The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 27, 1998
Filed:
Jan. 22, 1997
Sharon Ma Schwab, Encinitas, CA (US);
Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
The catheter (5) with a flexible tip (20) includes a manifold (25) at the proximal end, a flexible catheter body (40) having a proximal end and a distal end, a balloon (15) at the distal end and a distal flexible tip (20). The catheter is designed for operation as an 'over the wire' catheter and would be compatible with a flexible guidewire, such as guidewire (30). The flexible tip invention also would be compatible with 'rapid exchange' or 'single operator exchange' catheters. Flexible tip (20) extends distally from balloon (15) and guidewire shaft (55). In the preferred embodiment flexible tip (20) is formed from distal material of balloon (15). The length of the flexible tip (20) will vary depending on the path that catheter (5) must travel through the artery to get to its desired location. The length of the tip will balance the pushability desired versus the flexibility desired. A longer flexible tip (20) on catheter (5) would allow enough flexibility at the tip for catheter (5) to get at hard to reach lesions through a tortuous path. A shorter flexible tip (20) on catheter (5) would make the tip stiffer and allow higher pushability through blocked arteries. By varying the flexible tip (20), the catheter 5 may be designed for many different conditions.