IP Library Granted Patent US 12660983
Granted Patent B2
US 12660983 · App. 18/303,212 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Medical tubular assembly

Inventors: John Paul Urbanski (Toronto, CA); Kaylie Lau (Toronto, CA)
Assignee: Boston Scientific Medical Device Limited
A61B1/00011A61B1/018A61B17/00234A61B2017/0034
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12660983
App. No.
18/303,212
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An elongated medical tubular assembly is configured to improve, at least in part, transmission of a signal from the signal-transmitting device, received, at least in part, within the elongated medical tubular assembly, toward the signal-transceiving device of the medical-imaging system. The elongated medical tubular assembly defines a lumen extending from a distal tip toward a proximal end of the elongated medical tubular assembly; and the lumen is configured to receive, at least in part, the signal-transmitting device in such a way that the lumen, in use, receives, at least in part, the signal-transmitting device at the signal-liberating feature.

Claims (31)

1 . An apparatus for use with a patient, a signal-transmitting device and a signal-transceiving device of a medical-imaging system, the apparatus comprising:

an elongated medical tubular assembly having a distal tip configured to be received, at least in part, in the patient; and

the elongated medical tubular assembly being configured to receive, at least in part, the signal-transmitting device at the distal tip; and

the distal tip comprising a signal-liberating feature that includes spaced-apart perforations configured to improve, at least in part, transmission of a signal from the signal-transmitting device toward the signal-transceiving device of the medical-imaging system.

2 . An apparatus for use with a patient, having a signal-transmitting device and a signal-transceiving device of a medical-imaging system, the apparatus comprising:

an elongated medical tubular assembly configured to be received, at least in part, in the patient; and

the elongated medical tubular assembly having a distal tip that comprises a signal-liberating feature that includes spaced-apart perforations and is configured to improve, at least in part, transmission of a signal from the signal-transmitting device, positioned in an interior of the elongated medical tubular assembly, toward the signal-transceiving device of the medical-imaging system.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the distal tip is configured to be received, at least in part, in the patient.

4 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein:

the elongated medical tubular assembly defines a lumen extending from the distal tip toward a proximal end of the elongated medical tubular assembly; and

the lumen is configured to receive, at least in part, the signal-transmitting device in such a way that the lumen, in use, receives, at least in part, the signal-transmitting device at the signal-liberating feature.

5 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the elongated medical tubular assembly includes a distal electrode configured to provide information to the medical-imaging system.

6 . The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising:

a distal device being positioned proximate to the distal tip of the elongated medical tubular assembly; and

the distal device being configured to provide information to the medical-imaging system.

7 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the signal-transmitting device is installed to an elongated medical needle.

8 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the signal-transmitting device includes an energy emitter configured to selectively emit energy.

9 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the signal-transmitting device includes an energy emitter configured to selectively emit energy used for forming a puncture through, or cutting a portion of, a biological feature of the patient.

10 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the elongated medical tubular assembly is an elongated medical needle with the signal-transmitting device mounted thereto.

11 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the elongated medical tubular assembly includes a medical catheter assembly, a medical dilator assembly, or a medical sheath assembly.

12 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein:

the spaced-apart perforations extend from the interior of the elongated medical tubular assembly to an exterior of the elongated medical tubular assembly; and

wherein the spaced-apart perforations are configured to provide fluid communication between the interior of the elongated medical tubular assembly and the exterior of the elongated medical tubular assembly.

13 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the signal-liberating feature further includes a side wall body member configured to permit transmission of signal communication from the signal-transmitting device to the medical-imaging system.

14 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the signal-liberating feature further includes a signal-enhancing material surrounded by signal-blocking material of the elongated medical tubular assembly.

15 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the signal-liberating feature further includes a signal-enhancing material.

16 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the spaced-apart perforations include spaced-apart rectangular slits aligned along a longitudinal axis of the elongated medical tubular assembly and positioned equidistant from an exit portal of the elongated medical tubular assembly.

17 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the spaced-apart perforations include spaced-apart rectangular or diamond-shaped slits aligned along a radial axis of the elongated medical tubular assembly.

18 . A method for enhancing transmission of a signal from a signal-transmitting device toward a signal-transceiving device of a medical-imaging system while the signal-transmitting device is positioned in a patient, the method comprising:

receiving, at least in part, a distal tip of an elongated medical tubular assembly into the patient, in which the distal tip comprises a signal-liberating feature that includes spaced-apart perforations, and in which the elongated medical tubular assembly defines a lumen extending from the distal tip toward a proximal end of the elongated medical tubular assembly, and in which the lumen is configured to receive, at least in part, the signal-transmitting device in such a way that the lumen, in use, receives, at least in part, the signal-transmitting device at the spaced-apart perforations defined by the distal tip; and

using, at least in part, the spaced-apart perforations to improve, at least in part, transmission of the signal from the signal-transmitting device, positioned in the lumen, toward the signal-transceiving device of the medical-imaging system.