High performance cannulas
OwnerLudwig K. Von Segesserinventor
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Abstract
Provided is a high performance cannula having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, wherein the diameter of the lumen of the cannula can be varied to take into account differences in the diameter of access and target vessels during cannulation. The cannula is characterized by a narrow diameter at the point of insertion that does not adversely impact the flow rate of fluids through the cannula. The cannulas according to this invention produce a small access aperture and are characterized by flow rates that are at least as effective as those of conventional cannulas that produce larger access apertures.
Claims18
A cannula comprising a cannula body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen having a diameters, the lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, the cannula intended for insertion into a patient at a point of insertion, wherein the cannula is made of a flexible material, and has at least one mechanism that upon actuation serves to alter the conformation of the cannula between a normal profile conformation in which the cannula has a lumen diameter at the point of insertion which is smaller than the lumen diameter of the cannula portions both proximal and distal to the point of insertion, and a low profile conformation in which the lumen diameter of the cannula portion distal to the point of insertion has been decreased, and wherein, when in the normal conformation, the portion of the cannula insertable into the patient is expandable to the diameter of the cannulized vessel.
The cannula of 1 wherein the flexible material is comprised of a series of interlaced or interwoven wires.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.