US5334171A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Flexible, noncollapsible catheter tube with hard and soft regions
Assignee: ARK CLO 2000-1 Ltd
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Filing: 1992-12-02
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Granted: 1994-08-02
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Expires: 2012-12-02
Abstract
Abstract A unitary, flexible, substantially noncollapsible catheter tube of biocompatible material is comprised of hard and soft regions. The hard regions can be ring shaped or helical. The hard regions provide sufficient rigidity to the tube to prevent collapse under normal usage as the interior and exterior pressures vary. The soft regions provide sufficient flexibility to allow contoured placement of the tube. The hard regions can be created by exposing a polymer in the tube to radiation. The hard regions can also be created by periodically adding a harder material to the tube.
Inventors
- 👤 Antoine Kaldany
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:22
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C71/00; B29C71/04; A; A61; A61L; A61L29/00; A61L29/04; A61L29/041; A61L29/042; A61L29/06; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0009; A61M25/0043; A61M25/0054; B29C48/00; B29C48/03; B29C48/09; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B2018/1807; A61M2025/0059; A61M2205/00; A61M2205/05; A61M2205/051; A61M2205/053; B29C35/00; B29C35/02; B29C35/08; B29C35/0805; B29C2035/0827; B29C48/001; B29C48/0018; B29C48/05; B29C48/10; B29K; B29K2105/00; B29K2105/24; B29K2105/243; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/753; B29L2031/7542
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of in vivo sterilization comprising: (a) positioning an optical fiber within a wall of a flexible, indwelling catheter; (b) positioning the catheter in a body lumen adjacent body tissue; and (c) transmitting ultraviolet light along the length of the optical fiber and radially outwardly from the fiber against the adjacent catheter so that portions of the catheter and surrounding body tissue are exposed to the ultraviolet light and sterilized.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of in vivo sterilization comprising: (a) positioning an optical fiber within a wall of a flexible, indwelling catheter; (b) positioning the catheter in a body lumen adjacent body tissue; and (c) transmitting ultraviolet light along the length of the optical fiber and radially outwardly from the fiber against the adjacent catheter so that portions of the catheter and surrounding body tissue are exposed to the ultraviolet light and sterilized.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method, as recited in claim 1, further comprising introducing a solution into the catheter which is capable of conducting ultraviolet light.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method, as recited in claim 2, in which the solution is saline solution.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
55 words
A method of sterilization comprising: (a) positioning an optical fiber in a catheter; (b) positioning the catheter in a body; and (c) transmitting sterilizing light along the length of the optical fiber and radially outwardly from the fiber against the adjacent catheter so that portions of the catheter are exposed to said light and sterilized.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
55 words
A method of sterilization comprising: (a) positioning an optical fiber in a catheter; (b) positioning the catheter in a body; and (c) transmitting sterilizing light along the length of the optical fiber and radially outwardly from the fiber against the adjacent catheter so that portions of the catheter are exposed to said light and sterilized.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as recited in claim 4 wherein the catheter is a flexible indwelling catheter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as recited in claim 4 wherein the catheter is positioned in a pre-existing lumen of the body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as recited in claim 4 wherein the optical fiber is positioned in a wall of the catheter.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of in vivo sterilization comprising: (a) positioning an optical fiber in a wall of a flexible, indwelling catheter; (b) positioning the catheter in a body; (c) introducing a solution into the catheter conductive of ultraviolet light; and (d) transmitting said light along the length of the optical fiber and radially outwardly from the fiber against the adjacent catheter so that portions of the catheter are exposed to said light and sterilized.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of in vivo sterilization comprising: (a) positioning an optical fiber in a wall of a flexible, indwelling catheter; (b) positioning the catheter in a body; (c) introducing a solution into the catheter conductive of ultraviolet light; and (d) transmitting said light along the length of the optical fiber and radially outwardly from the fiber against the adjacent catheter so that portions of the catheter are exposed to said light and sterilized.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
66 words
A method of in vivo sterilization comprising: (a) positioning one or more optical fibers in a flexible, indwelling catheter; (b) positioning the catheter in body tissue; and (c) transmitting sterilizing light along the length of one or more of the optical fibers and radially outwardly from the fiber against the adjacent catheter so that portions of the catheter are exposed to the sterilizing light and sterilized.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
66 words
A method of in vivo sterilization comprising: (a) positioning one or more optical fibers in a flexible, indwelling catheter; (b) positioning the catheter in body tissue; and (c) transmitting sterilizing light along the length of one or more of the optical fibers and radially outwardly from the fiber against the adjacent catheter so that portions of the catheter are exposed to the sterilizing light and sterilized.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as recited in claim 9 wherein the fiber is positioned in a wall of the catheter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 9 wherein portions of body tissue adjacent the catheter are also sterilized.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of in vivo sterilization comprising: (a) positioning an optical fiber within a wall of flexible, indwelling catheter, said fiber being comprised of an inner core and an outer cladding layer with at least a portion of the cladding layer removed; (b) positioning the catheter in a body lumen adjacent body tissue; and (c) transmitting ultraviolet light along the length of the optical fiber so that portions of the catheter and surrounding body tissue opposite the removed cladding portion are exposed to the ultraviolet light and sterilized.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of in vivo sterilization comprising: (a) positioning an optical fiber within a wall of flexible, indwelling catheter, said fiber being comprised of an inner core and an outer cladding layer with at least a portion of the cladding layer removed; (b) positioning the catheter in a body lumen adjacent body tissue; and (c) transmitting ultraviolet light along the length of the optical fiber so that portions of the catheter and surrounding body tissue opposite the removed cladding portion are exposed to the ultraviolet light and sterilized.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method, as recited in claim 12, in which regions of the catheter exposed to said light emanating from unclad portions of the optical fiber also become hardened.
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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) | 1997-08-01 | 1998-01-31 | 1998-08-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-08-01 | 2002-01-31 | 2002-08-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-08-01 | 2006-01-31 | 2006-08-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |