Catheter strain relief device

Claim 1

A device for relieving strain concentration at a junction between a rigid member and a flexible member of a medical device, said strain relief device comprising: a strain relief body having a proximal portion, a central portion, and a distal portion, said strain relief body forming a lumen therethrough, and the junction between the rigid member and the flexible member being positioned within said lumen, means attaching said proximal portion of said strain relief body to the rigid member, means attaching said distal portion of said strain relief body to the flexible member, and including a wicking cavity located between said distal portion and the flexible member, said wicking cavity including means for encouraging wicking of a bonding material therein, and said means attaching said distal portion of said strain relief body to the flexible member further including bonding material in said wicking cavity, and means for discouraging wicking in said central portion, whereby, said device inhibits strain concentrations due to lateral-type forces which tend to bend the flexible member at an angle relative to the rigid member, and due to axial pull forces which tend to separate the flexible member from the rigid member.

Claim 2

A device for relieving strain concentration at a junction between a rigid member and a flexible member of a medical device, said strain relief device comprising: a strain relief body having a proximal portion, a central portion, and a distal portion, said strain relief body forming a lumen therethrough, and the junction between the rigid member and the flexible member being positioned within said lumen, means attaching said proximal portion of said strain relief body to the rigid member, means attaching said distal portion of said strain relief body to the flexible member, and including a wicking cavity located between said distal portion and the flexible member, said wicking cavity including means for encouraging wicking of a bonding material therein, and said means attaching said distal portion of said strain relief body to the flexible member further including bonding material in said wicking cavity, and means for discouraging wicking in said central portion, whereby, said device inhibits strain concentrations due to lateral-type forces which tend to bend the flexible member at an angle relative to the rigid member, and due to axial pull forces which tend to separate the flexible member from the rigid member.

Claim 15

A method of forming a strain relief device about a junction between a relatively rigid portion and a relatively flexible portion of an elongate member, said method comprising the steps of: forming a strain relief device which includes a lumen therethrough, the lumen having a distal section, a central section, and a proximal section, the diameter of the distal section being smaller than the diameter of the central section. inserting the elongate member through the lumen of the strain relief device until the junction between the relatively rigid portion and the relatively flexible portion of the elongate member rests within the lumen, attaching the proximal section of the lumen to the relatively rigid portion of the elongate member, and attaching the distal section of the lumen to the relatively flexible portion of the elongate member by permanently bonding the distal section to the relatively flexible portion by inserting bonding material into a cavity formed by the distal section and the relatively flexible portion and evenly distributing the bonding material therein through capillary action, and discouraging bonding material from passing into the central section of the lumen through the aid of capillary action by inserting a bonding material into the cavity which is of a viscosity which will allow it to disperse by capillary action within the cavity, yet be inhibited in its dispersion in the central section of the lumen by capillary action due to the variation in the diameter of the lumen between the distal section and the central section thereof.

Claim 16

A method of forming a strain relief device about a junction between a relatively rigid portion and a relatively flexible portion of an elongate member, said method comprising the steps of: forming a strain relief device which includes a lumen therethrough, the lumen having a distal section, a central section, and a proximal section, the diameter of the distal section being smaller than the diameter of the central section. inserting the elongate member through the lumen of the strain relief device until the junction between the relatively rigid portion and the relatively flexible portion of the elongate member rests within the lumen, attaching the proximal section of the lumen to the relatively rigid portion of the elongate member, and attaching the distal section of the lumen to the relatively flexible portion of the elongate member by permanently bonding the distal section to the relatively flexible portion by inserting bonding material into a cavity formed by the distal section and the relatively flexible portion and evenly distributing the bonding material therein through capillary action, and discouraging bonding material from passing into the central section of the lumen through the aid of capillary action by inserting a bonding material into the cavity which is of a viscosity which will allow it to disperse by capillary action within the cavity, yet be inhibited in its dispersion in the central section of the lumen by capillary action due to the variation in the diameter of the lumen between the distal section and the central section thereof.