US5601538A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Flow directed catheter with hydrophilic distal end
Assignee: Medtronic Vascular Inc
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Filing: 1995-03-07
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Granted: 1997-02-11
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Expires: 2015-03-07
Abstract
Abstract A flow directed catheter (2) includes a hollow catheter body (4) having a distal section (16) constructed of a hydrophilic material. The hydrophilic distal section, typically a hydrogel, has an equilibrium water content of about 80% water by mass when hydrated. The hydrophilic distal section is soft and supple but substantially inelastic and tough enough to permit use of guide wires to help direct the catheter through difficult areas (27) and also allow a wide range of therapeutic agents to be delivered to the target site (32, 34, 36). Both the inside and outside surfaces of the catheter body can be made lubricious by surface modification or by application of a secondary, lubricious coating.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark E. Deem
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:16
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0067; A61M25/008; A61L; A61L29/00; A61L29/08; A61L29/085; A61L29/14; A61L29/18; A61M25/0043; A61L2400/00; A61L2400/10; A61M25/0045; A61M2025/0046; A61M2025/0081; A61M25/01; A61M25/0105; A61M25/0125
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
49 words
A flow directed catheter comprising: a hollow catheter body having a proximal section and a distal section; the distal section of the catheter body constructed of a structural hydrophilic material, whereby the hydrated distal section is supple and flows with blood flow as a part of the blood flow.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
49 words
A flow directed catheter comprising: a hollow catheter body having a proximal section and a distal section; the distal section of the catheter body constructed of a structural hydrophilic material, whereby the hydrated distal section is supple and flows with blood flow as a part of the blood flow.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The catheter according to claim 1 wherein the distal section has an equilibrium water content of about 50% to 90% water by weight when hydrated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The catheter according to claim 1 where the catheter body includes a midsection between the proximal and distal sections.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The catheter according to claim 3 wherein the midsection is made of a hydrophilic material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The catheter according to claim 3 wherein the midsection is made of a hydrophilic material having an equilibrium water content of about 10% to 80% water by weight when hydrated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The catheter according to claim 5 wherein the midsection has a lower equilibrium water content than the distal section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The catheter according to claim 1 wherein the entire catheter body is made of a hydrophilic material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The catheter according to claim 7 wherein the catheter body includes a midsection between the proximal and distal sections, and wherein the proximal section, midsection and distal section have equilibrium water contents of about 0 to 70%, 10 to 80% and 50 to 90% water by weight when hydrated, respectively.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The catheter of claim 8 wherein the proximal section, midsection and distal section have equilibrium water contents of about 35%, 60% and 80% by weight when hydrated, respectively.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The catheter according to claim 1 wherein the distal section has a curved tip.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The catheter according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the body is radiopaque.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The catheter according to claim 1 wherein the body has interior and exterior surfaces.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The catheter according to claim 12 wherein said exterior surface is a lubricious surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The catheter according to claim 13 wherein said exterior lubricious surface includes a lubricious surface coating.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The catheter according to claim 14 wherein said lubricious surface coating is a lubricious hydrogel surface coating.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The catheter according to claim 1 wherein the distal portion is made of a hydrogel material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The catheter according to claim 1 wherein the body is made of a hydrogel material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The catheter according to claim 1 wherein the distal section has an outside diameter of about 0.015 to 0.045" and an inside diameter of about 0.010 to 0.040".
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter according to claim 1 wherein the distal section has a wall with a wall thickness of about 0.002 to 0.010".
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The catheter according to claim 1 wherein the distal section is made from a soft, supple but substantially inelastic material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The catheter according to claim 1 wherein the catheter body is a one-piece tubular member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
116 words
A flow directed catheter comprising: a hollow catheter body made of a hydrophilic material and having a proximal section, a midsection and a distal section, at least a portion of the body being radiopaque; the body having lubricious interior and exterior surfaces; and the proximal section having an equilibrium water content of about 0 to 70% water by mass when hydrated, the midsection having an equilibrium water content of about 10 to 80% water by mass when hydrated and the distal section having an equilibrium water content of about 50 to 90% water by mass when hydrated, whereby the hydrated distal section is supple and flows with blood flow as a part of the blood flow.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
116 words
A flow directed catheter comprising: a hollow catheter body made of a hydrophilic material and having a proximal section, a midsection and a distal section, at least a portion of the body being radiopaque; the body having lubricious interior and exterior surfaces; and the proximal section having an equilibrium water content of about 0 to 70% water by mass when hydrated, the midsection having an equilibrium water content of about 10 to 80% water by mass when hydrated and the distal section having an equilibrium water content of about 50 to 90% water by mass when hydrated, whereby the hydrated distal section is supple and flows with blood flow as a part of the blood flow.
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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) | 2000-02-11 | 2000-08-12 | 2001-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-02-11 | 2004-08-12 | 2005-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-02-11 | 2008-08-12 | 2009-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |