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US 2014/0277005 A1Published application
Medical device including flexible elongate torque-transmitting member
AssigneeCovidien LP
InventorEthan A. Guggenheimer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a catheter including a torque-transmitting member operatively connected to a functional element of the catheter. The torque-transmitting member may include a flexible structural core, an inner radial layer, and an outer radial layer. The structural core has a plurality of adjacent core segments that move away from one another when the torque-transmitting member is bent along an arc. The inner radial layer has an inner surface secured to the plurality of core segments such that the inner layer experiences localized tensile strain when the core segments at the outer radius of the arc are urged away from one another during bending of the torque-transmitting member. The inner radial layer may comprise an elastomer.
Claims20
A catheter comprising:
- a flexible elongate body defining a lumen extending longitudinally within the body;
- a flexible elongate torque-transmitting member received in the lumen of the body, the torque-transmitting member having proximal and distal end portions and configured to transmit torque applied to the proximal end portion toward the distal end portion, the torque-transmitting member including
- a structural core having a plurality of adjacent core segments, wherein the structural core is configured such that bending of the torque-transmitting member along an arc urges the core segments at an outer radius of the arc away from one another, said plurality of core segments defining an exterior surface of the core,
- an inner radial layer covering a longitudinal portion of the exterior surface of the core and having an inner surface secured to the plurality of core segments such that the inner layer experiences localized tensile strain when the core segments are urged away from one another during bending of the torque-transmitting member, wherein the inner layer comprises an elastomer, the inner layer having an exterior surface, and
- an outer radial layer circumferentially covering a portion of the exterior surface of the inner layer such that the inner layer is radially intermediate the structural core and the outer layer;
- and
- a functional element operatively coupled to the torque-transmitting member for rotation relative to the body.
4 more elements
A catheter comprising:
- a flexible elongate body defining a lumen extending longitudinally within the body;
- a flexible elongate torque-transmitting member received in the lumen of the body, the torque-transmitting member having proximal and distal end portions and a longitudinal axis and configured to transmit torque applied to the proximal end portion toward the distal end portion, the torque-transmitting member including
- a flexible structural core having a plurality of adjacent longitudinal core segments, wherein the structural core is configured such that bending of the torque-transmitting member along an arc urges the core segments at an outer radius of the arc away from one another, said plurality of core segments defining an exterior surface of the core,
- an inner radial layer circumferentially covering at least a longitudinal portion of the exterior surface of the core and having an inner surface secured to the plurality of core segments such that the inner layer experiences localized tensile strain when the core segments are urged away from one another during bending of the torque-transmitting member, wherein the inner layer comprises an elastomer, the inner layer having an exterior surface, and
- an outer radial layer circumferentially covering at least a portion of the exterior surface of the inner layer such that the inner layer is radially intermediate the structural core and the outer layer,
- wherein the torque-transmitting member has an internal torsional resistance from about 0.05 in-oz (0.04 N-cm) to about 0.10 oz-in (0.07 N-cm) when bent along an arc having a radius of curvature of about 0.5 in (1.27 cm);
- and
- a functional element operatively coupled to the torque-transmitting member for rotation relative to the body.
5 more elements
A catheter comprising:
- a flexible elongate body defining a lumen extending longitudinally within the body;
- a flexible elongate torque-transmitting member received in the lumen of the body, the torque-transmitting member having proximal and distal end portions and a longitudinal axis and configured to transmit torque applied to the proximal end portion toward the distal end portion, the torque-transmitting member including
- a flexible structural core having a plurality of adjacent longitudinal core segments, wherein the structural core is configured such that bending of the torque-transmitting member along an arc urges the core segments at an outer radius of the arc away from one another, said plurality of core segments defining an exterior surface of the core,
- an inner radial layer circumferentially covering at least a longitudinal portion of the exterior surface of the core and having an inner surface secured to the plurality of core segments such that the inner layer experiences localized tensile strain when the core segments are urged away from one another during bending of the torque-transmitting member, wherein the inner layer comprises a thermoplastic elastomer having an elastic yield strain from at least about 50%, and
- an outer radial layer circumferentially covering at least a longitudinal portion of the exterior surface of the inner layer such that the inner layer is radially intermediate the structural core and the outer layer, wherein the outer radial layer comprises a heat-shrink tube;
- and
- a functional element operatively coupled to the torque-transmitting member for rotation relative to the body.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.