US6007478A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Cannula having constant wall thickness with increasing distal flexibility and method of making
Assignee: Abiomed Europe GmbH
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Filing: 1997-11-13
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Granted: 1999-12-28
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Expires: 2017-11-13
Abstract
Abstract A cannula for use as for example on the inflow end of an implantable intravascular heart pump. The stiffness of the cannula is differentiated along its length, wherein its proximal end is stiffer than its distal end, while a substantially constant wall thickness is maintained along its entire length. Attached to the flexible distal end, is a rigid tip component having inlet ports and an interior surface profile that minimizes the risk of hemolysis and thrombogenisis.
Inventors
- 👤 Thorsten Siess
- 👤 Helmut Reul
- 👤 Gunter Rau
- 👤 Jens Hutzenlaub
- 👤 Peter Brown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 16:54
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0067; A61M25/0068; A61M1/00; A61M1/36; A61M1/3621; A61M1/3653; A61M1/3659; A61M25/0043; A61M25/005; A61M25/0053; A61M25/0054; A61M25/008; A61M60/00; A61M60/10; A61M60/122; A61M60/126; A61M60/13; A61M60/20; A61M60/205; A61M60/216; A61M60/80; A61M60/855; A61M60/857; A61M60/865; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/34; A61B17/3417; A61M2025/0073; A61M25/0069; A61M60/148
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A cannula for conducting the flow of fluid therethrough and for facilitating its routing through vasculature, comprising: a cylindrical body component of substantially constant wall thickness having a gradually varying degree of resistance to lateral deflection wherein its proximal end is stiffer than its distal end and wherein the proximal end includes and an impeller housing; and a support structure disposed within the wall of said cylindrical body component imparting resistance to radial collapse.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
A cannula for conducting the flow of fluid therethrough and for facilitating its routing through vasculature, comprising: a cylindrical body component of substantially constant wall thickness having a gradually varying degree of resistance to lateral deflection wherein its proximal end is stiffer than its distal end and wherein the proximal end includes and an impeller housing; and a support structure disposed within the wall of said cylindrical body component imparting resistance to radial collapse.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The cannula of claim 1 wherein the body component is constructed of at least two materials comprising a first relatively stiff material and a second relatively flexible material and wherein the relative content of said two materials is varied along the length of said body component.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The cannula of claim 2 wherein said two materials have identical chemical compositions but differing durometer hardnesses.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The cannula of claim 2 wherein said two materials comprise discrete layers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cannula of claim 4 wherein each of said layers is of gradually varying thickness along its length.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The cannula of claim 4 wherein each of said layers is of constant thickness and the number of layers of each material is varied along the length of said cannula.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The cannula of claim 4 wherein said two materials comprise polyurethane and silicone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The cannula of claim 2 wherein said first material comprises windings of fibers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cannula of claim 8 wherein said fibers are of variable density along the length of said cannula.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The cannula of claim 8 wherein said fibers comprise resin impregnated kevlar.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The cannula of claim 10 wherein said second material comprises a polyurethane.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The cannula of claim 1 wherein said support structure comprises spirally configured spring material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The cannula of claim 12 wherein said spring material comprise NiTi alloy.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cannula of claim 1 further comprising a rigid hollow tip component attached to the distal end of said body component.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The cannula of claim 14 wherein said tip component has a smooth and rounded distal end.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The cannula of claim 14 wherein said tip component has a plurality of orifices formed therein.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cannula of claim 16 wherein said orifices have an elongated shape and have an arrangement along the longitudinal axis.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cannula of claim 17 wherein said tip has a rounded distal end and said orifices extend into said rounded end.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cannula of claim 16 wherein said orifices are elongated and have an angled position relative to the longitudinal axis.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cannula of claim 19 wherein said tip has a rounded distal end and said orifices extend into said rounded end.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The cannula of claim 16 wherein said tip component has a guidewire hole formed therein.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cannula of claim 16 wherein an inwardly protruding parabolic restriction is formed about the trailing edge of each orifice.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cannula of claim 16 wherein each orifice has a trailing edge and wherein each such edge is rounded.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cannula of claim 16 wherein each orifice has a trailing edge and wherein such trailing edge is parabolically shaped.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The cannula of claim 16 wherein a parabolic protrusion extends proximally within said tip along its longitudinal axis and engages said tip component adjacent the distal ends of said orifices.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
The cannula of claim 1 further comprising a sensor incorporated said body component.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cannula of claim 1 further comprising a layer of biocompatible material covering all internal and external surfaces.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
39 words
The cannula of claim 1 wherein a metal tube comprises said support structure and wherein said metal tube has voids formed therein of varying shape and size so as to impart said varying degree of resistance to lateral deflection.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cannula of claim 28 wherein said tube has voids formed therein so as to define a spiral of varying spacings.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cannula of claim 28 wherein said tube has voids formed therein so as to define a spiral of varying width.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
65 words
A cannula for conducting the flow of fluid therethrough and for facilitating its routing through vasculature, comprising: a cylindrical body component of substantially constant wall thickness and differentiated flexibility along its length wherein its distal end is more flexible than its proximal end; and a hollow, rigid tip component disposed at the distal end of said body component having a plurality of orifices formed therein.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
65 words
A cannula for conducting the flow of fluid therethrough and for facilitating its routing through vasculature, comprising: a cylindrical body component of substantially constant wall thickness and differentiated flexibility along its length wherein its distal end is more flexible than its proximal end; and a hollow, rigid tip component disposed at the distal end of said body component having a plurality of orifices formed therein.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
The cannula of claim 31 wherein said body component and tip component are of integral construction.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
The cannula of claim 31 wherein the proximal end of said body component comprises an impeller housing.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The cannula of claim 33 wherein said body component and impeller housing are of integral construction.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cannula of claims 33 wherein said body component, tip component and impeller housing are of integral construction.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
62 words
A method of constructing a cannula of differentiated stiffness comprising the steps of: selecting a mandrel; applying a layer of biocompatible material thereto; winding fibers about said biocompatible material wherein the density of such windings is increased in those areas where increased stiffness is desired; and applying flexible material thereover to form a structure of constant wall thickness along its entire length.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
62 words
A method of constructing a cannula of differentiated stiffness comprising the steps of: selecting a mandrel; applying a layer of biocompatible material thereto; winding fibers about said biocompatible material wherein the density of such windings is increased in those areas where increased stiffness is desired; and applying flexible material thereover to form a structure of constant wall thickness along its entire length.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 36 wherein winding fibers involves concentrating the density of the fibers at the proximal end of said cannula and gradually decreasing the density toward the distal end.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 37 wherein the proximal end of said cannula forms a pump housing.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 37 wherein winding fibers involves concentrating the density of the fibers near the distal end of said cannula to form a rigid tip component.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of constructing a cannula of differentiated stiffness comprising the steps of: selecting a mandrel; applying a layer of biocompatible material thereto; selecting a metal tube dimensioned for receipt over said biocompatible material applied to said mandrel; forming voids in said tube by laser cutting so as to impart a desired pattern of differentiated flexibility therealong; positioning said tube over said biocompatible coated mandrel; and applying flexible material to form a structure of constant wall thickness.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of constructing a cannula of differentiated stiffness comprising the steps of: selecting a mandrel; applying a layer of biocompatible material thereto; selecting a metal tube dimensioned for receipt over said biocompatible material applied to said mandrel; forming voids in said tube by laser cutting so as to impart a desired pattern of differentiated flexibility therealong; positioning said tube over said biocompatible coated mandrel; and applying flexible material to form a structure of constant wall thickness.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of constructing a cannula of differentiated stiffness comprising the steps of: selecting a mandrel; applying a layer of biocompatible material thereto; selecting a metal tube formed of NiTi and dimensioned for receipt over said biocompatible material applied to said mandrel; forming voids in said tube so as to impart a desired pattern of differentiated flexibility therealong; positioning said tube over said biocompatible coated mandrel; and applying flexible material to form a structure of constant wall thickness.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of constructing a cannula of differentiated stiffness comprising the steps of: selecting a mandrel; applying a layer of biocompatible material thereto; selecting a metal tube formed of NiTi and dimensioned for receipt over said biocompatible material applied to said mandrel; forming voids in said tube so as to impart a desired pattern of differentiated flexibility therealong; positioning said tube over said biocompatible coated mandrel; and applying flexible material to form a structure of constant wall thickness.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
78 words
A cannula for conducting the flow of fluid therethrough and for facilitating its routing through vasculature, comprising: a cylindrical body component of substantially constant wall thickness having a gradually varying degree of resistance to lateral deflection wherein its proximal end is stiffer than its distal end; a support structure disposed within the wall of said cylindrical body component imparting resistance to radial collapse; and a rigid hollow tip component attached to the distal end of said body component.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
78 words
A cannula for conducting the flow of fluid therethrough and for facilitating its routing through vasculature, comprising: a cylindrical body component of substantially constant wall thickness having a gradually varying degree of resistance to lateral deflection wherein its proximal end is stiffer than its distal end; a support structure disposed within the wall of said cylindrical body component imparting resistance to radial collapse; and a rigid hollow tip component attached to the distal end of said body component.
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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) | 2002-12-27 | 2003-06-28 | 2003-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-27 | 2007-06-28 | 2007-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-27 | 2011-06-28 | 2011-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |