US5437638A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multifinger topocatheter tip for multilumen catheter for angioplasty and manipulation
Assignee: United States Department of Health and Human Services
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Filing: 1994-12-01
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Granted: 1995-08-01
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Expires: 2014-12-01
Abstract
Abstract A tip design for a multilumen catheter which includes a plurality of inflatable tubes each of which is attached to a lumen at the distal end of the multilumen catheter. The inflatable tubes are normally inverted in their respective lumens, but can be individually everted, inflated, deflated and retracted or inverted back into their lumen by the application of fluid pressure and vacuums at the proximal end of the multilumen catheter. In a procedure to open a constricted passageway one or more of the inflatable tubes can be inverted into the constriction and thereafter inflated to open the passageway. Thereafter, addition inflatable tubes can be inverted into the constriction and inflated to effect further opening of the passageway. In another embodiment, the inflatable tubes are provided with gripping surfaces and are manipulated by appropriate fluid pressures like fingers to grasp and recover target objects in a blocked passageway.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L. Bowman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 03:39
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0067; A61M25/0068; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B17/22031; A61B17/22032; A61M25/0082; A61M25/10; A61M25/1002; A61M25/0021; A61M25/0023; A61M2025/0025; A61M25/0026; A61M2025/0036; A61M2025/004; A61M25/104
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A device for opening narrow passageways which comprises: a catheter having a length and a proximal end and distal end between which ends said length of said catheter extends, said distal end being defined by a terminal end surface of said catheter said catheter further having a plurality of internal lumens which extend between said proximal and distal ends; and a plurality of adjacent inflatable tubes which are attached to said plurality of lumens at said terminal end surface of said distal end of said catheter so as to be independently inflatable beyond said terminal end surface of said distal end of said catheter.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
104 words
A device for opening narrow passageways which comprises: a catheter having a length and a proximal end and distal end between which ends said length of said catheter extends, said distal end being defined by a terminal end surface of said catheter said catheter further having a plurality of internal lumens which extend between said proximal and distal ends; and a plurality of adjacent inflatable tubes which are attached to said plurality of lumens at said terminal end surface of said distal end of said catheter so as to be independently inflatable beyond said terminal end surface of said distal end of said catheter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device for opening narrow passageways according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of lumens includes at least two lumens to which two inflatable tubes are attached and a central lumen for receiving a guide wire or optical fiber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device for opening narrow passageways according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of lumens comprises between 3 to 13, including a central lumen and said plurality of inflatable tubes comprises between 2 to 12.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
A device for opening narrow passageways according to claim 1, further comprising means to selectively apply pressures and vacuums to said plurality of lumens at said proximal end of said catheter to thereby evert the inflatable tubes from a retracted position in which said inflatable tubes are within said plurality of lumens, inflate the inflatable tubes, deflate the inflatable tubes and invert the inflatable tubes into said retracted position in said plurality of lumens.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device for opening narrow passageways according to claim 4, wherein each of said plurality of lumens is attached to a rigid connection tube at said proximal end of the catheter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device for opening narrow passageways according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of inflatable tubes includes projections on outer surfaces thereof for gripping a target object.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device for opening narrow passageways according to claim 6, wherein said projections are on at least one side of the outer surfaces of the inflatable tubes.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
90 words
A device for opening narrow passageways which comprises: a tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end and a plurality of internal lumens which extend between said proximal and distal ends; and a plurality of adjacent collapsible tubes which are attached to said plurality of lumens at said distal end of said tubular member which collapsible tubes are independently movable by fluid pressure between a retracted position within a lumen and an extended position in which said collapsible tubes extend beyond said distal end of said tubular member.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
90 words
A device for opening narrow passageways which comprises: a tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end and a plurality of internal lumens which extend between said proximal and distal ends; and a plurality of adjacent collapsible tubes which are attached to said plurality of lumens at said distal end of said tubular member which collapsible tubes are independently movable by fluid pressure between a retracted position within a lumen and an extended position in which said collapsible tubes extend beyond said distal end of said tubular member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device for opening narrow passageways according to claim 8, wherein said collapsible tubes are inflatable.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
149 words
A method of opening narrow passageways which comprises: locating a constriction in a passageway; inserting a distal end of a tubular member, having a plurality of internal lumens, into said passageway and positioning said distal end adjacent said constriction, said distal end being defined by a terminal end surface of said tubular member; inserting a first inflatable tube, attached to one of said plurality of internal lumens at said terminal end surface, into the constriction beyond the terminal end surface of said distal end of said tubular member and thereafter inflating the inflatable tube to open the constriction; thereafter deflating the first inflatable tube and inserting one or more similar inflatable tubes, attached to said plurality of internal lumens at said terminal end surface, into the constriction together with the first inflatable tube and, after insertion, independently inflating each of the inflatable tubes together to further open the constriction.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
149 words
A method of opening narrow passageways which comprises: locating a constriction in a passageway; inserting a distal end of a tubular member, having a plurality of internal lumens, into said passageway and positioning said distal end adjacent said constriction, said distal end being defined by a terminal end surface of said tubular member; inserting a first inflatable tube, attached to one of said plurality of internal lumens at said terminal end surface, into the constriction beyond the terminal end surface of said distal end of said tubular member and thereafter inflating the inflatable tube to open the constriction; thereafter deflating the first inflatable tube and inserting one or more similar inflatable tubes, attached to said plurality of internal lumens at said terminal end surface, into the constriction together with the first inflatable tube and, after insertion, independently inflating each of the inflatable tubes together to further open the constriction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method of opening narrow passageways according to claim 10, wherein said tubular member comprises a catheter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method of opening narrow passageways according to claim 11, wherein, prior to being inserted into the constriction, each of said inflatable tubes is first inverted in a lumen in said catheter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method of opening narrow passageways according to claim 12, wherein each of said inflatable tubes is everted from a retracted position in which said inflatable tubes are within a lumen in said catheter, inflated, deflated and, after opening said passage, inverted into the lumen in said catheter by selective application of fluid pressures and vacuums at a proximal end of said catheter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of opening narrow passageways according to claim 11, wherein said constriction is located by using a guide wire.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method of opening narrow passageways according to claim 11, wherein said passageway comprises a vascular passageway.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of removing obstructions from narrow passageways which comprises: locating a target object in a narrow passageway; inserting at least two inflatable tubes around the target object and thereafter inflating said at least two inflatable tubes so as to cause said at least two inflatable tubes to grip said target object; and withdrawing said inflatable tubes and said target object gripped thereby.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of removing obstructions from narrow passageways which comprises: locating a target object in a narrow passageway; inserting at least two inflatable tubes around the target object and thereafter inflating said at least two inflatable tubes so as to cause said at least two inflatable tubes to grip said target object; and withdrawing said inflatable tubes and said target object gripped thereby.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of removing obstructions from narrow passageways according to claim 16, wherein said at least two inflatable tubes are provided on the distal end of a catheter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method of removing obstructions from narrow passageways according to claim 17, wherein, prior to being inserted into the constriction, each of said at least two inflatable tubes is first inverted in a lumen in said catheter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of removing obstructions from narrow passageways according to claim 16, wherein said passageway comprises a vascular passageway.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of removing obstructions from narrow passageways according to claim 16, wherein said target object comprises an embolus.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of removing obstructions from narrow passageways according to claim 16, wherein said target object comprises a separated guide wire tip.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of removing obstructions from narrow passageways according to claim 16 wherein said target object is located utilizing an optical fiber.
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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) | 1998-07-31 | 1999-01-30 | 1999-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-31 | 2003-01-30 | 2003-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-31 | 2007-01-30 | 2007-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |