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:
Jul. 06, 2004
Filed:
May. 31, 2002
Anthony Pantages, Los Altos, CA (US);
Donald S. Mamayek, Mountain View, CA (US);
Boston Scientific Corporation, Natick, MA (US);
Abstract
Rotating element catheters 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. To control the rotation of the catheter drive shaft, the clutch assembly is configured to allow the catheter drive shaft to rotate and to stop rotating. The clutch assembly includes a driven member and a driver member, which cooperate with each other, such that the driven and driver members are rotatably engaged with each other before an applied torque exceeds the critical magnitude, rotatably unengaged with each other after the applied torque exceeds the critical magnitude, and rotatably re-engaged when the applied torque falls substantially below the critical magnitude. This clutching function can be actuated by any of a variety of physical forces, e.g., frictionally or magnetically.