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:
Nov. 05, 2002
Filed:
Apr. 13, 2000
Anthony Pantages, Los Altos, CA (US);
Donald S. Mamayek, Mountain View, CA (US);
Scimed Life Systems, Inc., Maple Grove, MN (US);
Abstract
Rotating element catheters and catheter assemblies employ clutch assemblies for preventing rotational energy from being transmitted from a motor drive unit to the catheter element under defined circumstances. The catheter assembly includes an elongate member in which there is disposed a rotatable catheter drive cable. The catheter drive cable may have an operative element, e.g., an ultrasonic transducer or an artherectomy blade, distally mounted thereon for providing diagnostic or therapeutic functions to the physician. To control the rotation of the catheter drive shaft, the clutch assembly is configured such that the catheter drive shaft is operated in a drive mode (i.e., it is allowed to rotate) and in a release mode (i.e., it is prevented from rotating). The clutch assembly includes a spring, one end of which is affixed to one of a driver member and a driven member, and the body of which is interference fitted with the other of the driver member and driven member to create a frictional relationship therebetween, which is not overcome when an applied torque does not exceed a critical magnitude, but is overcome when the applied torque exceeds the critical magnitude.