IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,364,840
Granted Patent B2
US 12,364,840 · App. 18/137,074 · Granted Jul 22, 2025

Mechanical interlock for catheters

Inventors: Randolf von Oepen (Aptos, CA); Sean A. McNiven (Menlo Park, CA); Francisco Valencia (East Palo Alto, CA)
Assignee: Cephea Valve Technologies, Inc.
A61M25/0051A61B17/00234A61F2/2427A61M25/0102A61M25/0136A61M25/0138A61M25/0141A61M25/0147A61B2017/00243A61B2017/00309A61B2017/00323A61B2017/00477A61B2017/00526A61B2017/00783A61B2017/00991A61M2025/0004A61M2025/0006A61M25/0045A61M25/005A61M2025/0063A61M2025/0161A61M2025/0175A61M25/0662A61M2025/0681
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,364,840
App. No.
18/137,074
Granted
Jul 22, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An intravascular device delivery system has an elongated member with a flexible hypotube. The hypotube can be rotationally keyed to a steerable catheter. The flexible hypotube includes one or more cuts to allow bending of the flexible hypotube within a first plane. The steerable catheter is steerable to bend the flexible hypotube within the first plane, and longitudinally movable relative to the flexible hypotube to allow distal movement of the steerable catheter relative to a distal end of the flexible hypotube.

Claims (32)

1. A method for positioning an end of an intravascular device delivery system, the method comprising:

steering a steerable catheter in a first plane, the steerable catheter being positioned radially inside a flexible hypotube;

bending the flexible hypotube in the first plane to create a first bend in the flexible hypotube;

advancing the steerable catheter distally relative to the flexible hypotube and distal of a distal end of the flexible hypotube;

steering the steerable catheter in a second plane;

positioning a distal end of the steerable catheter at a target location; and

varying a position of a stiffening member disposed within a lumen associated with the steering catheter to adjust a stiffness of the steering catheter.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first plane and second plane are non-coplanar.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein bending the flexible hypotube includes preferentially bending the flexible hypotube in a direction within the first plane.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein preferentially bending the flexible hypotube in a direction includes expanding one or more slit cuts in a bend region of the flexible hypotube.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein advancing the steerable catheter further comprises moving a first tab of the steerable catheter within a first slot of the flexible hypotube.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the steering catheter comprises at least one island cut and at least one slit cut for a flexibility pattern, wherein varying the position of the stiffening member comprises slidably disposing the stiffening member within the lumen between a first position at least partially overlapping the flexibility pattern and a second position spaced from the flexibility pattern.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning the distal end of the steerable catheter at the target location further comprises positioning an intravascular device positioned at the distal end within a heart of a patient.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the intravascular device is a filter, a scaffold, a stent, a body tissue repair device, or an implantable heart valve.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein advancing the steerable catheter further comprises moving a first key member associated with one of the steerable catheter or the flexible hypotube within a first slot of the other of the steerable catheter or the flexible hypotube.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first slot has a first slot length in a range of 2.0 centimeters and 7.0 centimeters.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprises moving a second key member associated with one of the steerable catheter and the flexible hypotube within a second slot of an other of the steerable catheter or the flexible hypotube, the first slot and the second slot having equivalent lengths.

12. A method for positioning an end of an intravascular device delivery system, the method comprising:

steering a steerable catheter in a first plane, the steerable catheter being positioned radially inside a flexible hypotube, the steering catheter comprises at least one island cut and at least one slit cut for a flexibility pattern;

bending the flexible hypotube in the first plane to create a first bend in the flexible hypotube;

advancing the steerable catheter distally relative to the flexible hypotube and distal of a distal end of the flexible hypotube;

steering the steerable catheter in a second plane;

positioning a distal end of the steerable catheter at a target location; and

slidably disposing a stiffening member within a lumen associated with the steering catheter between a first position at least partially overlapping the flexibility pattern and a second position spaced from the flexibility pattern.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first plane and second plane are non-coplanar.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein bending the flexible hypotube includes preferentially bending the flexible hypotube in a direction within the first plane.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein advancing the steerable catheter further comprises moving a first tab of the steerable catheter within a first slot of the flexible hypotube.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein advancing the steerable catheter further comprises moving a first key member associated with one of the steerable catheter or the flexible hypotube within a first slot of the other of the steerable catheter or the flexible hypotube.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first slot has a first slot length in a range of 2.0 centimeters and 7.0 centimeters.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprises moving a second key member associated with one of the steerable catheter and the flexible hypotube within a second slot of an other of the steerable catheter or the flexible hypotube, the first slot and the second slot having equivalent lengths.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein positioning the distal end of the steerable catheter at the target location further comprises positioning an intravascular device positioned at the distal end within a heart of a patient.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the intravascular device is a filter, a scaffold, a stent, a body tissue repair device, or an implantable heart valve.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 20, 2023
From: VON OEPEN, RANDOLF; MCNIVEN, SEAN A.; VALENCIA, FRANCISCO
To: CEPHEA VALVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC
Reel/Frame 063397/0913 →
Continuity (7)
Division 16842229 · Apr 7, 2020
Division 15662076 · Jul 27, 2017
Provisional Application 62462776 · Feb 23, 2017
Provisional Application 62436887 · Dec 20, 2016
Provisional Application 62380246 · Aug 26, 2016
Provisional Application 62368711 · Jul 29, 2016
Related Publication 20230248941A1 · Aug 10, 2023
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