US 11,672,950 B2
Flexible catheters and related methods
Young M. Kang, Pleasanton, CA (US); John P. Lunsford, San Carlos, CA (US); Robert S. Bley, Menlo Park, CA (US); MingYao Ding, Berkeley, CA (US); and Sammy S. Datwani, Pleasanton, CA (US)
Assigned to FOLDÉ INC., Pleasanton, CA (US)
Filed by FOLDÉ INC., Pleasanton, CA (US)
Filed on Jun. 17, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/843,737.
Application 17/843,737 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2022/030962, filed on May 25, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/193,228, filed on May 26, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0379080 A1, Dec. 1, 2022
Int. Cl. A61M 25/00 (2006.01); A61M 25/10 (2013.01)
CPC A61M 25/0054 (2013.01) [A61M 25/0009 (2013.01); A61M 25/0053 (2013.01); A61M 25/0068 (2013.01); A61M 25/10 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A catheter comprising:
an elongate body having a proximal segment and a distal segment;
a first lumen defined by the elongate body; and
at least one anterior flexibility region on or in the distal segment of the elongate body, wherein the at least one anterior flexibility region:
extends from an anterior external surface of the elongate body into the first lumen,
extends from the anterior external surface at least partially circumferentially along an exterior sidewall of the elongate body without penetrating the first lumen along the exterior sidewall,
has a cut depth percentage of about 40% to about 50% of an outer diameter of the elongate body, and
has a percent volume of material removed of about 20% to about 40%.