US 12,234,858 B2
Flexible catheter with a drive shaft
Mario Scheckel, Aachen (DE); and Joerg Schumacher, Aachen (DE)
Assigned to ECP Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH, Aachen (DE)
Filed by ECP ENTWICKLUNGSGESELLSCHAFT MBH, Aachen (DE)
Filed on Jan. 19, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/579,162.
Application 17/579,162 is a continuation of application No. 16/600,807, filed on Oct. 14, 2019, granted, now 11,260,215.
Application 16/600,807 is a continuation of application No. 15/033,443, granted, now 10,478,538, issued on Nov. 19, 2019, previously published as PCT/EP2014/073504, filed on Oct. 31, 2014.
Claims priority of application No. 13191307 (EP), filed on Nov. 1, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2022/0211996 A1, Jul. 7, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61M 60/857 (2021.01); A61L 29/02 (2006.01); A61M 60/13 (2021.01); A61M 60/237 (2021.01); A61M 60/422 (2021.01); A61M 60/824 (2021.01); F16C 1/06 (2006.01); F16C 1/28 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/3207 (2006.01); A61M 60/148 (2021.01); A61M 60/414 (2021.01); A61M 60/829 (2021.01)
CPC F16C 1/06 (2013.01) [A61L 29/02 (2013.01); A61M 60/13 (2021.01); A61M 60/237 (2021.01); A61M 60/422 (2021.01); A61M 60/824 (2021.01); A61M 60/857 (2021.01); F16C 1/28 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00477 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00831 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00836 (2013.01); A61B 17/320758 (2013.01); A61M 60/148 (2021.01); A61M 60/414 (2021.01); A61M 60/829 (2021.01); A61M 2205/0216 (2013.01); F16C 2316/10 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A flexible catheter comprising:
a drive shaft;
a sleeve surrounding the drive shaft; and
a sheath surrounding the drive shaft and the sleeve, wherein the drive shaft, the sleeve and the sheath are pliable, wherein the drive shaft at a proximal end of the drive shaft comprises a coupler configured to connect the drive shaft to a drive motor;
a pump rotor coupled to the drive shaft and configured to produce a flow when the pump rotor is rotated in a given direction; and
a thrust bearing configured to counteract an axial displacement of the drive shaft resulting from the pump rotor being rotated in the given direction, the thrust bearing comprising at least a first bearing element and a second bearing element, the first bearing element connected to the drive shaft.