# US 10,478,150 B2 · Medico—surgical devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,478,150 B2 - Document ID: US10478150B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/658,456 - Filed: 2017-07-25 - Published: 2018-03-08 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2001-08-24 - Assignees: The Cooper Companies Global Holdings LP - Applicants: The Cooper Companies Global Holdings LP - Inventors: Stephen James Field - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478150B2 ## CPC - A61B 8/0841: {for locating instruments} - A61B 8/00: Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves - A61B 8/14: Echotomography - A61B 17/435: for embryo {or ova} transplantation - A61K 49/223: {Microbubbles, hollow microspheres, free gas bubbles, gas microspheres} - A61L 29/18: Materials at least partially X-ray or laser opaque - A61L 31/18: Materials at least partially X-ray or laser opaque - A61M 5/00: Devices for bringing media into the body in a subcutaneous, intra-vascular or intramuscular way; Accessories therefor, e.g. filling or cleaning devices, arm rests (tube connectors, tube couplings, valves or branch units, specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes A61J1/00) - A61M 25/0009: {Making of catheters or other medical or surgical tubes} - A61M 25/0012: {with embedded structures, e.g. coils, braids, meshes, strands or radiopaque coils} - A61M 25/007: {Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked} - A61M 25/01: Introducing, guiding, advancing, emplacing or holding catheters (A61M25/10 takes precedence) - A61B 2090/3925: {ultrasonic} - A61M 25/0043: {characterised by structural features} - A61M 2210/1433: Uterus - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D) - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract An embryo replacement catheter has a flexible extruded shaft of a transparent polyurethane with a bore extending along its length. Gas bubbles of a diameter in the range 5μ to 10μ are incorporated into the thickness of the wall of the shaft by adding gas during extrusion. The bubbles are selected to increase the visibility of the catheter under ultrasound imaging whilst still enabling material flowing along the catheter to be seen. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An embryo replacement catheter comprising: a hub; and a shaft attached to the hub, the shaft having a bore extending therethrough, the shaft comprising a wall of a transparent plastic material with gas bubbles incorporated therein, wherein the gas bubbles extend through a major part of a thickness of the wall of the shaft, and the gas bubbles have a density and size to enable visibility of the catheter under ultrasound imaging and to enable an embryo within the bore of the shaft to be viewed by a naked eye of a user. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The embryo replacement catheter of claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the wall of the shaft forms an outer surface of the catheter. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The embryo replacement catheter of claim 2, wherein the shaft has an inner surface that is smooth and uninterrupted by the gas bubbles. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The embryo replacement catheter of claim 1, wherein the bore is smooth and uninterrupted by the gas bubbles. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The embryo replacement catheter of claim 1, wherein the shaft is tubular. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The embryo replacement catheter of claim 1, wherein the shaft is flexible. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The embryo replacement catheter of claim 1, wherein the gas bubbles extend around an entire circumference of the shaft. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The embryo replacement catheter of claim 1, wherein the gas bubbles extend around a first portion of a circumference of the shaft, a second portion of the circumference of the shaft being free of the gas bubbles. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The embryo replacement catheter of claim 1, wherein the shaft has an outer surface that is smooth and uninterrupted by the gas bubbles. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The embryo replacement catheter of claim 1, wherein the shaft has an inner surface that is smooth and uninterrupted by the gas bubbles. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The embryo replacement catheter of claim 1, wherein the gas bubbles have a nominal diameter of 1μ to 50μ. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The embryo replacement catheter of claim 1, wherein the gas bubbles have a nominal diameter of 5μ to 10μ. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The embryo replacement catheter of claim 1, wherein the gas bubbles are substantially spherical. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The embryo replacement catheter of claim 1, wherein the shaft is extruded, and the gas bubbles are formed by introducing gas to the plastic material, in a molten state, during extrusion of the shaft. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The embryo replacement catheter of claim 1, wherein the plastic material is polyurethane. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The embryo replacement catheter of claim 1, wherein the hub is formed of a transparent material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The embryo replacement catheter of claim 16, wherein the transparent material is a plastic.