US5101682A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reinforced tubing
Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed Inc
•
Filing: 1990-07-06
•
Granted: 1992-04-07
•
Expires: 2010-07-06
Abstract
Abstract A reinforced tubing has an inner continuous hollow metallic tube. To strengthen the tube, a metallic helical structural member is bonded in tension by nickel or cobalt electroplating to the outside wall of the tube. Thus, a surrounding layer of electroplated material (i.e. nickel or cobalt) covers the tube and the structural member to bond the structural member to the tube. The individual coils of the helical structural member are spaced apart, so that the edges of successive coils do not touch or overlap. Importantly, the angular pitch between successive coils is in the range 20°-60°, the pitch being variable throughout the length of the tubing. For applications wherein the tubing is to be used as a rigid platform, a longitudinal stiffening member may be bonded to the inside of the tube. Additionally, regardless of the particular application of the tubing, a polymeric coating may be molded onto the outside of the tube, the helical structural member, and the surrounding electroplated layer to cover and protect the tubing.
Inventors
- 👤 Herbert R. Radisch, Jr.
- 👤 Andrew F. Farr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 00:07
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C1/00; F16C1/26; A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0043; A61M25/005; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22001; A61M25/0053; F16C2316/00; F16C2316/10; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/12; Y10T428/12493; Y10T428/12535; Y10T428/12611; Y10T428/12771; Y10T428/12861; Y10T428/12903; Y10T428/12917; Y10T428/12924; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20396; Y10T74/20402; Y10T74/20456; Y10T74/20462
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A flexible torque transmission cable which comprises: a hollow tube having a continuous wall defining an inner surface and an outer surface; a helical structural member positioned in tension around said outer surface of said wall for strengthening said tube; and an electroplatable metal surrounding layer electroplated over said structural member to continuously coat said tube and said structural member and bond said structural member to said tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
68 words
A flexible torque transmission cable which comprises: a hollow tube having a continuous wall defining an inner surface and an outer surface; a helical structural member positioned in tension around said outer surface of said wall for strengthening said tube; and an electroplatable metal surrounding layer electroplated over said structural member to continuously coat said tube and said structural member and bond said structural member to said tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A torque transmission cable as recited in claim 1 wherein said helical stuctural member is a metallic ribbon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A torque transmission cable as recited in claim 1 wherein said helical structural member is a metallic wire.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A torque transmission cable as recited in claim 2 wherein said metallic ribbon comprises a plurality of strands.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A torque transmission cable as recited in claim 3 wherein said metallic wire comprises a plurality of strands.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A torque transmission cable as recited in claim 1 wherein said helical structural member comprises a material selected from a group consisting of tungsten, cobalt, stainless steel, molybdenum, nickel, and combinations thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A torque transmission cable as recited in claim 6 wherein said tube comprises a material selected from a group consisting of stainless steel, gold platinum, and combinations thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A torque transmission cable as recited in claim 7 wherein said surrounding layer is nickel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A torque transmission cable as recited in claim 7 wherein said surrounding layer is cobalt.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
A torque transmission cable as recited in claim 1 wherein said helical structural member defines a plurality of coils, said helical structural member defines a plurality of coils, said helical structural member being formed with a pitch between successive said coils in a range from ten (10) to sixty (60) degrees.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A torque transmission cable as recited in claim 10 wherein said pitch is variable throughout said torque transmission cable.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A torque transmission cable as recited in claim 1 further comprising a continuous layer of polymeric material surroundingly molded over said tube, said helical structural member, and said surrounding layer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
91 words
A torque transmission cable which comprises: a hollow tube having a continuous wall defining an inner surface and an outer surface; a stiffening member disposed longitudinally within said tube, said stiffening member being bonded to said inner surface of said tube wall; a helical structural member positioned in tension around said outer surface of said wall for strengthening said tube; and an electroplatable metal surrounding layer electroplated over said tube and said structural member to continuously coat said tube and said structural member and bond said structural member to said tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
