Patent US5685306A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5685306A
Expired / Lapsed
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Flexible, biocompatible, metal alloy catheter
Assignee: Smith and Nephew Inc
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Filing: 1995-06-06
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Granted: 1997-11-11
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Expires: 2015-06-06
Abstract
Abstract Cardiovascular and other medical implants fabricated from low-modulus Ti--Nb--Zr alloys to provide enhanced biocompatibility and hemocompatibility. The cardiovascular implants may be surface hardened by oxygen or nitrogen diffusion or by coating with a tightly adherent, hard, wear-resistant, hemocompatible ceramic coating. The cardiovascular implants include heart valves, total artificial heart implants, ventricular assist devices, vascular grafts, stents, electrical signal carrying devices such as pacemaker and neurological leads, defibrillator leads, and the like. It is contemplated that the Ti--Nb--Zr alloy can be substituted as a fabrication material for any cardiovascular implant that either comes into contact with blood thereby demanding high levels of hemocompatibility, or that is subject to microfretting, corrosion, or other wear and so that a low modulus metal with a corrosion-resistant, hardened surface would be desirable.
Inventors
- 👤 James A. Davidson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 13:24
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/09; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/72; A61B17/74; A61B17/742; A61B17/746; A61B17/80; A61B17/84; A61B17/86; A61B17/866; A61C; A61C7/00; A61C7/12; A61C8/00; A61C8/0012; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/04; A61F2/06; A61F2/24; A61F2/2403; A61F2/2442; A61F2/2445; A61F2/2448; A61F2/30; A61F2/30767; A61L; A61L27/00; A61L27/02; A61L27/04; A61L27/06; A61L27/50; A61L27/507; A61L31/00; A61L31/02; A61L31/022; A61L31/14; A61L33/00; A61L33/02; A61L33/022; A61M60/00; A61M60/10; A61M60/122; A61M60/126; A61M60/148; A61M60/165; A61M60/178; A61M60/196; A61M60/40; A61M60/424; A61M60/427; A61M60/43; A61M60/438; A61M60/441; A61M60/443; A61M60/446; A61M60/80; A61M60/855; A61M60/865; A61M60/867; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/056; C; C22; C22C; C22C14/00; C22C30/00; A61B17/7233; A61B17/7258; A61B17/7275; A61B17/8061; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22038; A61F2/0077; A61F2/07; A61F2/2406; A61F2/2421; A61F2/2424; A61F2/32; A61F2/36; A61F2/3662; A61F2/367; A61F2/38; A61F2/3859; A61F2/389; A61F2/82; A61F2/86; A61F2/90; A61F2/91; A61F2/95; A61F2/958; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30667; A61F2002/30677; A61F2002/30922; A61F2/3609; A61F2002/3625; A61F2002/3631; A61F2002/3678; A61F2002/368; A61F2250/00; A61F2250/0058; A61F2250/0067; A61F2310/00; A61F2310/00005; A61F2310/00011; A61F2310/00023; A61F2310/00389; A61F2310/00574; A61F2310/0058; A61F2310/00592; A61F2310/00598; A61F2310/00616; A61F2310/00634; A61F2310/0064; A61F2310/00658; A61F2310/0073; A61F2310/00748; A61F2310/00766; A61F2310/00772; A61F2310/00856; A61F2310/0088; A61F2310/00892; A61F2310/00898; A61L2430/00; A61L2430/36; A61M25/0043; A61M2025/0062; A61M2205/00; A61M2205/02; A61M2205/025; A61M2205/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
A flexible biocompatible catheter at least partially fabricated from a metal alloy, the metal alloy comprising: (i) titanium; and (ii) from about 10 wt. % to about 20 wt. % niobium or from about 35 wt. % to about 50 wt. % niobium; wherein the alloy is free of toxic elements, except such amounts of said toxic elements as may occur as impurities in the alloy and as contaminants as a result of alloy processing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
75 words
A flexible biocompatible catheter at least partially fabricated from a metal alloy, the metal alloy comprising: (i) titanium; and (ii) from about 10 wt. % to about 20 wt. % niobium or from about 35 wt. % to about 50 wt. % niobium; wherein the alloy is free of toxic elements, except such amounts of said toxic elements as may occur as impurities in the alloy and as contaminants as a result of alloy processing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The catheter of claim 1, wherein the alloy further includes an amount of zirconium sufficient to retard the transformation of beta.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The catheter of claim 2, wherein the catheter includes a coil partially fabricated from said alloy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The catheter of claim 2 or claim 3, further including a polymer sheath encasing at least a portion of the coil.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The catheter of claim 2, wherein the coil is of a predetermined shape so as to enable a guide wire to move through the catheter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The catheter of claim 2, wherein the metal alloy includes from about 0.5 to about 20 wt. % zirconium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The catheter of claim 2, wherein the metal alloy includes about 74 wt. % titanium, about 13 wt. % niobium and about 13 wt. % zirconium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The catheter of claim 2, wherein the metal alloy comprises titanium, from about 10 to about 20 wt. % niobium, and up to about 20 wt. % zirconium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The catheter of claim 2, wherein the metal alloy comprises titanium, from about 35 to about 50 wt. % niobium, and up to about 20 wt. % zirconium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
84 words
A flexible biocompatible catheter at least partially fabricated from a metal alloy, the metal alloy comprising: (i) titanium; and (ii) niobium and tantalum, wherein the combined wt. % of niobium and tantalum is from about 10 to about 20 wt. % or from about 35 wt. % to about 50 wt. %; wherein the alloy is free of toxic elements, except such amounts of said toxic elements as may occur as impurities in the alloy and as contaminants as a result of alloy processing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
84 words
A flexible biocompatible catheter at least partially fabricated from a metal alloy, the metal alloy comprising: (i) titanium; and (ii) niobium and tantalum, wherein the combined wt. % of niobium and tantalum is from about 10 to about 20 wt. % or from about 35 wt. % to about 50 wt. %; wherein the alloy is free of toxic elements, except such amounts of said toxic elements as may occur as impurities in the alloy and as contaminants as a result of alloy processing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The catheter of claim 10, wherein the alloy further includes an amount of zirconium sufficient to retard the transformation of beta.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The catheter of claim 11, wherein the catheter includes a coil partially fabricated from said alloy.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The catheter of claim 11 or claim 12, further including a polymer sheath encasing at least a portion of the coil.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The catheter of claim 11, wherein the coil is of a predetermined shape so as to enable a guide wire to move through the catheter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The catheter of claim 11, wherein the metal alloy includes from about 0.5 to about 20 wt. % zirconium.
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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) | 2000-11-10 | 2001-05-12 | 2001-11-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-11-10 | 2005-05-12 | 2005-11-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-11-10 | 2009-05-12 | 2009-11-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |