# US 11,896,777 B2 · Dynamic walled tubing

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,896,777 B2
- Document ID: US11896777B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/409,215
- Filed: 2021-08-23
- Published: 2021-12-09
- Granted: 2024-02-13
- Earliest claimed: 2015-05-29
- Assignees: Qmax, LLC
- Applicants: Qmax, LLC
- Inventors: Robert C. Laduca
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896777B2

## CPC

- A61M 25/0023: {by the form of the lumen, e.g. cross-section, variable diameter}
- A61L 29/085: {Macromolecular materials}
- A61L 29/12: Composite materials, i.e. containing one material dispersed in a matrix of the same or different material
- A61L 29/14: Materials characterised by their function or physical properties {, e.g. lubricating compositions}
- A61M 25/0052: {Localized reinforcement, e.g. where only a specific part of the catheter is reinforced, for rapid exchange guidewire port}
- A61M 2025/0024: {Expandable catheters or sheaths}
- B29C 48/09: Articles with cross-sections having partially or fully enclosed cavities, e.g. pipes or channels
- B29C 48/19: the layers being joined at their edges
- B29C 63/18: using tubular layers or sheathings (B29C63/26 {and B29C63/38} take precedence; {placing tubular labels around rigid containers B65C3/065})
- B29C 63/42: using tubular layers or sheathings
- B29L 2031/7542: {Catheters}
- 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)}
- 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)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES

## Abstract

Methods and devices described for improved dynamic walled tubing and catheters.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An expandable tubing comprising:
an outer tube body comprising a lumen; and
a spring material within the outer tube body,
where the spring material extends helically around the lumen at least one full turn in a continuous undulating manner within the outer tube body, and
where an entire turn of the at least one full turn of the spring material is expandable and contractible.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The expandable tubing of claim 1, where the spring material is configured to assist the outer tube body in expanding when a device is passed through the lumen of the outer tube body, and
where the spring material is expandable and contractible such that expansion of the spring material expands a diameter of the outer tube body.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The expandable tubing of claim 1, where the outer tube body is expandable by advancing a device into the lumen, and where the outer tube body is contractible by withdrawing the device from the lumen.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The expandable tubing of claim 1, where the outer tube body has a natural state and an expanded state,
where when the outer tube body is in the natural state, the spring material is biased to expand a diameter of the outer tube body,
where when the outer tube body is in the expanded state, the outer tube body is biased to contract the diameter of the outer tube body,
where the outer tube body is expandable from the natural state to the expanded state by advancing a device in the lumen,
where the outer tube body is contractible from the expanded state to the natural state by withdrawing the device from the lumen,
where the spring material has a first shape when the outer tube body is in the natural state, and
where the spring material has a second shape different than the first shape when the outer tube body is in the expanded state.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The expandable tubing of claim 1, where the spring material is configured to reduce a force required to expand a diameter of the outer tube body via a device by naturally reverting to a more expanded configuration as the device is advanced in the lumen.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The expandable tubing of claim 1, where the outer tube body has a natural state and an expanded state,
where the outer tube body is expandable from the natural state to the expanded state due to a device in the lumen such that when the device is advanced in the lumen the spring material is configured to reduce a force required to expand a diameter of the outer tube body via the device by naturally reverting to a more expanded configuration as the device is advanced in the lumen, and
where the outer tube body is contractible from the expanded state to the natural state due to the device in the lumen such that when the device is retracted from the lumen the outer tube body is configured to contract the diameter of the outer tube body.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The expandable tubing of claim 1, where the outer tube body has a natural state and an expanded state,
where when the outer tube body is in the natural state, the spring material is biased to expand a diameter of the outer tube body,
where when the outer tube body is in the expanded state, the outer tube body is biased to contract the diameter of the outer tube body,
where the outer tube body is expandable from the natural state to the expanded state due to a device in the lumen such that when the device is advanced in the lumen the spring material is configured to reduce a force required to expand the diameter of the outer tube body via the device by naturally reverting to a more expanded configuration as the device is advanced in the lumen,
where the outer tube body is contractible from the expanded state to the natural state due to the device in the lumen such that when the device is retracted from the lumen the outer tube body is configured to contract the diameter of the outer tube body,
where the spring material has a first shape when the outer tube body is in the natural state, and
where the spring material has a second shape different than the first shape when the outer tube body is in the expanded state.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The expandable tubing of claim 7, further comprising a coil or a braid in the outer tube body.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The expandable tubing of claim 1, where the continuous undulating manner comprises a zig-zag manner.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The expandable tubing of claim 1, where the spring material comprises a zig-zag wire.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The expandable tubing of claim 1, where the spring material comprises peaks and valleys, and where adjacent peaks are in adjacent valleys.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The expandable tubing of claim 1, where the spring material has a zig-zag pattern comprising peaks and valleys, and where adjacent peaks are separated from adjacent valleys by a gap.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The expandable tubing of claim 1, further comprising a coil or a braid in the outer tube body.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The expandable tubing of claim 1, where adjacent turns of the spring material are separated by a gap, and where the gap is less than a peak-to-peak amplitude of the continuous undulating manner in a turn of the spring material.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The expandable tubing of claim 1, where the continuous undulating manner of the spring material comprises peaks and valleys, where the peaks of adjacent turns of the spring material are separated by a gap, and where the gap is less than a peak-to-peak amplitude of two adjacent peaks in a single turn of the spring material.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The expandable tubing of claim 1, where the spring material extends helically around the lumen at least a first full turn and a second full turn in the continuous undulating manner within the outer tube body, where the continuous undulating manner of the spring material comprises peaks and valleys, and where a gap between the first full turn and the second full turn is less than a peak-to-peak amplitude between a first peak of the first full turn and a second peak of the first full turn.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The expandable tubing of claim 1, where the spring material extends helically around the lumen multiple turns in the continuous undulating manner within the outer tube body, where the continuous undulating manner of the spring material comprises peaks and valleys, and where peaks of adjacent turns are aligned with each other longitudinally along a length of the outer tube.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The expandable tubing of claim 1, further comprising a material that extends helically around the lumen, where the material is on a radial inside of the spring material or on a radial outside of the spring material.

### Claim 19

An expandable tubing comprising:
an outer tube body comprising a lumen;
a coil or a braid in the outer tube body; and
a spring material wound in an undulating manner within the outer tube body,
where the spring material extends around the lumen,
where the outer tube body is expandable via the spring material,
where the spring material is contractible via the outer tube body, and
where the coil or the braid extends around the lumen on a radial inside or on a radial outside of the spring material.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The expandable tubing of claim 19, where the coil or the braid extends helically around the lumen on the radial inside or on the radial outside of the spring material.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The expandable tubing of claim 19, where the spring material comprises a zig-zag wire.

### Claim 22

An expandable tubing comprising:
an outer tube body comprising a lumen; and
a spring material within the outer tube body,
where the spring material extends around the lumen,
where the spring material is expandable and contractible,
where the spring material extends helically around the lumen a first full turn and a second full turn in a continuous undulating manner within the outer tube body, where the first full turn is adjacent the second full turn, where the continuous undulating manner of the spring material comprises peaks and valleys, and where a peak of the first full turn is in a valley of the second full turn.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The expandable tubing of claim 22, where the spring material comprises a zig-zag wire.