Torque limiter for an OCT catheter
AssigneeLightLab Imaging, Inc.
InventorChristopher Petroff
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus comprising a torque wire connected to an imaging probe; and a torque limiter defining a bore, a first end of the torque limiter being in mechanical communication with a motor, a second end of the torque limiter being in mechanical communication with the torque wire, the torque wire being disposed through the bore of the torque limiter. The torque limiter comprises a member defining at least one cutout which causes the torque limiter to break when rotational force on the torque wire exceeds a predetermined amount, thereby decoupling the motor from the torque wire.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- (a) a first member defining a bore;
- (b) a second member defining a bore, the first member and the second member being adjacent to one another, the bore of the first member being in concentric alignment with the bore of the second member;
- (c) a torque wire disposed in the bore of the first member and in the bore of the second member;
- and
- (d) a third member defining a bore, the second member and at least a portion of the first member being disposed in the bore of the third member, the third member being attached to the first member at a first attachment point of the third member, the third member being attached to the torque wire at a second attachment point of the third member, the second member disposed between the first attachment point and the second attachment point, the third member comprising at least one cutout between the first attachment point and the second attachment point;
- whereby rotational force imparted on the first member is transferred to the torque wire, and whereby the third member breaks and decouples the first member from the torque wire when the rotational force on the torque wire exceeds a predetermined amount.
An apparatus comprising:
- (a) a first member defining an axial bore;
- (b) a second member defining an axial bore in concentric alignment with the axial bore of the first member, the second member comprising a proximal end defining a first outer diameter and a distal end defining a second outer diameter, the second outer diameter being larger than the first outer diameter, the axial bore of the first member configured to concentrically receive the proximal end of the second member;
- (c) a torque wire disposed in the axial bore of the first member and the axial bore of second member;
- and
- (d) a third member defining an axial bore which concentrically receives at least a portion of the first member and the second member, the third member being attached to the first member at a first attachment point of the third member, the third member being attached to the torque wire at a second attachment point of the third member, the second member disposed between the first attachment point and the second attachment point, the third member comprising at least one cutout between the first attachment point and the second attachment point;
- whereby rotational force imparted on the first member is transferred to the torque wire, and whereby the third member breaks and decouples the first member from the torque wire when the rotational force on the torque wire exceeds a predetermined amount.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.