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US7485127B2 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Tubular torque transmitting system for medical device

Assignee: Boston Scientific Corp
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Filing: 2004-03-10
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Granted: 2009-02-03
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Expires: 2024-03-10
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Abstract

Abstract A torque transmitting system supports rotational and lateral movement of a drive shaft. The system includes translating inner and outer tubes which have aligned canals for placement of a ball bearing and a pinion shaft to couple the tubes to a drive system. Rotational torque is transferred from the pinion shaft, to the outer tube and, through the ball positioned in the aligned canals, to the inner tube and then to the drive shaft. Furthermore, the ball engaged in the canals defines a range of motion in which the inner tube is slidable with respect to the outer tube, along the tubes' longitudinal axis, to permit advancement of an attached drive shaft.

Inventors

  • 👤 Brent Nistal

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 15:02
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/3205; A61B17/3207; A61B17/320758; A61B17/320725; A61B5/00; A61B5/06; A61B5/061; A61B5/41; A61B5/414; A61B5/415; A61B5/418; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/0105; A61M25/0133; A61M25/0147; A61M39/00; A61M39/02; A61M39/06; A61B17/320016; A61B17/32002; A61B17/34; A61B17/3462; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00199; A61B2017/00973; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22038; A61B2017/22049; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B2017/2926; A61B2017/2927; A61B2017/320032; A61B2217/00; A61B2217/002; A61B2217/005; A61B8/00; A61B8/12; A61B8/42; A61B8/4209; A61M2039/062; A61M39/0606

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 96 words
A torque transmission system comprising: an outer tube having at least one longitudinal extending slot; an inner tube having at least one longitudinal extending groove aligned with the slot of the outer tube, the inner tube slidably engaged within the outer tube; a pinion shaft operatively coupled to a drive system and coupled to the outer tube to transfer rotational torque to the outer tube; and one or more ball bearing, each ball bearing rollably positioned within the slot and groove, wherein the ball bearing urges the inner tube to rotate as the outer tube rotates.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 96 words
A torque transmission system comprising: an outer tube having at least one longitudinal extending slot; an inner tube having at least one longitudinal extending groove aligned with the slot of the outer tube, the inner tube slidably engaged within the outer tube; a pinion shaft operatively coupled to a drive system and coupled to the outer tube to transfer rotational torque to the outer tube; and one or more ball bearing, each ball bearing rollably positioned within the slot and groove, wherein the ball bearing urges the inner tube to rotate as the outer tube rotates.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 42 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the groove of the inner tube and the slot of the outer tube each include aligned side walls and the ball bearing biases against the aligned side walls to urge the inner tube to rotate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 60 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the groove of the inner tube includes a proximal end and the slot includes a distal end, and wherein the system is capable of extending by the inner tube sliding distally from the inner tube until the ball bearing catches the distal end of the slot and the proximal end of the groove.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 21 words
The system of claim 1 , further including a main shaft coupled to the inner tube and to a drive shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 22 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the width of the slot is slightly larger than the diameter of the ball bearing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 22 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the pinion shaft includes at least one gear operatively couple to the drive system gear.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 118 words
An intracorporeal device comprising: a drive shaft; a drive system; and a torque transmission system comprising: an outer tube having at least one longitudinal extending slot; an inner tube with at least one longitudinal extending groove aligned with the slot of the outer tube, the inner tube slidably engaged within the outer tube; a pinion shaft operatively coupled to the drive system and coupled to the outer tube to transfer rotational torque to the outer tube; and one or more ball bearing, each ball bearing rollably positioned within the slot and groove, wherein the ball bearing urges the inner tube to rotate as the outer tube rotates and inner tube conveys the rotational torque to the drive shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 118 words
An intracorporeal device comprising: a drive shaft; a drive system; and a torque transmission system comprising: an outer tube having at least one longitudinal extending slot; an inner tube with at least one longitudinal extending groove aligned with the slot of the outer tube, the inner tube slidably engaged within the outer tube; a pinion shaft operatively coupled to the drive system and coupled to the outer tube to transfer rotational torque to the outer tube; and one or more ball bearing, each ball bearing rollably positioned within the slot and groove, wherein the ball bearing urges the inner tube to rotate as the outer tube rotates and inner tube conveys the rotational torque to the drive shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 42 words
The system of claim 7 , wherein the groove of the inner tube and the slot of the outer tube each include aligned side walls and the ball bearing biases against the aligned side walls to urge the inner tube to rotate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 60 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein the groove of the inner tube includes a proximal end and the slot includes a distal end, and wherein the system is capable of extending by the inner tube sliding distally from the inner tube until the ball bearing catches the distal end of the slot and the proximal end of the groove.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 25 words
The device of claim 7 , further including a sealing member to slide in a movement that coincides with the sliding of the inner tube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 22 words
The device of claim 10 , further including a hand held device to house the sealing member, drive system and transmission system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 16 words
The device of claim 8 , further including a console unit to control the drive system.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4445509A Cited
US5314407A Cited
EP0409372A1 Cited
US6080170A Cited
US20020007190A1 Cited
US6565588B1 Cited
US20040006358A1 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2012-02-03 2012-08-04 2013-02-03 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2016-02-03 2016-08-04 2017-02-03 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2020-02-03 2020-08-04 2021-02-03 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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