US5429604A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fiber optic catheter with twistable tip
Assignee: Spectranetics LLC
•
Filing: 1994-11-03
•
Granted: 1995-07-04
•
Expires: 2014-11-03
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is a catheter with a twistable tip. The catheter having a flexible wall for use in complex twisting anatomy contains a torque wire or a torquable guide wire lumen. The torque wire or torquable guide wire lumen extends through the length of the catheter and is attached to the catheter at or near the distal end thereof. The distal face of the catheter is angled to self align the catheter with an obstruction upon insertion. The proximal end of the torque wire protrudes from the proximal end of the catheter and is attached to a turn limiter. Rotation of the turn limiter imparts a torque to the torque wire or torquable guide wire lumen which is transmitted through the catheter to the distal end of the catheter where the applied torque twists the distal tip to manually align the tip with an obstruction. The twisting response at the tip of the catheter is determined by the torque applied to the torque element, the material and dimensional profile of the torque element, the attachment point of the torque element to the catheter and the material and dimensional profile of the catheter.
Inventors
- 👤 Dan J. Hammersmark
- 👤 Timothy J. Wood
- 👤 Matthew S. Solar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:04
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/0105; A61M25/0133; A61M25/0144; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/24; A61B18/245; A61M25/0136; A61B90/00; A61B90/03; A61B2090/031; A61M2025/0183
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 59
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip, comprising: a catheter having a distal end; a plurality of optical fibers disposed in the catheter and having distal ends extending to the distal end of the catheter; and a torque wire extending through the catheter and bonded to the optical fibers near the distal end of the catheter; such that when a proximal end of the torque wire is rotated, torque is transferred through the torque wire to the distal end of the catheter thus twisting the tip of the catheter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip, comprising: a catheter having a distal end; a plurality of optical fibers disposed in the catheter and having distal ends extending to the distal end of the catheter; and a torque wire extending through the catheter and bonded to the optical fibers near the distal end of the catheter; such that when a proximal end of the torque wire is rotated, torque is transferred through the torque wire to the distal end of the catheter thus twisting the tip of the catheter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip as in claim 1, wherein the torque wire is bonded among the optical fibers in an adhesive matrix at the distal end of the catheter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip as in claim 1, wherein the torque wire is bonded near the distal end of the catheter such that a longitudinal axis of the torque wire is offset from a longitudinal axis of the catheter at the distal end of the catheter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip as in claim 1, wherein a distal section of the catheter is more flexible than a remainder of the catheter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip as in claim 4, wherein the distal section has a length of about 4-30 cm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A catheter assembly as in claim 4, wherein the distal section of the catheter has a thinner wall than the remainder of the catheter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip as in claim 1, wherein the catheter assembly further comprises a guide wire lumen extending from a distal end of the catheter and terminating distal to the proximal end of the catheter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip as in claim 1, wherein the torque wire has at least one tapered portion near the distal end of the catheter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
108 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip comprising: a catheter having a distal end; a plurality of optical fibers disposed in the catheter and having distal ends extending to the distal end of the catheter; and a torque wire extending through the catheter such that when a proximal end of the torque wire is rotated, torque is transferred through the torque wire to the distal end of the catheter thus twisting the tip of the catheter, wherein the torque wire is bonded near the distal end of the catheter such that the torque wire and the catheter share a common axis at the distal end of the catheter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
108 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip comprising: a catheter having a distal end; a plurality of optical fibers disposed in the catheter and having distal ends extending to the distal end of the catheter; and a torque wire extending through the catheter such that when a proximal end of the torque wire is rotated, torque is transferred through the torque wire to the distal end of the catheter thus twisting the tip of the catheter, wherein the torque wire is bonded near the distal end of the catheter such that the torque wire and the catheter share a common axis at the distal end of the catheter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
123 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip, comprising: a catheter having a distal section that is more flexible than a remainder of the catheter, wherein the distal section of the catheter is composed of a more flexible material than the remainder of the catheter; a plurality of optical fibers disposed in the catheter and having distal ends extending to the distal end of the catheter; and a torque wire extending through the catheter and bonded to at least one of the optical fibers and the catheter near the distal end such that when a proximal end of the torque wire is rotated, torque is transferred through the torque wire to the distal end of the catheter thus twisting the tip of the catheter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
123 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip, comprising: a catheter having a distal section that is more flexible than a remainder of the catheter, wherein the distal section of the catheter is composed of a more flexible material than the remainder of the catheter; a plurality of optical fibers disposed in the catheter and having distal ends extending to the distal end of the catheter; and a torque wire extending through the catheter and bonded to at least one of the optical fibers and the catheter near the distal end such that when a proximal end of the torque wire is rotated, torque is transferred through the torque wire to the distal end of the catheter thus twisting the tip of the catheter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A catheter assembly as in claim 10, wherein the distal section of the catheter also has a thinner wall than the remainder of the catheter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
