# US 2013/0158414 A1 · Medical device with slotted memory metal tube

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- Number: US 2013/0158414 A1
- Document ID: US20130158414A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/770,163
- Filed: 2013-02-19
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 1996-02-23
- Assignees: EVM Systems LLC
- Inventors: ROHIT C. L. SACHDEVA; PETRUS A. BESSELINK
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130158414A1

## CPC

- A61B 17/32056: {Surgical snare instruments (for removing or smashing calculi A61B2017/2212; tonsillotomes A61B17/26)}
- A61B 1/00082: {Balloons}
- A61B 1/0058: {using shape-memory elements}
- A61B 1/015: Control of fluid supply or evacuation
- A61B 1/018: for receiving instruments
- A61B 5/0084: {for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters (A61B5/1459 takes precedence)}
- A61B 5/1076: {for measuring dimensions inside body cavities, e.g. using catheters (A61B3/1005 takes precedence)}
- A61B 5/6853: {with a balloon}
- A61B 17/122: Clamps or clips, e.g. for the umbilical cord {(for the vas deferens A61F6/206)}
- A61B 17/221: Gripping devices in the form of loops or baskets {for gripping calculi or similar types of obstructions (surgical snare instruments A61B17/32056)}
- A61F 2/82: Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents (stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07)
- A61M 25/0013: {Weakening parts of a catheter tubing, e.g. by making cuts in the tube or reducing thickness of a layer at one point to adjust the flexibility}
- A61M 25/0138: {having flexible regions as a result of weakened outer material, e.g. slots, slits, cuts, joints or coils}
- A61M 25/0158: {with magnetic or electrical means, e.g. by using piezo materials, electroactive polymers, magnetic materials or by heating of shape memory materials}
- A61M 29/02: Dilators made of swellable material {(balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104)}
- A61B 1/307: for the urinary organs, e.g. urethroscopes or cystoscopes
- A61B 1/3137: {for examination of the interior of blood vessels}
- A61B 17/1285: {for minimally invasive surgery}
- A61B 2017/00349: {Needle-like instruments having hook or barb-like gripping means, e.g. for grasping suture or tissue (A61B17/06066 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2017/00867: {shape memory effect}
- A61B 2017/00986: {Malecots, e.g. slotted tubes, of which the distal end is pulled to deflect side struts}
- A61B 2017/2212: {having a closed distal end, e.g. a loop}
- A61B 2017/2215: {having an open distal end}
- A61B 2090/061: {for measuring dimensions, e.g. length}
- A61B 2090/063: {for measuring volume}
- A61F 2002/30092: {using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol}
- A61F 2210/0023: operated at different temperatures whilst inside or touching the human body, heated or cooled by external energy source or cold supply
- A61M 25/04: in the body, e.g. expansible {(A61M25/10, A61M16/0488 take precedence)}
- A61M 25/09: Guide wires
- A61M 2025/0057: {Catheters delivering medicament other than through a conventional lumen, e.g. porous walls or hydrogel coatings}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- 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)}

## Abstract

A series of medical instruments can be made with the use of shape memory tube with a transformation temperature that is above or below ambient temperature. In the first case, the material behaves with the shape memory effect and in the second case the behavior is superelastic. The wall of the tube has been provided with a plurality of slots in specific places, often near or at the distal end of the instrument, and in specific arrangements which allow local variations in diameter, shape, and/or length. These variations can either be caused by the memory effect during temperature change or by superelastic behavior during change of the mechanical influences on the memory metal by the surrounding material.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A medical instrument comprising:
at least one memory metal tube programmed for memory effect or superelasticity and having in at least one section thereof a plurality of slots such that the slotted section is capable of expansion and contraction, said memory metal tube having an expandable section that is substantially filled by an elastically deformable polymer, which upon expansion in a tubular cavity plugs the cavity; and
a delivery tube that surrounds at least the slotted section of the memory metal tube during delivery and which is partially removed from surrounding the slotted section of the memory metal tube by a relative longitudinal movement between the respective tubes.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The instrument of claim 1 being a retrieval basket for retrieving particles to be removed from the human body.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The instrument of claim 1 being a dilator to enlarge the diameter of collapsed or obstructed ducts, veins, arteries or other cavities in the human body.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The instrument of claim 1 being a reaming tool to cut parts off the wall of a cavity by rotational movement around the longitudinal axis of the instrument.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The instrument of claim 1 being an expansion tool that is expandable at a distal end to enlarge a body cavity.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The instrument of claim 1 wherein the slots in the memory metal tube extend to the distal end of the tube and have been programmed to change into bending hooks upon delivery from the delivery tube.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6 wherein the bending hooks close during retraction into the delivery tube to provide an internal gripping function.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6 wherein the bending hooks curl outside during advance from the delivery tube to provide an external gripping function.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The device of claim 8 wherein the hooks curl outside sufficiently to engage the outer wall of the memory metal tube to form closed loops.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The instrument of claim 1 wherein a wire, eyelet or hook is connected to the proximal end of the device to facilitate removal of the device.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The instrument of claim 1 wherein the elastically deformable polymer is of the UV-curing type which enables the material to be cured by exposure to light emitted from an optical filter.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The instrument of claim 1 further comprising optical measuring means.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The instrument of claim 1 further comprising a second delivery tube within the memory metal tube, and a steerable superelastic wire with a curved tip within said second delivery tube.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The instrument of claim 13 wherein said steerable wire is programmed to meet the wall of a cavity within which the instrument is placed to measure the radius of the cavity.

### Claim 15 (depends on 8)

The instrument of claim 8 wherein the steerable wire is hollow and contains an optical system to provide visual information about the condition and size of the cavity.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The instrument of claim 11 wherein the steerable wire is hollow and contains a laser system as the optical system to work with at the distal end.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The instrument of claim 1 wherein the pattern of slots is provided such that heating at least one of the wall segments defined by the slot provides a contraction, expansion or bending of that segment which causes an angular deviation of the axis of top portion of the distal tip of the memory metal tube.