US5263952A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Two-piece tip for fiber optic catheter
Assignee: Spectranetics LLC
•
Filing: 1992-03-25
•
Granted: 1993-11-23
•
Expires: 2012-03-25
Abstract
Abstract A device for terminating a surgical apparatus such as a fiber optic catheter is disclosed. A fiber optic catheter having an outer body, an inner body disposed within the outer body to form an outer lumen therebetween and an inner lumen within the inner body, and optical fibers within the outer lumen is terminated at its distal end with a two-piece tip. An outer band of the tip has one end between the outer body and the optical fibers, while an inner band contacts the ends of the inner body and the optical fibers. The terminal faces of the optical fibers may be angled to increase the surface area illuminated or ablated by the fiber optic catheter. The inner and outer bands may be flared outwardly to increase the surface area affected even more. The inner body may also be extended beyond the terminal face to aid tracking of the catheter. The inner body and inner band may be eccentric to the outer body and outer band so that the catheter may be rotated to ablate a larger vascular area.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth P. Grace
- 👤 Roland W. Songer
- 👤 Dan J. Hammersmark
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 18:07
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/24; A61B18/245; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4296
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 76
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A tip for terminating a distal end of a catheter, said catheter having an outer body, an inner body disposed within said outer body to form an outer lumen therebetween and an inner lumen disposed within said inner body, and a plurality of optical fibers disposed within said outer lumen, said tip comprising: an outer band constructed to permit a proximal end of said outer band to contact and be bonded to a distal end of said outer body; and an inner band constructed so that said inner band may be disposed substantially within said outer band and also constructed to permit a proximal end of said inner band to contact and be bonded to said inner body, said inner band being separate from said outer band to allow light energy to exit from a distal end of said catheter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
A tip for terminating a distal end of a catheter, said catheter having an outer body, an inner body disposed within said outer body to form an outer lumen therebetween and an inner lumen disposed within said inner body, and a plurality of optical fibers disposed within said outer lumen, said tip comprising: an outer band constructed to permit a proximal end of said outer band to contact and be bonded to a distal end of said outer body; and an inner band constructed so that said inner band may be disposed substantially within said outer band and also constructed to permit a proximal end of said inner band to contact and be bonded to said inner body, said inner band being separate from said outer band to allow light energy to exit from a distal end of said catheter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The tip of claim 1, wherein a portion of said outer band has an enlarged inner diameter on a distal portion thereof defining a shoulder between said enlarged inner diameter portion and the remainder of said outer band.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The tip of claim 1, wherein said outer band has an intermediate portion having an increased inner diameter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The tip of claim 1, wherein said inner band has an intermediate portion having a reduced outer diameter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The tip of claim 1, wherein at leas tone of said outer band interior surface and said inner band exterior surface is at a positive angle β with respect to a longitudinal axis of said catheter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The tip of claim 1, wherein said outer band is beveled on a distal rim thereof at a non-zero angle φ from a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said catheter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
7 words
The tip of claim 6, wherein φ≈60°.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The tip of claim 1, wherein at least one of said inner band and said outer band is made of a radiopaque material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The tip of claim 8, wherein said radiopaque material is platinum.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The tip of claim 1, wherein said inner band and said outer band are eccentric.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
101 words
A catheter having an outer lumen, and an inner lumen disposed within said outer lumen, said catheter comprising: light energy conveying means for conveying light energy to a target area separate from said catheter, said light energy conveying means including a plurality of optical fibers disposed between said inner lumen and said outer lumen; and a tip including an outer band radially outward from said optical fibers and an inner band radially inward from said optical fibers to enable light exiting said optical fibers to exit a distal end of said catheter from between said inner band and said outer band.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
101 words
A catheter having an outer lumen, and an inner lumen disposed within said outer lumen, said catheter comprising: light energy conveying means for conveying light energy to a target area separate from said catheter, said light energy conveying means including a plurality of optical fibers disposed between said inner lumen and said outer lumen; and a tip including an outer band radially outward from said optical fibers and an inner band radially inward from said optical fibers to enable light exiting said optical fibers to exit a distal end of said catheter from between said inner band and said outer band.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The catheter of claim 11, wherein said outer band has a proximal end contacting and bonded to said outer body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The catheter of claim 12, wherein a portion of said proximal end of said outer band has a reduced outer diameter and said outer band contacts and bonds to said outer body at said reduced outer diameter portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The catheter of claim 11, wherein said outer band has an enlarged inner diameter on a distal portion thereof defining a shoulder between said enlarged inner diameter portion and the remainder of said outer band.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The catheter of claim 14, further comprising a glue plug disposed proximate to said shoulder for affixing said outer band to said catheter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The catheter of claim 11, wherein said outer band has an intermediate portion having an increased inner diameter.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The catheter of claim 16, further comprising a glue plug disposed proximate to said increased inner diameter portion for affixing said outer band to said catheter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The catheter of claim 11, wherein said inner band further comprises a proximal end contacting and bonded to an interior surface of said inner body on an exterior surface of said inner band.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
The catheter of claim 11, wherein a portion of said proximal end of said inner band has a reduced outer diameter and said inner band contacts and bonds to said inner body at said reduced outer diameter portion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The catheter of claim 11, wherein said inner band has an intermediate portion having a reduced outer diameter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The catheter of claim 20, further comprising a glue plug disposed proximate to said reduced outer diameter portion for affixing said inner band to said catheter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The catheter of claim 11, further comprising a glue plug disposed between said outer band and said inner band for fixing the position of said optical fibers.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
45 words
The catheter of claim 11, said optical fibers further comprising a terminal surface, said terminal surface being on an exterior surface of said catheter, said terminal surface having a non-zero angle α with respect to a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said catheter.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
7 words
The catheter of claim 23, wherein α≦25°.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
The catheter of claim 11, wherein the distal ends of said optical fibers are angled away from a longitudinal axis of said catheter at an angle β.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
45 words
The catheter of claim 25, said optical fibers further comprising a terminal surface, said terminal surface being on an exterior surface of said catheter, said terminal surface having a non-zero angle α with respect to a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said catheter.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
7 words
The catheter of claim 26, wherein α≦45°.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
35 words
The catheter of claim 11, wherein at least one of said outer band and an outer portion of a terminal surface of said optical fibers is beveled on an edge thereof at an angle φ.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
7 words
The catheter of claim 28, wherein φ≈60°.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
The catheter of claim 11, wherein at least one of said inner band and said outer band is made of a radiopaque material.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
11 words
The catheter of claim 30, wherein said radiopaque material is platinum.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
31 words
The catheter of claim 11, wherein an exterior surface of at least one of a proximal end of said outer band and a proximal end of said inner band is sand-blasted.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
The catheter of claim 11, wherein said tip is potted using a potting substance.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
14 words
The catheter of claim 33, wherein said potting substance is a rigid polishable epoxy.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
15 words
The catheter of claim 11, wherein said inner band and said outer band are eccentric.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
65 words
A catheter having an outer lumen, an inner lumen disposed within said outer lumen, and a plurality of optical fibers disposed therebetween, a distal end of said catheter being terminated at a tip, said tip comprising: an outer band radially outward from said optical fibers; wherein a portion of a distal end of said inner body extends beyond a distal end of said outer band.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
65 words
A catheter having an outer lumen, an inner lumen disposed within said outer lumen, and a plurality of optical fibers disposed therebetween, a distal end of said catheter being terminated at a tip, said tip comprising: an outer band radially outward from said optical fibers; wherein a portion of a distal end of said inner body extends beyond a distal end of said outer band.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
The catheter of claim 36, wherein said outer band has a proximal end contacting and bonded to said outer body.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
38 words
The catheter of claim 36, wherein a portion of said outer band has an enlarged inner diameter on a distal portion thereof defining a shoulder between said enlarged inner diameter portion and the remainder of said outer band.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
23 words
The catheter of claim 38, further comprising a glue plug disposed proximate to said shoulder for affixing said outer band to said catheter.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
18 words
The catheter of claim 36, wherein said outer band has an intermediate portion having an increased inner diameter.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
26 words
The catheter of claim 40, further comprising a glue plug disposed proximate to said increased inner diameter portion for affixing said outer band to said catheter.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
16 words
The catheter of claim 36, further comprising: an inner band radially inward from said optical fibers.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
33 words
The catheter of claim 42, wherein said inner band further comprises a proximal end contacting and bonded to an interior surface of said inner lumen on an exterior surface of said inner band.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
35 words
The catheter of claim 42, wherein said proximal end of said inner band has a reduced outer diameter and said inner band contacts and bonds to said inner lumen at said reduced outer diameter portion.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
21 words
The catheter of claim 42, wherein a portion of said inner band has an intermediate portion having a reduced outer diameter.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
26 words
The catheter of claim 45, further comprising a glue plug disposed proximate to said reduced outer diameter portion for affixing said inner band to said catheter.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
27 words
The catheter of claim 42, further comprising a glue plug disposed between said outer band and said inner band for fixing the position of said optical fibers.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
45 words
The catheter of claim 42, wherein said inner band is beveled on a distal rim thereof to form a beveled surface, and said inner body comprises a portion an increased outer diameter, said increased outer diameter portion contacting said inner band at said beveled surface.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
45 words
The catheter of claim 42, said optical fibers further comprising a terminal surface, said terminal surface being on an exterior surface of said catheter, said terminal surface having a non-zero angle α with respect to a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said catheter.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
7 words
The catheter of claim 49, wherein α≦25°.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
36 words
The catheter of claim 42, wherein at least one of said outer band interior surface and said inner band exterior surface is at a non-zero angle β with respect to a longitudinal axis of said catheter.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
42 words
The catheter of claim 51, at least one of said outer band and said inner band further comprising a terminal surface, said terminal surface having a non-zero angle α with respect to a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said catheter.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
7 words
The catheter of claim 52, wherein α≦45°.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
35 words
The catheter of claim 42, wherein at least one of said outer band and an outer portion of a terminal surface of said optical fibers is beveled on an edge thereof at an angle φ.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
7 words
The catheter of claim 54, wherein φ≈60°.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
23 words
The catheter of claim 42, wherein at least one of said inner band and said outer band is made of a radiopaque material.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
11 words
The catheter of claim 56, wherein said radiopaque material is platinum.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
31 words
The catheter of claim 42, wherein an exterior surface of at least one of a proximal end of said outer band and a proximal end of said inner band is sand-blasted.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
14 words
The catheter of claim 36, wherein said tip is potted using a potting substance.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
14 words
The catheter of claim 36, wherein said potting substance is a rigid polishable epoxy.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
15 words
The catheter of claim 36, wherein said inner band and said outer band are eccentric.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
21 words
The catheter of claim 61, wherein an exterior surface of said inner band contacts an interior surface of said outer band.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
32 words
The catheter of claim 61, wherein a distal end of said fibers lie in a plane intersecting a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said catheter at a non-zero angle Θ.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
7 words
The catheter of claim 63, wherein Θ≦25°.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
17 words
The catheter of claim 63, wherein said inner body extends from a distal-most portion of said catheter.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
36 words
The catheter of claim 42, wherein said portion of said distal end of said inner body extending beyond said distal end of said inner band comprises: a strain relief disposed in said extended inner body portion.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
13 words
The catheter of claim 66, wherein said strain relief is a radiopaque coil.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
79 words
A catheter comprising: an outer body; an inner body extending within said outer body; and a plurality of optical fibers disposed between said outer body and said inner body; wherein a distal end of said inner body extends beyond a distal end of at least one of said outer body and said optical fibers; and said distal end of said inner body is less stiff than a portion of said catheter adjacent said distal end of said outer body.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
79 words
A catheter comprising: an outer body; an inner body extending within said outer body; and a plurality of optical fibers disposed between said outer body and said inner body; wherein a distal end of said inner body extends beyond a distal end of at least one of said outer body and said optical fibers; and said distal end of said inner body is less stiff than a portion of said catheter adjacent said distal end of said outer body.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
30 words
The catheter of claim 68, said plurality of optical fibers comprising a terminal surface, said terminal surface having a non-zero angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of said catheter.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter of claim 68, wherein a terminal portion of said optical fibers is beveled on an edge thereof at an angle.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
15 words
The catheter of claim 68, wherein said inner body and said outer body are eccentric.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
32 words
The catheter of claim 71, wherein a distal end of said optical fibers lie in a plane intersecting a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said catheter at a non-zero angle.
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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) | 1996-11-22 | 1997-05-24 | 1997-11-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-11-22 | 2001-05-24 | 2001-11-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-11-22 | 2005-05-24 | 2005-11-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |