Back to results
US 2017/0360470 A1Published application
Catheter with helical drive shaft and methods of manufacture
AssigneeCovidien LP
InventorsJenny Zeroni, Cory David Sills, Victoria Schuman, Marc D. Knutson, Bryan Matthew Ladd, Benjamin Robert Fruland, Lucas Schneider, Alexander J. Rice
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Drive shafts having helical blades and methods of making are disclosed. In one method a helical auger blade is formed by twisting or sculpting a heated polymer tube which has been placed over a cylindrical drive shaft. In another method a drive shaft is placed within a helical winding and heat is applied to melt polymer which has been coated over one or both of the drive shaft and helical winding.
Claims9
1-5. (canceled)
6:
- A method of making a helical drive shaft having a double or multi-helical auger blade with a desired pitch, depth, width, and outer diameter comprising:
- placing a cylindrical drive shaft into a polymer tube, the polymer tube having opposite ends, a longitudinal axis extending between the opposite ends, and a generally cross-section;
- attaching one end of the polymer tube to the drive shaft;
- applying multiple heated tools to the tube overlying the drive shaft, the heated tool being at a temperature sufficient to soften the polymer tube;
- rotating the applied heated tools about the longitudinal axis of the polymer tube to buckle a portion of the tube, the buckled portion of the tube forming at least a portion of the auger blade of multiple helices all with the same desired pitch, depth, width.
2 more elements
7:
- The method of claim 6 wherein the drive shaft comprises wire wound in alternating right and left hand layers.
8:
- The method of claim 6 wherein the heated tools are applied to the tube at a temperature of 425° F.
9:
- The method of claim 6 wherein the multiple heated tools comprise two heated tools.
10:
- A method of making a helical drive shaft having a double-helical auger blade with a desired pitch, depth, width, and outer diameter comprising:
- placing a cylindrical drive shaft into an extruded polymer tube, the polymer tube having a circular cross-section;
- attaching one end of the polymer tube to the drive shaft;
- applying a single heated tool to the tube overlying the drive shaft at a temperature sufficient to soften the polymer tube;
- rotating the heated tool about the driveshaft;
- and
- sculpting the softened polymer tube with the heated tool causing a portion of the tube to buckle under the heated tool, the buckled portion of the tube forming a helical auger blade with a secondary helical pitch of residual polymer left on the wall opposite with the same desired pitch, depth, and width.
4 more elements
11:
- The method of claim 10 wherein the drive shaft comprises wire wound in alternating right and left hand layers.
12:
- The method of claim 10 wherein the heated tool is applied to the tube at a temperature of 425° F.
13-26. (canceled)