US5100379A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Microcatheter having improved tensile strength
Assignee: Kendall Co
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Filing: 1990-11-19
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Granted: 1992-03-31
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Expires: 2010-11-19
Abstract
Abstract A wireless polymeric microcatheter having improved tensile strength; and the process for making same.
Inventors
- 👤 Amy M. Wendell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:35
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0021; A61M25/0023; A61M25/0009; A61M2025/0042
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
A microcatheter having a substantially improved tensile strength, mode from a method comprising the step of elongating and thereby molecularly orienting a medical grade tubular article having a greater gauge size than the microcatheter gauge size desired, thereby to reduce the gauge size to within the range of 24-32 gauge to form the microcatheter, the microcatheter having a breaking force substantially equal to that of the tubular article of greater size.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
A microcatheter having a substantially improved tensile strength, mode from a method comprising the step of elongating and thereby molecularly orienting a medical grade tubular article having a greater gauge size than the microcatheter gauge size desired, thereby to reduce the gauge size to within the range of 24-32 gauge to form the microcatheter, the microcatheter having a breaking force substantially equal to that of the tubular article of greater size.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A microcatheter as defined in claim 1 wherein the tubular article is elongated at least 200 percent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A microcatheter as defined in claim 1 wherein the tensile strength of the microcatheter is at least 50 percent greater than that of a microcatheter of the same gauge prepared by extrusion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A microcatheter as defined in claim 1 wherein the microcatheter in claim 1 is of a size selected from the group consisting of 24, 28 and 32 gauge catheters.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A microcatheter as defined in claim 4 wherein the microcatheter is a 32 gauge catheter having a breaking force of at least about 1.5 pounds.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A microcatheter as defined in claim 4 wherein the microcatheter is a 28 gauge catheter having a breaking force of at least about 2.5 pounds.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A microcatheter as defined in claim 6 wherein the breaking force of the microcatheter is at least 3.0 pounds.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A microcatheter as defined in claim 4 wherein the microcatheter is a 24 gauge catheter and the breaking force is at least 4.5 pounds.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
In a microcatheter comprising a flexible polymeric material; the improvement wherein the polymeric material is molecularly oriented by stretching whereby to provide a microcatheter having an outside diameter within the range of 24-32 gauge and having greatly increased breaking force over that of a microcatheter of the same gauge which has not been molecular oriented by stretching.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
In a microcatheter comprising a flexible polymeric material; the improvement wherein the polymeric material is molecularly oriented by stretching whereby to provide a microcatheter having an outside diameter within the range of 24-32 gauge and having greatly increased breaking force over that of a microcatheter of the same gauge which has not been molecular oriented by stretching.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
A microcatheter as defined in claim 9 wherein the microcatheter is 28 gauge.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A microcatheter as defined in claim 10 wherein the breaking force is at least 2.5 pounds.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
A microcatheter as defined in claim 11 wherein the polymeric material comprises nylon.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A microcatheter as defined in claim 9 wherein the microcatheter is a 24 gauge microcatheter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
A microcatheter as defined in claim 13 wherein the breaking force is at least 4.5 pounds.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
A microcatheter as defined in claim 14 wherein the polymeric material comprises nylon.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
A microcatheter as defined in claim 9 wherein the microcatheter is 32 gauge.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A microcatheter as defined in claim 16 wherein the breaking force is at least 1.5 pounds.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
A microcatheter as defined in claim 17 wherein the polymeric material is nylon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
57 words
The process of administering continuous spinal anesthesia comprising the steps of inserting a microcatheter as defined in claim 9 through a spinal needle until the tip of the catheter projects beyond the tip of the spinal needle and enters the subarachnoid space, removing the spinal needle while maintaining the catheter in place, and administering the anesthetic agent.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-03-31 | 1995-09-30 | 1996-03-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-03-31 | 1999-09-30 | 2000-03-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-03-31 | 2003-09-30 | 2004-03-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |