Patent US5378234A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5378234A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Coil polymer composite
Assignee: SCOPE MEDICAL Inc
•
Filing: 1993-05-14
•
Granted: 1995-01-03
•
Expires: 2013-05-14
Abstract
Abstract A coil polymer composite tubular body is disclosed, such as for use in medical applications. The body comprises a spring coil having at least one central lumen extending axially therethrough, for receiving medical implements, fiber optics, suction or transmission of fluids such as for irrigation or drug delivery. An elastomeric layer on the spring coil provides a substantially water impermeable seal. In one particular embodiment, the composite tubular body is provided with a laterally deflectable distal tip.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary R. Hammerslag
- 👤 John Merritt
- 👤 Mark Nielsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 13:21
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/06; A61M25/0662; A61M25/0043; A61M25/005; A61M25/0053; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22072; A61M3/00; A61M3/02; A61M3/0279
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A steerable sheath, comprising: an elongate flexible tubular housing, having proximal and distal ends and at least one central passageway extending axially therethrough; a deflection element secured to the housing at a first point, and extending axially along the housing; a pull element secured to the housing at a second point and extending axially along the housing, said second point rotationally displaced from said first point; a spring coil in the wall of at least a portion of the housing; and an elastomeric coil interfit within at least a portion of said spring coil; wherein axial proximal displacement of the pull element causes a lateral displacement of a portion of the tubular housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
A steerable sheath, comprising: an elongate flexible tubular housing, having proximal and distal ends and at least one central passageway extending axially therethrough; a deflection element secured to the housing at a first point, and extending axially along the housing; a pull element secured to the housing at a second point and extending axially along the housing, said second point rotationally displaced from said first point; a spring coil in the wall of at least a portion of the housing; and an elastomeric coil interfit within at least a portion of said spring coil; wherein axial proximal displacement of the pull element causes a lateral displacement of a portion of the tubular housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A steerable sheath as in claim 1, wherein said second point is rotationally displaced from said first point by at least about 90°.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A steerable sheath as in claim 2, wherein said second point is rotationally displaced from said first point by approximately 180°.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A steerable sheath as in claim 1, wherein said first point is within about 0.5 inches of the distal end of the sheath.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A steerable sheath as in claim 1, further comprising a force transmitter in a plane extending at a perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the steerable sheath.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A steerable sheath as in claim 5, wherein said force transmitter comprises an annular ring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
A steerable sheath as in claim 1, wherein said elastomeric coil comprises silicone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
132 words
A steerable sheath of the type having an elongate flexible tubular body with a deflectable distal end and a high central lumen to outside diameter ratio, said sheath comprising: a tubular housing; a deflection element secured to the housing and extending axially along the housing; a pull element extending axially through the housing and secured with respect to the distal end of the housing; a spring coil in the wall of at least a portion of the housing; and an elastomeric layer extending along and in between adjacent filars of said spring coil; wherein axial displacement of the pull element laterally displaces the distal tip of the housing and wherein the diameter of the central lumen extending through the housing is at least about 65% of the outer diameter of the housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
132 words
A steerable sheath of the type having an elongate flexible tubular body with a deflectable distal end and a high central lumen to outside diameter ratio, said sheath comprising: a tubular housing; a deflection element secured to the housing and extending axially along the housing; a pull element extending axially through the housing and secured with respect to the distal end of the housing; a spring coil in the wall of at least a portion of the housing; and an elastomeric layer extending along and in between adjacent filars of said spring coil; wherein axial displacement of the pull element laterally displaces the distal tip of the housing and wherein the diameter of the central lumen extending through the housing is at least about 65% of the outer diameter of the housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A steerable sheath as in claim 8, wherein the diameter of the central lumen extending through the housing is at least about 75% of the outer diameter of the housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A steerable sheath as in claim 8, further comprising a lateral force transmitter at the distal end of the housing, for mechanically linking the distal end of the pull element to the distal end of the deflection element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A steerable sheath as in claim 8, further comprising a proximal solid walled portion of said housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
A steerable sheath as in claim 8, wherein said polymer comprises silicone.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A steerable sheath as in claim 12, wherein the silicone surrounds all sides of the spring coil along at least a portion of the length of the spring coil.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A steerable sheath as in claim 8, further comprising an outer tubular sleeve spaced apart from the housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
64 words
An irrigation and aspiration tool comprising: a tubular spring coil body, having a flexible distal region; an elastomeric coil interfit within at least a portion of the spring coil body; and a pull wire extending proximally from a distal end of the tubular body; wherein proximal axial displacement of the pull wire causes a lateral deflection of the flexible end of the tubular body.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
64 words
An irrigation and aspiration tool comprising: a tubular spring coil body, having a flexible distal region; an elastomeric coil interfit within at least a portion of the spring coil body; and a pull wire extending proximally from a distal end of the tubular body; wherein proximal axial displacement of the pull wire causes a lateral deflection of the flexible end of the tubular body.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
An irrigation and aspiration tool as in claim 15, further comprising a tubular sleeve radially outwardly spaced apart from the spring coil to provide an annular flow passage.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
An irrigation and aspiration tool as in claim 16, wherein the tubular spring coil body is axially movably positioned within the tubular sleeve.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US33166A
Cited
US3547103A
Cited
US3470876A
Cited
US3521620A
Cited
US3605725A
Cited
US4236509A
Cited
US4899787A
Cited
US4456017A
Cited
US4758222A
Cited
US4850351A
Cited
US4676249A
Cited
US4723936A
Cited
US4719924A
Cited
US4753223A
Cited
US4757827A
Cited
US4815478A
Cited
US4940062A
Cited
EP0343509A2
Cited
US4898577A
Cited
US4886067A
Cited
US5024654A
Cited
US5176126A
Cited
US5108368A
Cited
US5195968A
Cited
US5084012A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-01-02 | 1998-07-04 | 1999-01-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-01-02 | 2002-07-04 | 2003-01-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-01-02 | 2006-07-04 | 2007-01-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |