Schneider (usa) Inc.

Clarus Medical Systems, Inc.

Rocky R Campbell

Rick L Shockey

Thomas C Barthel

Craig L Riedl

Donald S Baim

Kevin L Cronk

A flexible endoscope have a force limiting coupler. The endoscope comprises an elongated tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end and a wall defining a lumen extending there through. A handle member is fixed to the proximal end of the tubular member. The handle member has a slidable knob member which is coupled to a force limiting means to limit the travel of the knob member. A deflection wire is coupled at one end to the force limiting means and a second end to the distal end of the tubular member. The force limiting means has a predetermined spring constant. The distal end of the endoscope can be deflected in finer increments and acts to preclude potentially damaging forces to be applied to the endoscope or to tissue.

Flexible endoscope with force limiting spring coupler

The guide catheter system for use in the treatment of coronary artery disease includes a first single-lumen catheter of a relatively large internal diameter to pass a second guide catheter therethrough. The first guide catheter comprises an elongated flexible tube having a stainless steel braid embedded in the wall thereof for imparting desired torqueability characteristics to it. The first guide catheter is intended to be inserted at an appropriate point in the vascular system and then advanced until its distal end reaches the coronary ostium. The second guide catheter is fabricated by extruding a plastic, such as polyurethane thermoplastic resin over a tubular Teflon.RTM. core and because it is to be used within the lumen of the first catheter, it need not include a braided structure within its walls to prevent it from kinking. This allows the second catheter to be sufficiently slim to permit it to be advanced into a coronary artery while allowing fluids to be perfused between the outer wall of the second guide and the inner wall of the first guide catheter while still providing a sufficiently large inner lumen to pass a working catheter, e.g., an angioplasty or atherectomy catheter. An atraumatic tip is attached to the distal end of the second guide catheter.

Telescoping guide catheter system

Growing community of inventors

Maple Plain, MN, United States of America

Rocky R Campbell