Snare with anti-skewing
AssigneePrimus Medical, Inc.
InventorsEric D. Mathews, Paul J. Dobson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An instrument for removal of an object, e.g., a blood clot lodged in a blood vessel, has a longitudinally extending support that defines an axis. The support has a flexible distal section having a compressed state, in which it defines a first path relative to the axis. A core-wire extending along the axis has a relaxed state in which it defines a second path relative to the axis. An anchor disposed on the flexible distal section and attached to the core-wire causes the flexible distal section to follow the same path. An actuator engaged to a proximal end of the core-wire enables selective application of a tensile force thereto. This tensile force causes the core-wire and the flexible distal section to transition together between the first path and the second path.
Claims42
An instrument comprising:
- a longitudinally extending support defining an axis, the support having a flexible distal section having an uncompressed state and a compressed state, the flexible distal section defining a first path relative to the axis when in the compressed state;
- a core-wire extending along the axis and anchored to the flexible distal section, the core-wire having a relaxed state and a tensioned state, the core-wire defining a second path relative to the axis when in the relaxed state;
- and
- an actuator engaged to a proximal end of the core-wire for selectively applying a tensile force thereto, the tensile force causing the core-wire to transition from its relaxed state, in which the flexible distal section is in its uncompressed state, to its tensioned state, in which the flexible distal section is in its compressed state.
An instrument comprising:
- a flexible tube defining a lumen, the flexible tube having a distal end and a proximal end;
- a core-wire extending through the lumen and having a distal end anchored to the flexible tube, the core-wire switching from a relaxed state to a tensioned state in response to a tensile force applied thereto;
- and
- an actuator engaged to a proximal end of the core-wire for applying a tensile force thereto.
An instrument comprising:
- a cannula defining a first lumen, the cannula having a proximal end and a distal end;
- a flexible tube defining a second lumen, the flexible tube having a distal end and a proximal end mounted on the distal end of the cannula, the second lumen being in communication with the first lumen;
- a core-wire extending through the first and second lumens and having a distal end anchored to the flexible tube, the core-wire switching from a relaxed state to a tensioned state in response to a tensile force applied thereto;
- and
- an actuator coupled to a proximal end of the core-wire for exerting a tensile force on the core-wire.
An instrument comprising:
- a cannula defining a first lumen, the cannula having a proximal end and a distal end;
- a flexible tube defining a second lumen, the flexible tube having a distal end and a proximal end mounted on the distal end of the cannula, the second lumen being in communication with the first lumen;
- a super-elastic core-wire extending through the first and second lumens and having a distal end anchored to the distal end of the flexible tube, the core-wire having a first section in which a tensile force on the core-wire results in a first stress and a second section in which a tensile force on the core-wire results in a second stress that differs from the first stress;
- and
- an actuator coupled to a proximal end of the core-wire for exerting a tensile force on the core-wire, thereby causing the first section to undergo a first strain and the second section to undergo a second strain different from the first strain.
A method for ensnaring an object, the method comprising:
- applying a tensile force to a core-wire, thereby placing the core-wire into an extended state;
- moving the core-wire, in its extended state, to a position adjacent to the object;
- releasing the tensile force, thereby restoring the core-wire to a coiled state and ensnaring the object adjacent to the core-wire.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.