IP Library › Patent Application 12232842
Patent Application
App. No. 12/232,842

Atraumatic ball tip and side wall opening

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
12/232,842
Abstract

A delivery catheter with a plug ejection mechanism with a fluid filled actuator incorporated in the catheter handle is disclosed. After delivery of RF energy, the plug is deployed within the region of the lesion by activating the plug ejection mechanism. A delivery catheter used for female sterilization with an atraumatic ball tip and an opening in the side wall of the catheter body is disclosed. The delivery catheter includes a hinge that will yield or bend under a certain load to prevent injury to the uterine wall or fallopian tube. The side wall opening is angled to allow proper placement of a plug into the fallopian tube for occlusion of the fallopian tube.

Claims (13)

1 . A catheter for insertion in a fallopian tube comprising:

an elongated catheter body having a distal end and a proximal end;

a handle located at the proximal end of the catheter body;

a ball tip located at the distal end of the catheter body;

a hinge located along the catheter body adjacent to the ball tip and configured to yield under high load; and

an opening located along the catheter body proximal to the hinge.

2 . The catheter of claim 1 wherein the opening is a slit.

3 . The catheter of claim 1 wherein the opening is an M-cut flap.

4 . The catheter of claim 1 wherein the catheter body is a thermoplastic elastomer.

5 . The catheter of claim 1 wherein the hinge has a softer durometer than that of the ball tip.

6 . The catheter of claim 1 wherein the hinge comprises a groove.

7 . The catheter of claim 1 wherein the ball tip has a diameter in the range of about 0.02 inches to about 0.05 inches.

8 . The catheter of claim 1 wherein the ball tip has a diameter in the range of about 0.03 inches to about 0.04 inches.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2026
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: HOLOGIC, INC., ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND AS SUCCESSOR-BY-MERGER TO DIRECT RADIOGRAPHY CORP.; CYTYC CORPORATION, ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND AS SUCCESSOR-BY-MERGER TO BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LLC, AS SUCCESSOR-BY-CONVERSION TO CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED, ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND AS SUCCESSOR-BY-MERGER TO THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GEN-PROBE PRODESSE, INC.; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 075566/0039 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT PATENT NO. 8081301 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 028810 FRAME: 0745. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Nov 9, 2017
From: HOLOGIC, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
Reel/Frame 044432/0565 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT PATENT NO. 8081301 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 035820 FRAME: 0239. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST RELEASE. Recorded Nov 9, 2017
From: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: HOLOGIC, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 044727/0529 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 7, 2015
From: HOLOGIC, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; DIRECT RADIOGRAPHY CORP.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED; GEN-PROBE PRODESSE, INC.; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 036307/0199 →
SECURITY INTEREST RELEASE REEL/FRAME 028810/0745 Recorded Jun 4, 2015
From: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: HOLOGIC, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 035820/0239 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 1, 2012
From: HOLOGIC, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
Reel/Frame 028810/0745 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 25, 2008
From: VIRAY, VICTOR E.; CALLAGHAN, DAVID
To: CYTYC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021657/0718 →