US5843050A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Microcatheter
Assignee: Micro Therapeutics Inc
•
Filing: 1995-11-13
•
Granted: 1998-12-01
•
Expires: 2015-11-13
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is an elongate flexible microcatheter, for diagnostic and or therapeutic applications. The microcatheter is provided with a small outside diameter and high degree of flexibility, to facilitate negotiation of small, tortuous vessels such as those encountered in intercranial catheterizations. The catheter is formed from a composite of a series of tubular elements, each extending axially for a different distance along the tubular body. A distal section on one or more of the tubular components is provided with a spiral cut, to modify the flexibility properties of the finished catheter. The catheter may also be provided with an inflatable balloon, and a valve to permit the use of a single lumen for both receiving a guidewire and for conveying inflation media.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael L. Jones
- 👤 Scott Evans
- 👤 George B. Wallace
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:46
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0009; A61M25/0012; A61M25/0043; A61M25/0054; A61M25/0067; A61M25/0074; A61M25/0075; A61M25/0021; A61M2025/0042; A61M25/0013; A61M25/005; A61M25/0051; A61M25/0053; A61M25/0068; A61M25/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A catheter for negotiating small, tortuous vessels comprising: an elongate flexible body having a tubular wall and at least one lumen extending axially therethrough; a first tubular element in the wall, extending axially through the body and terminating in a first distal zone; a second tubular element in the wall, extending axially through the body and terminating in a second distal zone; wherein each of the first and second tubular elements is provided with a spiral cut in each of the first and second distal zones.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
86 words
A catheter for negotiating small, tortuous vessels comprising: an elongate flexible body having a tubular wall and at least one lumen extending axially therethrough; a first tubular element in the wall, extending axially through the body and terminating in a first distal zone; a second tubular element in the wall, extending axially through the body and terminating in a second distal zone; wherein each of the first and second tubular elements is provided with a spiral cut in each of the first and second distal zones.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A catheter as in claim 1, wherein the first tubular element is disposed coaxially within the second tubular element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A catheter as in claim 2, wherein the second distal zone is axially displaced from the first distal zone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A catheter as in claim 2, further comprising a spring coil coaxially disposed within the tubular wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A catheter as in claim 4, wherein the first tubular element is positioned within the spring coil.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A catheter as in claim 5, further comprising an outer tubular sleeve surrounding the tubular wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A catheter as in claim 6, further comprising a radiopaque marker disposed proximate of a distal end thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A catheter as in claim 4, wherein said spring coil comprises wire having a rectangular cross sectional configuration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
A catheter as in claim 4, wherein said spring coil comprises a proximal zone in which adjacent windings of coil are positioned in contact with each other, and a distal section in which adjacent windings of coil are spaced axially apart from each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A catheter as in claim 1, wherein said first tubular element comprises polytetrafluoroethylene and said second tubular element compromises polymide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
83 words
A catheter as in claim 1, said catheter having proximal and distal ends, and further comprising an inflatable balloon on the distal end thereof, said balloon in fluid communication with the lumen by way of at least one aperture in the tubular wall, and a valve in the central lumen, wherein said valve permits the passage of a guidewire through the central lumen, but closes following removal of the guidewire to permit introduction of pressurized media into the lumen to inflate the balloon.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
174 words
A method of manufacturing a highly flexible small diameter catheter, comprising the steps of: providing an elongate first tubular element having a distal zone in which the tubular element is provided with a first spiral cut; positioning a spring coil coaxially around the outside of the first tubular element, said spring coil extending distally from the proximal end of the catheter to a point spaced apart proximally from the distal end of the first tubular element; providing a second tubular element having a proximal solid wall zone and a distal spiral cut zone; positioning the second tubular element coaxially around the spring coil to produce a catheter subassembly, such that the second tubular element extends from the proximal end of the catheter to a point which is proximal to the distal end of said spring coil; positioning an outer tubular jacket around the outside of the subassembly formed by said first and second tubular elements and said spring coil; and radially reducing the outer tubular jacket to form a highly flexible small diameter catheter.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
174 words
A method of manufacturing a highly flexible small diameter catheter, comprising the steps of: providing an elongate first tubular element having a distal zone in which the tubular element is provided with a first spiral cut; positioning a spring coil coaxially around the outside of the first tubular element, said spring coil extending distally from the proximal end of the catheter to a point spaced apart proximally from the distal end of the first tubular element; providing a second tubular element having a proximal solid wall zone and a distal spiral cut zone; positioning the second tubular element coaxially around the spring coil to produce a catheter subassembly, such that the second tubular element extends from the proximal end of the catheter to a point which is proximal to the distal end of said spring coil; positioning an outer tubular jacket around the outside of the subassembly formed by said first and second tubular elements and said spring coil; and radially reducing the outer tubular jacket to form a highly flexible small diameter catheter.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4669172A
Cited
US4739768B1
Cited
US4739768A
Cited
US4739768B2
Cited
US4941877A
Cited
US4960410A
Cited
US4955862A
Cited
US5085635A
Cited
US5178158A
Cited
US5380304A
Cited
US5573520A
Cited
US5437288A
Cited
US5358493A
Cited
US5405338A
Cited
EP0643979A1
Cited
WO1995013110A1
Cited
US5545132A
Cited
US5454795A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-11-30 | 2002-06-01 | 2002-12-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-11-30 | 2006-06-01 | 2006-12-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-11-30 | 2010-06-01 | 2010-12-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |