US6716207B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Torqueable and deflectable medical device shaft
Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed Inc
•
Filing: 2001-05-22
•
Granted: 2004-04-06
•
Expires: 2021-05-22
Abstract
Abstract A medical device shaft for connection with a handle and for insertion within a body includes an elongated, deflectable shaft having a proximal shaft portion, an intermediate shaft portion, and a distal shaft portion. The elongated, deflectable shaft includes a transition in stiffness from the proximal shaft portion to the distal shaft portion. In a preferred implementation, the shaft includes a plurality of slits that extend perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the shaft. Varying at least one of the number of slits, the location of slits, the frequency of slits, the orientation of the slits, the size of the slits, and the depth of the slits varies the transition of stiffness.
Inventors
- 👤 Roger Farnholtz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:53
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/0105; A61M25/0133; A61M25/0138; A61M25/0043; A61M25/005; A61M25/0053; A61M25/0147; A61M2205/00; A61M2205/02; A61M2205/0266; A61M25/0051; A61M25/0054
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A medical device shaft for connection with a handle and for insertion within a body, comprising: an elongated, deflectable shaft having a proximal shaft portion, an intermediate shaft portion, and a distal shaft portion, the elongated, deflectable shaft having a transition in stiffness from the proximal shaft portion to the distal shaft portion; wherein the elongated, deflectable shaft includes a longitudinal axis and a plurality of slits that extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the deflectable shaft, wherein at least one of the number of slits, the location of slits, the frequency of slits, the orientation of the slits, the size of the slits and the depth of the slits are varied to vary the transition of stiffness in the shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
A medical device shaft for connection with a handle and for insertion within a body, comprising: an elongated, deflectable shaft having a proximal shaft portion, an intermediate shaft portion, and a distal shaft portion, the elongated, deflectable shaft having a transition in stiffness from the proximal shaft portion to the distal shaft portion; wherein the elongated, deflectable shaft includes a longitudinal axis and a plurality of slits that extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the deflectable shaft, wherein at least one of the number of slits, the location of slits, the frequency of slits, the orientation of the slits, the size of the slits and the depth of the slits are varied to vary the transition of stiffness in the shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The medical device shaft of claim 1 , wherein the shaft decreases in stiffness from the proximal shaft portion to the distal shaft portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The medical device shaft of claim 1 , wherein the shaft includes a greater number of slits near the distal shaft portion than near the proximal shaft portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The medical device shaft of claim 1 , wherein the number of slits per unit length is greater near the distal shaft portion than near the proximal shaft portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The medical device shaft of claim 1 , wherein the slits on the shaft have a depth and slits on the shaft near the distal shaft portion are deeper than the slits on the shaft near the proximal shaft portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The medical device shaft of claim 5 , wherein the depth of the slits increases gradually from a point on the shaft near the proximal shaft portion to a point on the shaft near the distal shaft portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The medical device shaft of claim 1 , wherein the distal shaft portion does not include slits.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The medical device shaft of claim 1 , wherein the distal shaft portion includes an interior ribbon braid that provides torqueability, bendability, and prevents the distal shaft portion from collapsing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The medical device shaft of claim 8 , wherein the ribbon braid is embedded in a layer of hydrophobic polymer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The medical device shaft of claim 9 , further including a hydrophilic polymer layer over the hydrophobic polymer layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The medical device shaft of claim 9 , wherein the ribbon braid includes counter-wound double wires made from a metal alloy.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The medical device shaft of claim 11 , wherein the metal alloy is Nitinol.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The medical device shaft of claim 1 , wherein the deflectable shaft includes a high torsion, bendable tubing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The medical device shaft of claim 13 , wherein the tubing is Nitinol tubing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The medical device shaft of claim 13 , further including a hydrophobic polymer layer on the Nitinol tubing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The medical device shaft of claim 15 , further including a hydrophilic polymer layer on the hydrophobic polymer layer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
98 words
A medical device shaft for connection with a handle and for insertion within a body, comprising: an elongated, deflectable shaft having a proximal shaft portion, an intermediate shaft portion, and a distal shaft portion, the elongated, deflectable shaft having a transition in stiffness from the proximal shaft portion to the distal shaft portion; wherein the elongated, deflectable shaft includes a longitudinal axis and a plurality of slits that extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the deflectable shaft, wherein the shaft includes a greater number of slits near the distal shaft portion than near the proximal shaft portion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
98 words
A medical device shaft for connection with a handle and for insertion within a body, comprising: an elongated, deflectable shaft having a proximal shaft portion, an intermediate shaft portion, and a distal shaft portion, the elongated, deflectable shaft having a transition in stiffness from the proximal shaft portion to the distal shaft portion; wherein the elongated, deflectable shaft includes a longitudinal axis and a plurality of slits that extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the deflectable shaft, wherein the shaft includes a greater number of slits near the distal shaft portion than near the proximal shaft portion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
100 words
A medical device shaft for connection with a handle and for insertion within a body, comprising: an elongated, deflectable shaft having a proximal shaft portion, an intermediate shaft portion, and a distal shaft portion, the elongated, deflectable shaft having a transition in stiffness from the proximal shaft portion to the distal shaft portion; wherein the elongated, deflectable shaft includes a longitudinal axis and a plurality of slits that extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the deflectable shaft, and wherein the number of slits per unit length is greater near the distal shaft portion than near the proximal shaft portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
100 words
A medical device shaft for connection with a handle and for insertion within a body, comprising: an elongated, deflectable shaft having a proximal shaft portion, an intermediate shaft portion, and a distal shaft portion, the elongated, deflectable shaft having a transition in stiffness from the proximal shaft portion to the distal shaft portion; wherein the elongated, deflectable shaft includes a longitudinal axis and a plurality of slits that extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the deflectable shaft, and wherein the number of slits per unit length is greater near the distal shaft portion than near the proximal shaft portion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
111 words
A medical device shaft for connection with a handle and for insertion within a body, comprising: an elongated, deflectable shaft having a proximal shaft portion, an intermediate shaft portion, and a distal shaft portion, the elongated, deflectable shaft having a transition in stiffness from the proximal shaft portion to the distal shaft portion; wherein the elongated, deflectable shaft includes a longitudinal axis and a plurality of slits that extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the deflectable shaft, and wherein the slits on the shaft have a depth and slits on the shaft near the distal shaft portion are deeper than the slits on the shaft near the proximal shaft portion.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
111 words
A medical device shaft for connection with a handle and for insertion within a body, comprising: an elongated, deflectable shaft having a proximal shaft portion, an intermediate shaft portion, and a distal shaft portion, the elongated, deflectable shaft having a transition in stiffness from the proximal shaft portion to the distal shaft portion; wherein the elongated, deflectable shaft includes a longitudinal axis and a plurality of slits that extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the deflectable shaft, and wherein the slits on the shaft have a depth and slits on the shaft near the distal shaft portion are deeper than the slits on the shaft near the proximal shaft portion.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
109 words
A medical device shaft for connection with a handle and for insertion within a body, comprising: an elongated, deflectable shaft having a proximal shaft portion, an intermediate shaft portion, and a distal shaft portion, the elongated, deflectable shaft having a transition in stiffness from the proximal shaft portion to the distal shaft portion; wherein the elongated, deflectable shaft includes a longitudinal axis and a plurality of slits that extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the deflectable shaft, and wherein the depth of the slits increases gradually from a point on the shaft near the proximal shaft portion to a point on the shaft near the distal shaft portion.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
109 words
A medical device shaft for connection with a handle and for insertion within a body, comprising: an elongated, deflectable shaft having a proximal shaft portion, an intermediate shaft portion, and a distal shaft portion, the elongated, deflectable shaft having a transition in stiffness from the proximal shaft portion to the distal shaft portion; wherein the elongated, deflectable shaft includes a longitudinal axis and a plurality of slits that extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the deflectable shaft, and wherein the depth of the slits increases gradually from a point on the shaft near the proximal shaft portion to a point on the shaft near the distal shaft portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4597755A
Cited
US4664113A
Cited
US4586923A
Cited
US4723936A
Cited
US4719924A
Cited
US4757827A
Cited
US4748969A
Cited
US4906230A
Cited
US4920980A
Cited
US5165421A
Cited
US4940062A
Cited
US4898577A
Cited
US4960134A
Cited
US4886067A
Cited
US4998916A
Cited
US5254088A
Cited
US5195968A
Cited
US5060660A
Cited
US5057092A
Cited
US5279596A
Cited
US5277199A
Cited
US5125896A
Cited
US5228441A
Cited
US5271382A
Cited
US5573520A
Cited
US5741429A
Cited
US5190050A
Cited
US5327905A
Cited
US5354297A
Cited
US5642736A
Cited
US5242441A
Cited
US5318525A
Cited
US5334169A
Cited
US5255679A
Cited
US5334145A
Cited
US5318526A
Cited
US5472017A
Cited
US5383852A
Cited
US5368564A
Cited
US5662606A
Cited
US5489270A
Cited
US5462527A
Cited
US5487757A
Cited
US5545200A
Cited
US5562619A
Cited
US5865800A
Cited
US5431168A
Cited
US5897537A
Cited
US5882333A
Cited
US5599319A
Cited
US5514108A
Cited
US5571085A
Cited
US5741320A
Cited
US5906590A
Cited
US5656030A
Cited
US5702373A
Cited
US5823955A
Cited
US5807249A
Cited
US5820592A
Cited
US5971975A
Cited
US5951539A
Cited
US6013052A
Cited
US5897529A
Cited
US5891114A
Cited
US6077258A
Cited
US6251092B1
Cited
US6165152A
Cited
US20020065485A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-04-06 | 2007-10-06 | 2008-04-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-04-06 | 2011-10-06 | 2012-04-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-04-06 | 2015-10-06 | 2016-04-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |