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US 8,801,774 B2Granted
Tube with reverse necking properties
AssigneeW. L. Gore & Assoicates, Inc.
InventorJames D. Silverman
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AssigneeW. L. Gore & Assoicates, Inc.
InventorJames D. Silverman
Estimating the term…
An improved tubular structure adapted to increase in diameter upon application of axial force is provided. Increase in diameter is achieved by constructing the tube from multiple layers of material that move relative to each other during axial elongation of the tube. The tube of the present invention can be used both to avoid problems in “necking” found in many prior tube devices, and to provide additional benefits that increases in diameter of the tube during axial elongation can provide. As such, the tube of the present invention may be useful as a manufacturing aid, as a deployment sheath (for example, to deliver medical devices), and in other applications that may benefit from easier tubular sheath removal.
A tubular structure having a longitudinal axis comprising
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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About 2 years 9 months of term left · ends 15 Jul 2029 (estimated)
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved tubular structure with unique properties suitable for a wide array of applications, including use in manufacturing, as apparatus for positioning and deploying medical diagnostic and treatment devices in a body, and in other uses.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a schematic model demonstrating the concept of the present invention, in an unstrained configuration;
Reference will now be made in detail to an embodiment of the present invention, example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
The present invention is directed to an improved tubular structure that is adapted to increase in diameter when axial force is applied to the structure. This increase in diameter is preferably accomplished by constructing the tube from multiple layers of material that move relative to each other during axial elongation of the tube.
In its simplest form, the tubular structure of the present invention comprises a first helical wrap at a first wrap angle and a second helical wrap at a second wrap angle, the tubular structure having a first diameter and a first axial length. When the tubular structure is increased from the first axial length to an elongated second axial length, the first diameter increases to an enlarged second diameter. This concept is best illustrated in the model shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.