# US 9,872,665 B2 · Catheter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,872,665 B2 - Document ID: US9872665B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/477,486 - Filed: 2014-09-04 - Published: 2014-12-18 - Granted: 2018-01-23 - Earliest claimed: 2012-03-09 - Assignees: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Itaru Okubo; Haruhiko Kamijo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9872665B2 ## CPC - A61B 8/445: {Details of catheter construction} - A61B 8/0891: {for diagnosis of blood vessels} - A61B 8/12: in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters - A61M 25/0662: {Guide tubes} - A61B 5/0066: {Optical coherence imaging} - A61M 2025/0004: {having two or more concentrically arranged tubes for forming a concentric catheter system} - A61M 2025/0006: {which can be secured against axial movement, e.g. by using a locking cuff} - A61M 2025/0681: {Systems with catheter and outer tubing, e.g. sheath, sleeve or guide tube} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract A catheter including a sheath configured to be inserted into a lumen; a drive shaft inserted into the sheath; an image information acquiring unit fixed to a distal end of the drive shaft and acquires image information; a hub which moves the drive shaft in an axial direction of the sheath; an outer tube on a proximal end side of the sheath and includes a first connector at a proximal end thereof; a second connector which includes on a proximal end side of the outer tube a male connector able to be connected to and disconnected from the first connector; and an inner tube on a distal end side of the hub, that moves with respect to the outer tube along with the movement of the hub, and includes at a distal end thereof a latch section that is not able to pass through the second connector. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A catheter comprising: a sheath configured to be inserted into a lumen; a drive shaft configured to be removably inserted into the sheath and to deliver a mechanical drive force; an image information acquiring unit which is fixed to a distal end of the drive shaft and acquires image information; a hub which moves while holding the drive shaft and thereby moves the drive shaft in an axial direction of the sheath; an outer tube which is provided on a proximal end side of the sheath and includes a first connector at a proximal end thereof; a second connector, the second connector being configured to be connected to and disconnected from the first connector, on a proximal end side of the outer tube; and an inner tube which is provided on a distal end side of the hub, moves with respect to the outer tube in the outer tube along with the movement of the hub, and includes a latch section with an enlarged outer diameter provided at a distal end thereof, the latch section passing through the first connector; wherein the second connector includes a passing port which can receive the inner tube, and the passing port has an opening diameter which does not allow the latch section with the enlarged outer diameter to pass therethrough. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The catheter according to claim 1, wherein the first connector and the second connector are screw-type connectors. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The catheter according to claim 1, wherein the second connector includes a seal member which is brought into contact with an outer circumferential surface of the inner tube so as to be slidable. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The catheter according to claim 1, wherein the hub includes a port for inletting a fluid and for air venting. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The catheter according to claim 1, further comprising a relay connector which connects a portion between the outer tube and the sheath. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The catheter according to claim 5, wherein the outer tube includes an outer tube main body on a distal end side which is fixed to the relay connector. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The catheter according to claim 1, wherein the sheath includes a sheath distal end, a sheath tube, and a filling fluid inlet and outlet path member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The catheter according to claim 7, wherein the filling fluid inlet and outlet path member includes a priming port formed therein such that a fluid filling the sheath tube flows to the outside. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The catheter according to claim 7, wherein the image formation acquiring unit is disposed to slide in an axial direction of the sheath. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The catheter according to claim 9, wherein the image formation acquiring unit includes an oscillator unit, the oscillator unit being rotated by the drive shaft. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The catheter according to claim 10, wherein, when the inner tube is inserted to a maximum extent within the outer tube, a distal end portion of the inner tube reaches a vicinity of a distal end portion of the outer tube. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The catheter according to claim 11, wherein, when the inner tube is withdrawn to a maximum extent from the outer tube, the latch section engages the second connector to prevent separation of the inner tube from the outer tube. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The catheter according to claim 1, wherein the first connector includes a unit connector main body and a cover member. ### Claim 14 A coronary catheter comprising: an introducer sheath configured to be indwelled in a coronary artery; a guiding catheter configured to be inserted into a lumen through the introducer sheath; an ultrasonic catheter including a sheath configured to be inserted into the lumen through the guiding catheter; a drive shaft configured to be inserted into the sheath and to deliver a mechanical drive force; an image information acquiring unit which is fixed to a distal end of the drive shaft and acquires image information; a Y-shaped connector coupled to a proximal end of the guiding catheter, the Y-shaped connector having a side port and a valve body, wherein the ultrasonic catheter is inserted into the guiding catheter through the valve body; a hub which moves while holding the drive shaft and thereby moves the drive shaft in an axial direction of the sheath; an outer tube which is provided on a proximal end side of the sheath and includes a first connector at a proximal end thereof; a second connector, configured to be connected to and disconnected from the first connector, on a proximal end side of the outer tube; and an inner tube which is provided on a distal end side of the hub, moves with respect to the outer tube in the outer tube along with the movement of the hub, and includes a latch section with an enlarged outer diameter provided at a distal end thereof; wherein the second connector includes a passing port which can receive the inner tube, and the passing port has an opening diameter which does not allow the latch section with the enlarged outer diameter to pass therethrough; wherein the outer tube is disposed between the second connector and the Y-shaped connector. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The coronary catheter according to claim 14, wherein the first connector and the second connector are screw-type connectors. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The coronary catheter according to claim 14, wherein the second connector includes a seal member which is brought into contact with an outer circumferential surface of the inner tube so as to be slidable. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The coronary catheter according to claim 14, wherein the hub includes a port for inletting a fluid and for air venting. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The coronary catheter according to claim 14, further comprising a relay connector which connects a portion between the outer tube and the sheath. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The coronary catheter according to claim 18, wherein the outer tube includes an outer tube main body on a distal end side which is fixed to the relay connector. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The coronary catheter according to claim 14, wherein the sheath includes a sheath distal end, a sheath tube, and a filling fluid inlet and outlet path member. ### Claim 21 A catheter comprising: a sheath configured to be inserted into a lumen; a drive shaft configured to be inserted into the sheath and to deliver a mechanical drive force; an image information acquiring unit which is fixed to a distal end of the drive shaft and acquires image information; a hub which moves while holding the drive shaft and thereby moves the drive shaft in an axial direction of the sheath; an outer tube which is provided on a proximal end side of the sheath and includes a first connector at a proximal end thereof, the first connector including a connector main body and a cover member, a proximal end of the connector main body having a tapered connection with a screw section formed in an outer circumference of the tapered connection; a second connector having a tapered connector section and a screw section formed in an outer circumference of the tapered connector section, the second connector being configured to be connected to and disconnected from the first connector, on a proximal end side of the outer tube; and an inner tube which is provided on a distal end side of the hub, moves with respect to the outer tube in the outer tube along with the movement of the hub, and includes a latch section with an enlarged outer diameter provided at a distal end thereof, wherein the second connector includes a passing port which can receive the inner tube, and the passing port has an opening diameter which does not allow the latch section with the enlarged outer diameter to pass therethrough.