Patent US4416814A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US6045547A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6045547A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Semi-continuous co-extruded catheter shaft
Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed Inc
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Filing: 1998-06-15
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Granted: 2000-04-04
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Expires: 2018-06-15
Abstract
Abstract A multi-layer catheter tube section providing gradually increasing flexibility. One catheter tube section has a first, inner layer formed of a flexible material and a second, outer layer formed of a stiffer material. The outer layer tapers distally, having decreasing layer thickness with increasing distal position. The decreasing wall thickness provides a decreasing stiffness contribution which imparts increasing flexibility to the catheter portions having a smaller outer layer. The tube sections can be joined end to end to form longer catheter regions having a greater number of gradual flexibility changes.
Inventors
- 👤 Brooke Q. Ren
- 👤 Paul Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:04
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0043; A61M25/005; A61M25/0045; A61M25/0052; A61M25/0053; A61M25/0054
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A multi-layer catheter tube section comprising: a proximal double layer region and a distal single layer region; a first tube having a wall thickness and formed of material having a first flexibility, said first tube extending from said proximal region to said distal region; a second tube disposed over said first tube in said proximal region, said second tube formed of material having a second flexibility and having a wall thickness, said second tube having a taper with distally decreasing wall thickness in said catheter tube section proximal region, said taper having a length substantially greater than said first tube wall thickness, such that said catheter tube section has distally increasing flexibility; and a stiffening sleeve disposed between said first tube and said second tube in said proximal region, said stiffening sleeve terminating in a proximal portion of said proximal region, such that said proximal region has a stiffness greater than that of a distal portion of said proximal region not having said sleeve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
A multi-layer catheter tube section comprising: a proximal double layer region and a distal single layer region; a first tube having a wall thickness and formed of material having a first flexibility, said first tube extending from said proximal region to said distal region; a second tube disposed over said first tube in said proximal region, said second tube formed of material having a second flexibility and having a wall thickness, said second tube having a taper with distally decreasing wall thickness in said catheter tube section proximal region, said taper having a length substantially greater than said first tube wall thickness, such that said catheter tube section has distally increasing flexibility; and a stiffening sleeve disposed between said first tube and said second tube in said proximal region, said stiffening sleeve terminating in a proximal portion of said proximal region, such that said proximal region has a stiffness greater than that of a distal portion of said proximal region not having said sleeve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A multi-layer catheter tube section as recited in claim 1 wherein said second tube proximal region includes a proximal portion having substantially constant wall thickness and a distal portion having said taper.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A multi-layer catheter tube section as recited in claim 1 wherein said catheter tube distal region includes a proximal portion having said taper, said second tube terminating within said proximal portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A multi-layer catheter section as recited in claim 1 wherein said stiffening sleeve includes metal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A multi-layer catheter section as recited in claim 1 wherein said stiffening sleeve includes metal wire.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A multi-layer catheter section as recited in claim 1 wherein said stiffening sleeve includes a wire braid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A multi-layer catheter section as recited in claim 1 wherein said stiffening sleeve includes a wire helix.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A multi-layer catheter tube section as recited in claim 2 wherein said second tube distal region includes a proximal portion having said taper, said second tube terminating within said proximal portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
A multi-layer catheter tube section as recited in claim 6 further comprising a stiffening sleeve in said proximal region, said stiffening sleeve terminating in said proximal portion of said proximal region, such that said proximal region proximal portion having said stiffening sleeve has a stiffness greater than that of a distal portion of said proximal region not having said sleeve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A multi-layer catheter section as recited in claim 7 wherein said stiffening sleeve includes a wire braid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A multi-layer catheter section as recited in claim 7 wherein said stiffening sleeve includes a wire helix.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
139 words
A multi-layer catheter section comprising: a proximal double layer region and a distal single layer region; a first layer having a thickness and formed of a first material having a first flexibility, said first layer extending from said proximal region to said distal region; a second layer disposed over said first layer in said proximal region, said second layer formed of a second material having a second flexibility and having a thickness, said second layer including a taper with said second layer thickness decreasing distally, said taper having a length substantially greater than said first layer thickness, such that said catheter tube section has distally increasing flexibility; and a stiffening sleeve disposed between said first layer and said second layer in said proximal region, such that said proximal region has a stiffness greater than that of said distal region.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
139 words
A multi-layer catheter section comprising: a proximal double layer region and a distal single layer region; a first layer having a thickness and formed of a first material having a first flexibility, said first layer extending from said proximal region to said distal region; a second layer disposed over said first layer in said proximal region, said second layer formed of a second material having a second flexibility and having a thickness, said second layer including a taper with said second layer thickness decreasing distally, said taper having a length substantially greater than said first layer thickness, such that said catheter tube section has distally increasing flexibility; and a stiffening sleeve disposed between said first layer and said second layer in said proximal region, such that said proximal region has a stiffness greater than that of said distal region.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A multi-layer catheter section as recited in claim 12 wherein said stiffening sleeve includes a wire braid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A multi-layer catheter section as recited in claim 12 wherein said stiffening sleeve includes a wire helix.
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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) | 2003-04-04 | 2003-10-04 | 2004-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-04-04 | 2007-10-04 | 2008-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-04-04 | 2011-10-04 | 2012-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |