Patent US5692882A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6887235B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable stiffness heating catheter
Assignee: Micrus Endovascular LLC
•
Filing: 2001-03-19
•
Granted: 2005-05-03
•
Expires: 2021-03-19
Abstract
Abstract The variable stiffness heating catheter includes a heating catheter shaft including at least one electrically conductive member, a reinforcing tube with apertures formed around the surface of the reinforcing tube, and at least one coaxial outer layer of a polymer, metal, or both for providing desired variations in stiffness along at least a portion of the length of the shaft. The apertures can be formed as axial or helical slits in the surface of the reinforcing tube, and the reinforcing tube can also be formed to be tapered at the point where the apertures are formed in the reinforcing tube to provide a heating catheter that is torqueable and pushable at the proximal end, yet soft and flexible at the distal end.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael J. O'Connor
- 👤 David A. Ferrera
- 👤 Matthew Connors
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:00
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0043; A61M25/005; A61M25/0053; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/24; A61M2025/0063; A61M2025/0064; A61M25/0051
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A variable stiffness heating catheter for use in interventional vascular therapy, comprising: a heating catheter shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, said heating catheter shaft including at least one electrically conductive member for providing resistive heating; a reinforcing tube attached to the heating catheter shaft, the heating catheter shaft extending through said reinforcing tube, and said reinforcing tube having a surface defining a plurality of apertures to provide variations in stiffness along the length of the heating catheter shaft; and at least one outer coaxial sheath over at least a portion of said heating catheter shaft and covering said plurality of apertures of said reinforcing tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A variable stiffness heating catheter for use in interventional vascular therapy, comprising: a heating catheter shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, said heating catheter shaft including at least one electrically conductive member for providing resistive heating; a reinforcing tube attached to the heating catheter shaft, the heating catheter shaft extending through said reinforcing tube, and said reinforcing tube having a surface defining a plurality of apertures to provide variations in stiffness along the length of the heating catheter shaft; and at least one outer coaxial sheath over at least a portion of said heating catheter shaft and covering said plurality of apertures of said reinforcing tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The variable stiffness heating catheter of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of apertures comprise axial slits formed in the surface of the reinforcing tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The variable stiffness heating catheter of claim 1 , wherein the apertures can be formed as helical slits in the surface of the reinforcing tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The variable stiffness heating catheter of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the reinforcing tube is tapered along its length.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The variable stiffness heating catheter of claim 1 , wherein the apertures comprise a plurality of lateral slits formed in the surface of the reinforcing tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The variable stiffness heating catheter of claim 4 , wherein the outer surface of the reinforcing tube is tapered at the point where the apertures are formed in the reinforcing tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The variable stiffness heating catheter of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the reinforcing tube is tapered at a distal portion of the reinforcing tube, whereby said heating catheter is torqueable and pushable at the proximal end, yet soft and flexible at the distal end.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The variable stiffness heating catheter of claim 1 , wherein said outer coaxial sheath is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of a polymer, metal, or a combination thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The variable stiffness heating catheter of claim 8 , wherein said polymer comprises heat shrink polymeric material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The variable stiffness heating catheter of claim 9 , wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyetherethylketone, and polyphenylenesulfide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The variable stiffness heating catheter of claim 1 , wherein said at least one electrically conductive member comprises a pair of electrically conductive wires.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
124 words
A variable stiffness heating catheter for use in interventional vascular therapy, comprising: a heating catheter shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, said heating catheter shaft including at least one electrically conductive member for providing resistive heating; a reinforcing tube attached to the heating catheter shaft, the heating catheter shaft extending through said reinforcing tube, and said reinforcing tube having a surface defining a plurality of apertures extending in a direction between said proximal and distal ends of said heating catheter shaft; and at least one outer coaxial sheath over at least a portion of said heating catheter shaft and covering said plurality of apertures of said reinforcing tube, to provide variations in stiffness along the length of the heating catheter shaft.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
124 words
A variable stiffness heating catheter for use in interventional vascular therapy, comprising: a heating catheter shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, said heating catheter shaft including at least one electrically conductive member for providing resistive heating; a reinforcing tube attached to the heating catheter shaft, the heating catheter shaft extending through said reinforcing tube, and said reinforcing tube having a surface defining a plurality of apertures extending in a direction between said proximal and distal ends of said heating catheter shaft; and at least one outer coaxial sheath over at least a portion of said heating catheter shaft and covering said plurality of apertures of said reinforcing tube, to provide variations in stiffness along the length of the heating catheter shaft.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The variable stiffness heating catheter of claim 12 , wherein said plurality of apertures comprise axial slits formed in the surface of the reinforcing tube.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The variable stiffness heating catheter of claim 12 , wherein the apertures can be formed as helical slits in the surface of the reinforcing tube.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The variable stiffness heating catheter of claim 12 , wherein the outer surface of the reinforcing tube is tapered along its length.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The variable stiffness heating catheter of claim 12 , wherein the apertures comprise a plurality of lateral slits formed in the surface of the reinforcing tube.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The variable stiffness heating catheter of claim 15 , wherein the outer surface of the reinforcing tube is tapered at the point where the apertures are formed in the reinforcing tube.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
The variable stiffness heating catheter of claim 17 , wherein the outer surface of the reinforcing tube is tapered at a distal portion of the reinforcing tube, whereby said heating catheter is torqueable and pushable at the proximal end, yet soft and flexible at the distal end.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The variable stiffness heating catheter of claim 12 , wherein said outer coaxial sheath is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of a polymer, metal, or a combination thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The variable stiffness heating catheter of claim 19 , wherein said polymer comprises heat shrinkable polymeric material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The variable stiffness heating catheter of claim 20 , wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyetherethylketone, and polyphenylenesulfide.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The variable stiffness heating catheter of claim 12 , wherein said at least one electrically conductive member comprises a pair of electrically conductive wires.
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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) | 2008-05-02 | 2008-11-01 | 2009-05-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-05-02 | 2012-11-01 | 2013-05-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-05-02 | 2016-11-01 | 2017-05-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |