US 12,138,409 B2
Spring-tensioned articulable catheter
Hassan Mohammed A. Al Bisher, Dammam (SA)
Assigned to Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam (SA)
Filed by Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam (SA)
Filed on Dec. 29, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/399,859.
Application 18/399,859 is a continuation of application No. 18/450,806, filed on Aug. 16, 2023, granted, now 11,878,096.
Application 18/450,806 is a continuation of application No. 17/466,539, filed on Sep. 3, 2021, granted, now 11,779,736, issued on Oct. 10, 2023.
Application 17/466,539 is a continuation of application No. 16/661,430, filed on Oct. 23, 2019, granted, now 11,160,959, issued on Nov. 2, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0131307 A1, Apr. 25, 2024
Int. Cl. A61M 27/00 (2006.01); A61M 25/00 (2006.01); A61M 25/01 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 27/00 (2013.01) [A61M 25/0054 (2013.01); A61M 25/0147 (2013.01); A61M 2025/0161 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A spring tensioned articulable catheter, comprising:
a head including:
a head orifice, and
a head channel connected to the head orifice;
a primary lumen wall that defines an internal primary lumen volume;
an adjustable neck that connects the head channel to the internal primary lumen volume, the adjustable neck including:
an anterior neck ring affixed to the head,
a posterior neck ring affixed to the primary lumen wall, and
a helical spring tensioner that generates a bias force between the anterior neck ring and the posterior neck ring, wherein the helical spring tensioner has a tensioner elongation length of 1-10 mm and a tensioner diameter of from 1 to 10 mm;
a neck tube extending from the anterior neck ring to the posterior neck ring and having a plurality of circumferential bulges, wherein the helical spring tensioner is a disposed inside the neck tube; and
a secondary lumen including:
an internal portion that is enclosed along the primary lumen wall, and
an external portion that protrudes from the primary lumen wall,
a filament that runs through the internal portion and the external portion, the filament including:
an anterior filament end affixed to the anterior neck ring, and
a posterior filament end that exits from the external portion, and
an adjuster that pulls and releases the posterior filament end to provide a decrease and an increase, respectively, of an inter-neck ring distance between the anterior neck ring and the posterior neck ring,
wherein the increase of the inter-neck ring distance decreases the bias force and provides an angular orientation increase of the catheter while the decrease of the inter-neck ring distance increases the bias force and provides an angular orientation decrease of the catheter, and
wherein the posterior neck ring further includes a secondary lumen stop to block the internal portion and to let the filament freely pass through the posterior neck ring.