Patent US5873815A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5873815A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Access catheter and method for maintaining separation between a falloposcope and a tubal wall
Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC
•
Filing: 1997-06-23
•
Granted: 1999-02-23
•
Expires: 2017-06-23
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus are provided for imaging a narrow body lumen, the method comprising maintaining separation between a distal end of an optical viewing scope and a lumen wall with a spacing structure which extends distally from the distal end of an access catheter. Optional spacing structures include distal cages and a guidewire which is fixed to and extends distally from the access catheter body. The invention is beneficial during either retrograde imaging of the fallopian tube, and also allows antigrade imaging and advancing the access catheter and scope under the direction of the image provided, as it prevents the tubal wall from coming into such close proximity to a falloposcope as to produce "white-out" on the imaging monitor.
Inventors
- 👤 John Kerin
- 👤 Charles Milo
- 👤 Julian N. Nikolchev
- 👤 James Doty
- 👤 Dai T. Ton
- 👤 Richard Hill
- 👤 Marc Schraner
- 👤 Tom Kramer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 09:11
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/04; A61B1/00064; A61B1/00071; A61B1/0008; A61B1/00082; A61B1/00085; A61B1/00131; A61B1/00135; A61B1/00147; A61B1/00149; A61B1/005; A61B1/01; A61B1/303; A61B1/32; A61B5/00; A61B5/68; A61B5/6846; A61B5/6886; A61B90/00; A61B90/50; A61B1/00163; A61B1/00165; A61B1/06; A61B1/07; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B17/221; A61B2017/2215; A61B90/08; A61B2090/0815
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A catheter for viewing a wall of a narrow body lumen in combination with an optical viewing scope, the catheter comprising: an elongate tubular body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen therebetween; and a spacing structure comprising a plurality of cage elements extending distally from the distal end of the tubular body, the cage elements adjacent the distal end of the tubular body protruding radially beyond the body cross-section, the spacing structure adapted to maintain separation between the scope and the surrounding lumenal wall when the scope images the body lumen between the cage elements, at least a distal portion of the spacing structure being flexible.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
A catheter for viewing a wall of a narrow body lumen in combination with an optical viewing scope, the catheter comprising: an elongate tubular body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen therebetween; and a spacing structure comprising a plurality of cage elements extending distally from the distal end of the tubular body, the cage elements adjacent the distal end of the tubular body protruding radially beyond the body cross-section, the spacing structure adapted to maintain separation between the scope and the surrounding lumenal wall when the scope images the body lumen between the cage elements, at least a distal portion of the spacing structure being flexible.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A catheter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spacing structure is adapted to track along bends in the body lumen when axially advanced therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A catheter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spacing structure has a cross-section along the flexible portion which is smaller than a cross-section of the tubular body, the spacing structure further comprising a tracking tip having a rounded distal surface which is larger than the flexible cross-section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A catheter as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cage elements are affixed to the tracking tip of the spacing structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A catheter as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cage elements extend distally from the tubular body to the tracking tip, and bend proximally at the tracking tip back toward the tubular body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A catheter as claimed in claim 5, wherein the tracking tip comprises a material selected from the group consisting of solder, polymer, and material from the cage elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A catheter as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least four axial elements are distributed around the lumen at the distal end of the tubular body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A catheter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the axial elements comprise a shape memory alloy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
143 words
A fallopian tube viewing system for imaging a tubal wall of a fallopian tube, the viewing system comprising: a falloposcope having a proximal end, a distal end, and an axis therebetween; an access catheter having an elongate tubular body with a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen therebetween which slidably receives the falloposcope, a flexible separation structure extending distally from the distal end of the tubular body around the lumen to maintain separation between the scope and the surrounding tubal wall when the scope is disposed within the lumen of the access catheter, at least a distal portion of the cage elements angling distally inward toward the axis, when the scope and catheter are disposed within the fallopian tube, and when the body lumen is imaged through the separation structure, and a tracking tip which protrudes radially beyond the adjacent cage elements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
143 words
A fallopian tube viewing system for imaging a tubal wall of a fallopian tube, the viewing system comprising: a falloposcope having a proximal end, a distal end, and an axis therebetween; an access catheter having an elongate tubular body with a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen therebetween which slidably receives the falloposcope, a flexible separation structure extending distally from the distal end of the tubular body around the lumen to maintain separation between the scope and the surrounding tubal wall when the scope is disposed within the lumen of the access catheter, at least a distal portion of the cage elements angling distally inward toward the axis, when the scope and catheter are disposed within the fallopian tube, and when the body lumen is imaged through the separation structure, and a tracking tip which protrudes radially beyond the adjacent cage elements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A viewing system as claimed in claim 9, wherein a proximal portion of the cage elements angle distally outward away from the axis.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for manufacturing a caged access catheter, the method comprising: attaching a plurality of flexible elongate cage elements to each other at a junction; forming a tracking tip at the junction after the attaching stop, the tracking tip having a distally oriented rounded surface which is larger than combined cross-sections of the cage elements; and affixing the cage elements about a lumen of a tubular body so that the elongate elements extend distally from the tubular body.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for manufacturing a caged access catheter, the method comprising: attaching a plurality of flexible elongate cage elements to each other at a junction; forming a tracking tip at the junction after the attaching stop, the tracking tip having a distally oriented rounded surface which is larger than combined cross-sections of the cage elements; and affixing the cage elements about a lumen of a tubular body so that the elongate elements extend distally from the tubular body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising bending the cage elements so that opposed ends of the cage elements extend proximally from the junction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1556355A
Cited
US1621159A
Cited
US3866601A
Cited
US4198960A
Cited
US4306566A
Cited
US4350147A
Cited
US4717387A
Cited
US4608965A
Cited
US4793326A
Cited
US4779611A
Cited
US4825259A
Cited
US4846812A
Cited
US4878893A
Cited
US5099827A
Cited
US5047848A
Cited
US5279596A
Cited
US5385152A
Cited
US5263928A
Cited
US5308342A
Cited
US5307814A
Cited
US5358496A
Cited
US5306261A
Cited
US5505686A
Cited
US5746692A
Cited
US5807236A
Cited
US5749883A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-02-22 | 2002-08-24 | 2003-02-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-02-22 | 2006-08-24 | 2007-02-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-02-22 | 2010-08-24 | 2011-02-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |