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. 19, 2010
Filed:
May. 23, 2006
Randolf Von Oepen, Los Altos Hills, CA (US);
Axel Grandt, Strassberg, DE;
Lorcan Coffey, Tuebingen, DE;
Louise Balfe, Stuttgart, DE;
Andrew Jeffrey, Tuebingen, DE;
Ib Joergensen, Haigerloch, DE;
Bodo Quint, Rottenburg-Seebronn, DE;
Randolf Von Oepen, Los Altos Hills, CA (US);
Axel Grandt, Strassberg, DE;
Lorcan Coffey, Tuebingen, DE;
Louise Balfe, Stuttgart, DE;
Andrew Jeffrey, Tuebingen, DE;
Ib Joergensen, Haigerloch, DE;
Bodo Quint, Rottenburg-Seebronn, DE;
Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL (US);
Abstract
The invention includes a catheter having an elongate main body having a proximal section and a distal section. The elongate main body further includes a plurality of stiffening members disposed along the length of the elongate main body. At least one stiffening member includes a plurality of clusters including helical turns or rotations disposed circumferentially about a tubular member and along the length of the cluster. The clusters can be configured to vary flexibility along the length of the tubular member. The catheter can include a sheath having a stationary section and a retractable section.