# US 10,869,635 B2 · Elongated conductors and methods of making and using the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,869,635 B2 - Document ID: US10869635B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/657,668 - Filed: 2019-10-18 - Published: 2020-02-13 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-01 - Assignees: Autonomix Medical, Inc. - Applicants: Autonomix Medical, Inc. - Inventors: Landy Toth; Robert Schwartz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10869635B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/6876: {Blood vessel} - A61B 5/6852: {Catheters} - A61B 18/1492: {having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation (A61B18/1477 takes precedence)} - A61M 25/00: Catheters; Hollow probes (dilators A61M29/00; {peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00} ; for measuring or testing A61B; {materials for catheters A61L29/00}) - A61N 1/0488: {Details about the lead} - A61N 1/05: for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode (A61N1/06 takes precedence) - H01B 7/02: Disposition of insulation - H01B 7/0846: {Parallel wires, fixed upon a support layer} - H01B 13/06: Insulating conductors or cables (H01B13/32 takes precedence) - A61B 2017/00526: {Methods of manufacturing} - A61B 2018/00178: {Electrical connectors} - A61B 2562/125: characterised by the manufacture of electrodes - A61B 2562/222: Electrical cables or leads therefor, e.g. coaxial cables or ribbon cables - H01B 7/0892: {incorporated in a cable of non-flat configuration} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - 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)} - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) - H01B: CABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES (selection for magnetic properties H01F1/00; waveguides H01P {; printed circuits H05K}) ## Abstract Elongated conductors are provided. Aspects of the elongated conductors include: an elongated structure having a proximal region and a distal region, where the elongated conductor includes two or more insulated conducting members that are in fixed relative position along at least a portion of the elongated structure and extend from the proximal region to the distal region. A pattern of insulation openings among the insulated conducting members is present at one or both of the proximal and distal regions. Aspects of the invention further include methods of making the elongated conductors, as well as devices that include the elongated conductors. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of making an elongated conductor, the method comprising: aligning two or more insulated conducting members in an elongated configuration having a proximal region and a distal region, wherein the insulated conductors comprise a conductive core present in an inner insulating coating and an outer coating; and producing a pattern of insulation openings among the insulated conducting members at one or both of the proximal and distal regions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising fixing the relative position of the two or more insulated conducting members along at least a portion of the elongated conductor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the relative position of the two or more insulated conducting members is fixed after the pattern of insulation openings is produced. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the relative position of the two or more insulated conducting members is fixed before the pattern of insulation openings is produced. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises producing a first pattern of insulation openings among the insulated conducting members at the proximal region and a second pattern of insulation openings among the insulated conducting members at the distal region. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein pattern of insulation openings is transversely aligned. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the pattern of insulation openings is axially aligned. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises producing both a transversely aligned pattern of insulation openings and an axially aligned pattern of insulation openings. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises winding the insulated conducting members. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the insulated conducting members are wound about a mandrel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the method comprises separating the mandrel from the wound insulated conducting members to produce a lumen in the elongated structure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises inserting the aligned insulating conductors into a first sheath. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the method further comprises inserting a second sheath into the first sheath between the first sheath and the insulated conducting members. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the method comprises separating the first sheath from the second sheath and insulating conducting members. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the sheaths comprises a conductive material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the sheaths comprises an insulating material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises stably associating at least one of the proximal and distal regions with a substrate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the conductive core comprises an electrically conductive material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the outer coating comprises a thermoplastic material. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, wherein the method comprises heating the thermoplastic material in a manner sufficient to fix the relative position of the insulted conductors. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the inner insulating coating comprises a thermally stable material. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the elongated conductor is dimensioned to be positioned in mammalian vasculature. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the elongated conductor has a length ranging from 5 to 4,000 mm. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the elongated conductor has an outer diameter ranging from 75 μm to 5 mm. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the method is a continuous process.