Catheter package including catheter straightening means
AssigneeW. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
InventorsEdward H. Cully, James L. Goepfrich, William G. Hardie, Raymond P. Torrez
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A catheter package and method of use which serve to straighten a curved catheter shaft. The straightening of the catheter shaft may be accomplished by passing the shaft through a pathway that bends the catheter in the opposite direction of the curvature imparted to the catheter shaft. The catheter shaft pathway may incorporate various shaped bumps, ridges, pins or rollers or other features which assist in straightening the shaft.
Claims20
An apparatus for straightening a catheter shaft, the apparatus comprising:
- a catheter shaft reversal pathway arranged on a base;
- a plurality of reversal structures arranged along a perimeter of the catheter reversal pathway with one or more of the plurality of reversal structures being located on a first side of the perimeter and another one or more of the plurality of reversal structures being located on a second side of the perimeter, the plurality of reversal structures being configured to bend the catheter shaft as the catheter shaft is passed through the catheter shaft pathway.
A modular catheter package system, the system comprising:
- a catheter package;
- and
- a removable apparatus for straightening a catheter shaft arranged with the catheter package and including a plurality of reversal structures having forming a pathway with one or more of the plurality of reversal structures being located on a first side of the pathway and another one or more of the plurality of reversal structures being located on a second side of the pathway, the plurality of reversal structures being configured to bend the catheter shaft as the catheter shaft is passed through the catheter shaft pathway.
A method of straightening a catheter shaft, the method comprising:
- arranging a catheter shaft through a reversal pathway arranged on a base;
- and
- bending the catheter shaft through contact with a plurality of reversal structures arranged along a perimeter of the catheter reversal pathway with one or more of the plurality of reversal structures being located on a first side of the perimeter and another one or more of the plurality of reversal structures being located on a second side of the perimeter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.