Back to results
US 2013/0096535 A1Published application
Adjustable stiffness catheter
AssigneeBoston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
InventorsDaniel J. Gregorich, Soo-Young Yoon, Michael P. Meyer, Liza J. Davis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Medical devices such as catheters can include structure or provision that permit a physician or other health care professional to adjust the stiffness of at least a portion of the medical device. In some instances, the medical device may be adjusted prior to inserting the medical device into a patient. In some cases, the medical device may be adjusted while in use within the patient.
Claims15
(canceled)
An adjustable catheter, the catheter having a distal region defining a distal end and a proximal region defining a proximal end, the catheter comprising:
- an elongate polymeric shaft, the elongate polymeric shaft defining a lumen extending from the proximal region to the distal region;
- and
- a first inflatable tube disposed within the lumen, the first inflatable tube extending from the proximal region to the distal region, the first inflatable tube disposed at least substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the catheter;
- wherein inflating the first inflatable tube causes the elongate polymeric shaft to increase in stiffness.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.