Patent US5441489A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5441489A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Catheter with body temperature glass transition region
Assignee: Mitsubishi Cable Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1990-04-11
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Granted: 1995-08-15
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Expires: 2010-04-11
Abstract
Abstract A catheter consists of a torque transmitting portion which has rigidity sufficient for torque transmission and a flexible portion made of a material having a glass transition temperature for giving rigidity before insertion and flexibility after insertion. The torque transmitting portion maintains torque transmitting ability before, during and after insertion. The flexible portion maintains appropriate rigidity before and during insertion, which enables easy insertion, and gains flexibility after insertion by the body heat, which avoids hurting of the vulnerable insertion walls. Further, the torque transmitting portion may have a structure wherein a reinforcement of a coil or a braid of linear metal wires, specifically flat rectangular wires, is attached thereto to afford torque transmitting ability. Catheters having various functions and structures can be easily manufactured by extrusion-molding, or the like.
Inventors
- 👤 Atsushi Utsumi
- 👤 Yukio Morita
- 👤 Tamotsu Kaide
- 👤 Kazuo Onishi
- 👤 Shunichi Hayashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:21
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0043; A61M25/0054
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A catheter for insertion into one of a human and an animal body comprising a torque transmitting tubular section (a) which has rigidity sufficient for torque transmission, a flexible tubular section (b) made of a material having a glass transition temperature between 21.5° C. and 51.5° C. and a middle tubular section (c) arranged between said section (a) and said section (b) having a glass transition temperature between that of said section (a) and that of said section (b), wherein said section (b) has a length of 5-500 mm, said section (a) has a length greater than said section (b), and said section (a) maintains its rigidity for torque transmission after insertion into said body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
A catheter for insertion into one of a human and an animal body comprising a torque transmitting tubular section (a) which has rigidity sufficient for torque transmission, a flexible tubular section (b) made of a material having a glass transition temperature between 21.5° C. and 51.5° C. and a middle tubular section (c) arranged between said section (a) and said section (b) having a glass transition temperature between that of said section (a) and that of said section (b), wherein said section (b) has a length of 5-500 mm, said section (a) has a length greater than said section (b), and said section (a) maintains its rigidity for torque transmission after insertion into said body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A catheter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said section (b) is made of polyurethane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A catheter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said section (a) is composed of a material having a glass transition temperature at least 10° C. higher than a temperature of said body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said torque transmitting section (a) includes means for controlling temperature of said section (a).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A catheter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said section (a) is made of a material more rigid than said section (b).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A catheter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the section (a) includes an organic polymer layer and a metal reinforcement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A catheter as claimed in claim 6 wherein said metal reinforcement is a braid of flat rectangular wires.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The catheter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said section (b) includes a first part and a second part respectively having different glass transition temperatures.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The catheter as claimed in claim 8, wherein said section (a) includes an organic polymer layer and a metal reinforcement.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The catheter as claimed in claim 8, wherein said section (a) includes means for controlling temperature of said section (a).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The catheter as claimed in claim 8, wherein said section (a) includes a first part and a second part respectively having different glass transition temperatures.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The catheter as claimed in claim 11, including means for controlling temperature of said section (a).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The catheter as claimed in claim 12, wherein said tubular section (a) has a glass transition temperature of at least 10° C. higher than a temperature of said body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A catheter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said section (a) has a glass transition temperature of at least 46.5° C.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
72 words
A catheter comprising a torque transmitting section (a), a flexible tubular section (b), and a middle tubular section arranged between said section (a) and said section (b), said flexible section (b) having a glass transition temperature between 21.5° C. and 51.5° C. and lower than that of said torque transmitting section (a), and said middle section (c) having a glass transition temperature between that of section (a) and that of section (b).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
72 words
A catheter comprising a torque transmitting section (a), a flexible tubular section (b), and a middle tubular section arranged between said section (a) and said section (b), said flexible section (b) having a glass transition temperature between 21.5° C. and 51.5° C. and lower than that of said torque transmitting section (a), and said middle section (c) having a glass transition temperature between that of section (a) and that of section (b).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The catheter as claimed in claim 15, wherein said section (a) has a glass transition temperature of at least 46.5° C.
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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) | 1998-08-14 | 1999-02-13 | 1999-08-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-08-14 | 2003-02-13 | 2003-08-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-08-14 | 2007-02-13 | 2007-08-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |