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US 11,446,469 B2Granted
High flexibility, kink resistant catheter shaft
AssigneePerfuze Limited
InventorsJohn Logan, Scott Arp, Andrew H. Cragg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An enhanced flexibility catheter shaft having an elongate flexible body with a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one lumen extending therethrough. A distal, flexible section on the body has a ribbed or corrugated tubular membrane having at least a first reinforcement structure, such as a first helical support, on a radially exterior or interior surface of the tubular membrane and optionally a second reinforcement structure, such as a second helical support, on the other of the radially interior or exterior surface of the tubular membrane.
Claims24
A catheter comprising:
- a tubular body defining a central lumen and having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and wherein the tubular body comprises:
- an inner tubular layer surrounding the central lumen;
- an outer tubular layer forming a plurality of helical ribs having peaks and valleys;
- a helical support, carried concentrically over the inner tubular layer and being within the outer tubular layer and having adjacent loops spaced axially apart;
- and
- wherein:
- the outer tubular layer forms a tubular sheet of constant thickness extending over the helical support,
- the distal portion is more flexible than the proximal portion,
- the inner tubular layer and the outer tubular layer are bonded together at least in spaces between the adjacent loops of the helical support to form a helical channel, and
- the helical support is (1) within the helical channel, and (2) unbonded from the helical channel.
7 more elements
A catheter comprising:
- a tubular body defining a central lumen and having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the tubular body having a resting configuration in which the tubular body is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tubular body and a deflected configuration in which a portion of the tubular body is deflected at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the tubular body comprises:
- an inner tubular layer surrounding the central lumen, wherein the inner tubular layer includes a proximal section and a distal section, and wherein a material of the proximal section is different than a material of the distal section;
- an outer tubular layer forming a tubular sheet of constant thickness positioned to form peaks and valleys;
- and
- a helical support, carried concentrically over the inner tubular layer and having adjacent loops spaced axially apart between each valley of the valleys of the outer tubular layer when the tubular body is in the resting configuration, and
- wherein the distal portion of the tubular body is more flexible than the proximal portion of the tubular body.
3 more elements
A catheter comprising:
- a tubular body defining a central lumen and having a proximal portion, an intermediate portion, and a distal portion, and wherein the tubular body comprises:
- an inner tubular layer surrounding the central lumen;
- an outer tubular layer, wherein the outer tubular layer is a continuous layer extending from the proximal portion of the tubular body to the distal portion of the tubular body;
- a helical lumen formed between the outer tubular layer and the inner tubular layer;
- and
- a helical support, carried concentrically over the inner tubular layer, being within the helical lumen, and having adjacent loops spaced axially apart, wherein the helical support is configured to move within the helical lumen relative to the outer tubular layer and the inner tubular layer, wherein the distal portion is more flexible than the intermediate portion, outer tubular layer at the distal portion forms a tubular sheet of constant thickness over the helical support, and
- wherein the intermediate portion is more flexible than the proximal portion.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.