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US 11,628,279 B2Granted
Force gauge and method of use
AssigneeBoston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
InventorMichael S. H. Chu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure relates generally to the field of medical devices and methods to assist in the introduction of an instrument into a patient, and more particularly to medical devices for measuring and/or monitoring forces applied during introduction of an access sheath through a body lumen.
Claims13
A medical device, comprising:
- an access sheath;
- a dilator disposed within a lumen of the access sheath, the dilator having a tapered end to facilitate atraumatic advancement through a body passage;
- and
- a force gauge disposed on a proximal portion of the access sheath, the force gauge comprising:
- a grip slidably disposed over the access sheath;
- a spring disposed within a lumen of the grip;
- a cap reversibly attached to the access sheath and distal to the spring;
- wherein:
- at least a portion of the cap extends into the lumen of the grip for slidable movement therein as the dilator is advanced through a body passage;
- and
- a plurality of indicators on an outer surface of the grip correlate the relative positions of the grip and the cap to a restoring force of the spring as the cap moves with respect to the grip upon the dilator contacting an obstruction.
8 more elements
A medical device, comprising:
- an access sheath;
- a dilator disposed within a lumen of the access sheath;
- and
- a force gauge disposed on a proximal portion of the access sheath, the force gauge comprising:
- a grip slidably disposed over the access sheath;
- a spring disposed within a lumen of the grip;
- a cap rotatably attached to the access sheath and distal to the spring to alter the height of the spring, wherein at least a portion of the cap extends into the lumen of the grip;
- and
- a plurality of indicators on an outer surface of the cap correlating the relative positions of the grip and the cap to a restoring force of the spring.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.