Variable stiffness microtubing and methods of manufacture
AssigneeMedsource Trenton, Inc.
InventorsLane A. Keith, Gary G. Massengale, John T. Riddle, Ronald B. Roth
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A novel composite microtubing with variable stiffness over the length of the tubing and continuous process for manufacturing the same is provided. By removing portions of one or more selected layers of the composite microtubing, varying the pick count of a braided layer, and changing the diameter over the length of the microtubing, the stiffness of the microtubing may be varied by a factor of 100 from proximal end to distal end. The continuous process allows a predetermined stiffness pattern to be repeated over a measured length for economical manufacture and results, if desired, in tubing of extremely small diameter and extremely thin tube walls.
Claims23
A microtube having a proximal end and a distal end comprising:
- an inner cured resin layer;
- a braid layer over the inner cured resin layer;
- a medial cured resin layer over the braid layer wherein said medial layer extends from the proximal end of the microtube to a point intermediate the proximal end and the distal end at the microtube, encapsulating the braid and comprising a braid matrix layer between the proximal end and said intermediate point;
- a third layer over and encasing the medial layer between the proximal end and the intermediate point, said third layer also encapsulating the braid layer and comprising the remainder of the braid matrix layer.
A microtube having a relatively stiff proximate end and a distal end and comprising:
- an inner cured resin layer;
- a braid layer over the inner cured resin layer from the proximate end to a point intermediate the proximate end and the distal end of the microtube;
- and
- an outer cured resin layer over and encasing the braid layer;
- wherein the braid is woven in a weave having relatively fewer picks per inch at the proximate end and relatively more picks per inch as it proceeds toward the intermediate point, such that said intermediate point is relatively more flexible than the proximate end.
A microtube having a tube wall with an outer surface and an inner lumen connecting a proximal end and a distal end, said tube wall comprising at least one cured resin layer and wherein the cross section of the inner lumen at the proximate end is of relatively greater area than the cross section of the inner lumen at the distal end;
- and wherein the thickness of the tube wall is relatively greater at the proximate end than at the distal end.
A microtube having a proximate end and a distal end and comprising:
- an inner layer extending from the proximate end of the microtube to a point intermediate the proximate end and the distal end of the microtube;
- and
- a second layer extending from the proximate end to the distal end of the microtube.
A microtube having a proximate end and a distal end and comprising:
- an inner cured resin layer extending between the proximate end and the distal end;
- a braid layer over the inner cured resin layer and extending from the proximate end of the microtube to a first point intermediate the proximate end and the distal end of the microtube;
- a second cured resin layer over the braid layer and extending from the proximate end to the distal end of the microtube;
- and
- an outer cured resin layer over and encasing the inner, braid and second cured resin layers.
A microtube having a proximal end and a distal end comprising:
- an inner cured resin layer extending between the proximate end and the distal end;
- a braid layer over the inner cured resin layer and extending from the proximate end of the microtube to a first point intermediate the proximate end and the distal end of the microtube;
- a second cured resin layer extending from the proximate end of the microtube to a second point intermediate the proximate end and the distal end of the microtube;
- and an outer cured resin layer over and encasing the inner, braid and second cured resin layers.
A microtube having a proximal end and a distal end and comprising:
- an inner cured resin layer extending from the proximal end of the microtube to the distal end;
- a second layer over the inner cured resin layer and extending from the proximal end of the microtube to a point intermediate the proximal end and the distal end of the microtube;
- and
- an outer cured resin layer over and encasing the inner and second layers, wherein the microtube is relatively stiff at its proximal end in comparison to the distal end.
A microtube having a proximal end and a distal end and comprising:
- a braid layer woven in a weave having relatively fewer picks per inch at the proximal end and relatively more picks per inch at the distal end;
- and
- an outer cured resin layer over and encasing the braid layer, wherein the microtube is relatively stiff at the proximal end in comparison to the distal end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.