending plane limiting structure disposed exterior to the elongate shaft; wherein the sphincterotome is movable between a cutting position and a non-cutting position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
16 . A sphincterotome, comprising: an elongate shaft defining a cutting wire lumen; a cutting wire disposed within the cutting wire lumen; and a bending plane limiting structure disposed exterior to the elongate shaft; wherein the sphincterotome is movable between a cutting position and a non-cutting position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
17 . The sphincterotome of claim 16 , wherein the bending plane limiting structure provides a directed bending plane when the sphincterotome is activated into the cutting position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
18 . The sphincterotome of claim 16 , wherein the bending planes limiting structure provides a smooth curvature to a distal portion of the elongate shaft when the sphincterotome is activated into the cutting position.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
63 words
19 . A sphincterotome, comprising: an elongate shaft defining a cutting wire lumen, the elongate shaft including a distal region and a proximal region; and a cutting wire disposed within the cutting wire lumen; wherein the distal region of the elongate shaft is configured to have a greater flexibility in an activating bending plane and a lesser flexibility in a orthogonal bending plane.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
63 words
19 . A sphincterotome, comprising: an elongate shaft defining a cutting wire lumen, the elongate shaft including a distal region and a proximal region; and a cutting wire disposed within the cutting wire lumen; wherein the distal region of the elongate shaft is configured to have a greater flexibility in an activating bending plane and a lesser flexibility in a orthogonal bending plane.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
20 . The sphincterotome of claim 19 , wherein the distal region of the elongate shaft bends along the activating bending plane when in a cutting position.
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