113 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip, comprising: a catheter having a distal end, wherein a plane of a distal face of the catheter is not perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the catheter; a plurality of optical fibers disposed in the catheter and having distal ends extending to the distal end of the catheter; and a torque wire extending through the catheter and bonded to at least one of the optical fibers and the catheter near the distal end such that when a proximal end of the torque wire is rotated, torque is transferred through the torque wire to the distal end of the catheter thus twisting the tip of the catheter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
113 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip, comprising: a catheter having a distal end, wherein a plane of a distal face of the catheter is not perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the catheter; a plurality of optical fibers disposed in the catheter and having distal ends extending to the distal end of the catheter; and a torque wire extending through the catheter and bonded to at least one of the optical fibers and the catheter near the distal end such that when a proximal end of the torque wire is rotated, torque is transferred through the torque wire to the distal end of the catheter thus twisting the tip of the catheter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip as in claim 12, wherein the distal face is at an angle of about 23 degrees to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the catheter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip as in claim 12, wherein the catheter includes an eccentric guide wire lumen and the distal face is angled such that the eccentric guide wire lumen is exposed at a distal-most portion of the distal face.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
A catheter assembly as in claim 14, wherein the eccentric guide wire lumen extends from a distal end of the catheter and terminates at a location distal to a proximal end of the catheter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A catheter assembly as in claim 12, wherein the catheter includes a guide wire lumen concentric with the catheter at the distal face.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
A catheter assembly as in claim 16, wherein said plane is at an angle of about 23 degrees with respect to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the catheter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
109 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip comprising: a catheter having a distal end, wherein the catheter includes a guide wire lumen concentric with the catheter at the distal face; a plurality of optical fibers disposed in the catheter and having distal ends extending to the distal end of the catheter; and a torque wire extending through the catheter and bonded to at least one of the catheter and the optical fibers near the distal end such that when a proximal end of the torque wire is rotated, torque is transferred through the torque wire to the distal end of the catheter thus twisting the tip of the catheter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
109 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip comprising: a catheter having a distal end, wherein the catheter includes a guide wire lumen concentric with the catheter at the distal face; a plurality of optical fibers disposed in the catheter and having distal ends extending to the distal end of the catheter; and a torque wire extending through the catheter and bonded to at least one of the catheter and the optical fibers near the distal end such that when a proximal end of the torque wire is rotated, torque is transferred through the torque wire to the distal end of the catheter thus twisting the tip of the catheter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
136 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip comprising: a catheter having a distal end; a plurality of optical fibers disposed in the catheter and having distal ends extending to the distal end of the catheter; and a torque wire extending through the catheter and bonded to at least one of the catheter and the optical fibers near the distal end such that when a proximal end of the torque wire is rotated, torque is transferred through the torque wire to the distal end of the catheter thus twisting the tip of the catheter, wherein the torque wire has at least one tapered portion near the distal end of the catheter such that the torque wire tapers from a diameter of about 0.018 to about 0.008 inches and may taper further to about 0.005 inches in diameter.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
136 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip comprising: a catheter having a distal end; a plurality of optical fibers disposed in the catheter and having distal ends extending to the distal end of the catheter; and a torque wire extending through the catheter and bonded to at least one of the catheter and the optical fibers near the distal end such that when a proximal end of the torque wire is rotated, torque is transferred through the torque wire to the distal end of the catheter thus twisting the tip of the catheter, wherein the torque wire has at least one tapered portion near the distal end of the catheter such that the torque wire tapers from a diameter of about 0.018 to about 0.008 inches and may taper further to about 0.005 inches in diameter.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
120 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip comprising: a catheter having a distal end; an inner lumen extending from the distal end to a proximal end within the catheter; optical fibers extending through the catheter from the distal to the proximal end; a torque wire extending through the catheter and bonded to at least one of the inner lumen and the optical fibers at the distal end of the catheter, wherein the torque wire is bonded among the optical fibers in an adhesive matrix when the torque wire is bonded to the optical fibers, such that when a proximal end of the torque wire is rotated, torque is transferred through the torque wire to the distal end of the catheter.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
120 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip comprising: a catheter having a distal end; an inner lumen extending from the distal end to a proximal end within the catheter; optical fibers extending through the catheter from the distal to the proximal end; a torque wire extending through the catheter and bonded to at least one of the inner lumen and the optical fibers at the distal end of the catheter, wherein the torque wire is bonded among the optical fibers in an adhesive matrix when the torque wire is bonded to the optical fibers, such that when a proximal end of the torque wire is rotated, torque is transferred through the torque wire to the distal end of the catheter.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip as in claim 20, wherein a distal section of the catheter is more flexible than a remainder of the catheter.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip as in claim 21, wherein the distal section of the catheter is composed of a more flexible material than the remainder of the catheter.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
A catheter assembly as in claim 22, wherein the distal section of the catheter has a thinner wall than the remainder of the catheter.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip as in claim 21, wherein the distal section has length of about 4-30 cm.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip as in claim 20, wherein a distal face of the catheter is not perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the catheter.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
34 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip as in claim 25, wherein the distal face is at an angle of about 23 degrees to a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the catheter.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
43 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip as in claim 25, wherein the catheter includes an eccentric guide wire lumen and the distal face is angled such that the eccentric guide wire lumen is exposed at a distal-most portion of the distal face.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
21 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip as in claim 20, wherein a distal face of the catheter is a cone.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
51 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip as in claim 28, wherein the distal face is at an angle of about 23° to a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the catheter, such that a distal most point of the catheter is at a center of the catheter in cross-section.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
29 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip as in claim 28, wherein a distal most point of the distal face is not along a longitudinal axis of the catheter.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
39 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip as in claim 20, wherein the catheter assembly further comprises a guide wire lumen extending from a distal end of the catheter and terminating distal to the proximal end of the catheter.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
27 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip as in claim 20, wherein the catheter includes a guide wire lumen concentric with the catheter at the distal face.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
28 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip as in claim 20, wherein the torque wire has at least one tapered portion near the distal end of the catheter.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
35 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip as in claim 20, wherein the torque wire tapers from a diameter of about 0.018 to about 0.008 inches and tapers further to about 0.005 inches in diameter.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
81 words
A catheter assembly with twistable tip comprising: a catheter having a distal end; an inner lumen extending from the distal end to a proximal end within the catheter; a torque wire extending through the catheter and bonded to the inner lumen at a point back from the distal end; such that when a proximal end of the torque wire is rotated, torque is transferred through the torque wire to the inner lumen and subsequently to the distal end of the catheter.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
81 words
A catheter assembly with twistable tip comprising: a catheter having a distal end; an inner lumen extending from the distal end to a proximal end within the catheter; a torque wire extending through the catheter and bonded to the inner lumen at a point back from the distal end; such that when a proximal end of the torque wire is rotated, torque is transferred through the torque wire to the inner lumen and subsequently to the distal end of the catheter.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
32 words
A catheter assembly with twistable tip as in claim 35, wherein the torque wire is attached to the inner lumen at a distance of up to 30 cm from the distal end.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
26 words
A catheter assembly with twistable tip as in claim 36, wherein a distal section of the catheter is more flexible than a remainder of the catheter.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
30 words
A catheter assembly with twistable tip as in claim 37, wherein the distal section of the catheter is composed of a more flexible material than the remainder of the catheter.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
20 words
A catheter assembly with twistable tip as in claim 37, wherein the distal section has length of about 4-30 cm.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
27 words
A catheter assembly with twistable tip as in claim 37, wherein the distal section of the catheter has a thinner wall than the remainder of the catheter.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
32 words
A catheter assembly with twistable tip as in claim 35, wherein the torque wire is attached to the inner lumen at a distance of 6 to 10 cm from the distal end.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
21 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip as in claim 41, wherein a distal face of the catheter is a cone.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
54 words
A catheter assembly with a twistable tip as in claim 42, wherein the distal face of the catheter is at an angle of about 23° to a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the catheter, such that a distal-most point of the catheter is at a center of the catheter in cross section.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
28 words
A catheter assembly with twistable tip as in claim 42, wherein a distal most point of the distal face is not along a longitudinal axis of the catheter.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
38 words
A catheter assembly with twistable tip as in claim 41, wherein the catheter assembly further comprises a guide wire lumen extending from a distal end of the catheter and terminating distal to the proximal end of the catheter.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
27 words
A catheter assembly with twistable tip as in claim 35, wherein a distal face of the catheter is not perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the catheter.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
33 words
A catheter assembly with twistable tip as in claim 46, wherein the distal face is at an angle of about 23 degrees to a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the catheter.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
42 words
A catheter assembly with twistable tip as in claim 46, wherein the catheter includes an eccentric guide wire lumen and the distal face is angled such that the eccentric guide wire lumen is exposed at a distal-most portion of the distal face.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
26 words
A catheter assembly with twistable tip as in claim 35, wherein the catheter includes a guide wire lumen concentric with the catheter at the distal face.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
27 words
A catheter assembly with twistable tip as in claim 35, wherein the torque wire has at least one tapered portion near the distal end of the catheter.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
34 words
A catheter assembly with twistable tip as in claim 35, wherein the torque wire tapers from a diameter of about 0.018 to about 0.008 inches and tapers further to about 0.005 inches in diameter.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-07-03 | 1999-01-02 | 1999-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-03 | 2003-01-02 | 2003-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-03 | 2007-01-02 | 2007-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |