Tubular Structures with Variable Support
AssigneeQ'apel Medical, LLC
InventorsJeffery KROLIK, Rajan KHOKHAR
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tubular structure having variable support includes a tubular member and a structural support member with a flexible tubular member over the structural support member, such that the flexible tubular member can engage and disengage or squeeze and release the structural support member. The structural support member can be a tubular mesh, stent, framework, skeleton, braid or other flexible framework. A fluid passage can be used to inflate and deflate the flexible tubular member. Methods of assembly and methods of use are also described.
Claims21
-102. (canceled)
A catheter assembly comprising:
- a catheter shaft having one or more apertures through a wall of a distal portion of the catheter shaft;
- a structural support extending over the distal portion of the catheter shaft, wherein at least a portion of the structural support is in contact with a portion of an outer surface of the distal portion of the catheter shaft;
- and
- a flexible outer layer extending over at least a portion of the structural support, wherein a distal end and a proximal end of the flexible outer layer is circumferentially secured to an outer surface of the catheter shaft.
A catheter assembly comprising:
- an introducer sheath;
- a catheter shaft;
- a structural support comprising a tubular mesh extending over a distal portion of the catheter shaft, wherein at least a portion of the structural support is in contact with a portion of an outer surface of the distal portion of the catheter shaft;
- a flexible outer layer extending over entire length of the structural support, wherein a distal end and a proximal end of the flexible outer layer is circumferentially secured to an outer surface of the catheter shaft.
A method of changing the stiffness of a catheter assembly comprising:
- (a) introducing a catheter assembly into a vasculature, wherein the catheter assembly comprises a catheter shaft, a structural support extending over a distal portion of the catheter shaft, and a flexible outer layer extending over at least a portion of the structural support;
- (b) advancing the catheter assembly to a desired location;
- (c) transitioning the flexible outer layer from a relaxed configuration to a collapsed configuration, wherein the flexible outer layer compresses the structural support onto the distal portion of the catheter shaft in the collapsed configuration, thereby increasing the stiffness of the catheter assembly at the distal portion;
- (d) transitioning the flexible outer layer from the collapsed configuration to the relaxed configuration;
- and
- (e) removing the catheter assembly from the desired location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.