91 words
A torque transmission cable which comprises: a hollow tube having a continuous wall defining an inner surface and an outer surface; a stiffening member disposed longitudinally within said tube, said stiffening member being bonded to said inner surface of said tube wall; a helical structural member positioned in tension around said outer surface of said wall for strengthening said tube; and an electroplatable metal surrounding layer electroplated over said tube and said structural member to continuously coat said tube and said structural member and bond said structural member to said tube.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
83 words
A flexible reinforced tubing apparatus, which comprises; at least one continuous metallic helical structural member defining an axial bore therethrough; a metallic hollow tube axially disposed within said bore of said helical structural member, said tube having a continuous wall, said helical structural member being positioned in tensile stress against said wall; and an electroplatable metal surrounding layer electroplated over said tube and said structural member to continuously coat said tube and said structural member and bond said structural member to said tube.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
83 words
A flexible reinforced tubing apparatus, which comprises; at least one continuous metallic helical structural member defining an axial bore therethrough; a metallic hollow tube axially disposed within said bore of said helical structural member, said tube having a continuous wall, said helical structural member being positioned in tensile stress against said wall; and an electroplatable metal surrounding layer electroplated over said tube and said structural member to continuously coat said tube and said structural member and bond said structural member to said tube.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
A reinforced tubing apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein said helical structural member is a ribbon.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
A reinforced tubing apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein said helical structural member comprises a material selected from a group consisting of tungsten, cobalt, stainless steel, molybdenum, nickel, and combinations thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
A reinforced tubing apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said tube comprises a material selected from a group consisting of stainless steel, gold, platinum, and combinations thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
A reinforced tubing apparatus as recited in claim 17 wherein said surrounding layer comprises an element selected from a group consisting of nickel and cobalt.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
60 words
A reinforced tubing apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein said helical structural member defines a plurality of coils, each of said coils being distanced from its adjacent coils, said helical structural member being formed with a pitch between successive coils in a range from ten (10) to sixty (60) degrees, said pitch being variable throughout said reinforced tubing apparatus.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
A reinforced tubing apparatus as recited in claim 14 further comprising a continuous layer of polymeric material surroundingly molded over said helical structural member, said tube, and said layer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
99 words
A reinforced tubing apparatus which comprises: at least one continuous metallic helical structural member defining an axial bore therethrough; a metallic hollow tube axially disposed within said bore of said helical structural member, said tube having a continuous wall, said helical structural member being positioned in tensile stress against said wall; a stiffening member disposed longitudinally within said tube, said stiffening member being bonded to said tube wall; and an electroplatable metal surrounding layer electroplated over said tube and said structural member to continuously coat said tube and said structural member and bond said structural member to said tube.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
99 words
A reinforced tubing apparatus which comprises: at least one continuous metallic helical structural member defining an axial bore therethrough; a metallic hollow tube axially disposed within said bore of said helical structural member, said tube having a continuous wall, said helical structural member being positioned in tensile stress against said wall; a stiffening member disposed longitudinally within said tube, said stiffening member being bonded to said tube wall; and an electroplatable metal surrounding layer electroplated over said tube and said structural member to continuously coat said tube and said structural member and bond said structural member to said tube.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US492266A
Cited
US732415A
Cited
US779374A
Cited
US2748805A
Cited
US2960712A
Cited
US3015969A
Cited
US3063303A
Cited
US3192795A
Cited
US3240082A
Cited
US3180625A
Cited
US3261225A
Cited
US3837819A
Cited
US3628352A
Cited
US3764779A
Cited
US3769813A
Cited
US4657049A
Cited
US4099425A
Cited
US4103075A
Cited
US4620569A
Cited
US4541303A
Cited
US4823847A
Cited
US4446198A
Cited
US4634805A
Cited
US4863416A
Cited
US4853295A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-04-07 | 1995-10-07 | 1996-04-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-04-07 | 1999-10-07 | 2000-04-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-04-07 | 2003-10-07 | 2004-04-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |