Progressive Flexibility Catheter Support Frame

Abstract

Cut-pattern designs creating a frame structure from a solid tube, which may be used as a portion of medical device, such as a catheter. The tube includes a plurality of units of cutout segments which are distributed in band around a circumference of the tube. A tube can have multiple different zones, each having units with varying cutout segments. The cutout segments can have varying cutout surface area allowing the flexibility of the tube to be modified at any point along the tube by altering the cutout surface area with zones having greater cutout surface areas as compared to another zone are more flexible. The tube can be incorporated into a catheter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tube, comprising, at least one zone along a portion of the length of the tube, the zone comprising a plurality of units, wherein the units of the zone are distributed circumferentially around the tube in at least one first band, each unit of the zone comprises at least one cutout segment that is oriented around a center of symmetry, wherein the center of symmetry of each unit in the band is positioned equally from the center of symmetry of an adjacent unit in the same band and the center of symmetry of each unit is positioned at the same point on the circumference of the tube as the center of symmetry of a second unit in a third band which is separated by one band from the first band. 
     
     
         2 . The tube of  claim 1 , wherein there are 2-100 zones in the tube. 
     
     
         3 . The tube of  claim 2 , wherein there are 2-1000 bands in each zone. 
     
     
         4 . The tube of  claim 1 , wherein each unit comprises three cutout segments extending radially from a center of symmetry of the unit, wherein each cutout segment of the unit is positioned 120° degrees from the other cutout segments in the unit in the band. 
     
     
         5 . The tube of  claim 4 , further comprising seven zones, a first zone, a second zone, a third zone, a fourth zone, a fifth zone, a sixth zone and a seventh zone, each zone is formed from a plurality of units, wherein rank order of cutout surface area and cut-pattern perimeter length is: unit of the first zone<unit of the second zone<unit of the third zone<unit of the fourth zone<unit of the fifth zone<unit of the sixth zone<unit of the seventh zone. 
     
     
         6 . The tube of  claim 5 , wherein the zones are arranged in sequence as first zone, second zone, third zone, fourth zone, fifth zone, sixth zone and seventh zone. 
     
     
         7 . The tube of  claim 1 , wherein the cutout segments are in the shape of a hexagon. 
     
     
         8 . The tube of  claim 7 , further comprising seven zones, a first zone, a second zone, a third zone, a fourth zone, a fifth zone, a sixth zone and a seventh zone, each zone is formed from a plurality of units, wherein rank order of cutout surface area and cut-pattern perimeter length is: unit of the first zone<unit of the second zone<unit of the third zone<unit of the fourth zone<unit of the fifth zone<unit of the sixth zone<unit of the seventh zone. 
     
     
         9 . The tube of  claim 1 , wherein the tube is made from a metallic material. 
     
     
         10 . The tube of  claim 9 , wherein the tube is nitinol. 
     
     
         11 . The tube of  claim 9 , wherein the tube is stainless steel. 
     
     
         12 . The tube of  claim 1  or  4 , further comprising a section wherein the tube has a spiral cut section along a portion of the length of the tube and the spiral cut section is contiguous with the zone of the tube. 
     
     
         13 . The tube of  claim 12 , wherein the spiral cut section is an interrupted spiral cut. 
     
     
         14 . The tube of  claim 1 , wherein the cutout segment is a circle. 
     
     
         15 . A guide catheter catheter extension comprising:
 a tube comprising at least one zone along a portion of the length of the tube, the zone comprising a plurality of units, wherein the units of the zone are distributed circumferentially around the tube in at least one first band, each unit of the zone comprises at least one cutout segment that is oriented around a center of symmetry, wherein the center of symmetry of each unit in the band is positioned equally from the center of symmetry of an adjacent unit in the same band and the center of symmetry of each unit is positioned at the same point on the circumference of the tube as the center of symmetry of a second unit in a third band which is separated by one band from the first band;   a skived collar transition section disposed adjacent the tube, the transition section having a tapered edge, a short end and a long end; and   a push rod attached at the long end of the transition section.   
     
     
         16 . The guide catheter extension of  claim 15 , wherein each unit comprises three cutout segments extending radially from a center of symmetry of the unit, wherein each cutout segment of the unit is positioned 120° degrees from the other cutout segments in the unit in the band. 
     
     
         17 . The guide catheter extension of  claim 16 , further comprising seven zones, a first zone, a second zone, a third zone, a fourth zone, a fifth zone, a sixth zone and a seventh zone, each zone having is formed from a plurality of units, wherein rank order of cutout surface area and cut-pattern perimeter length is: unit of the first zone<unit of the second zone<unit of the third zone<unit of the fourth zone<unit of the fifth zone<unit of the sixth zone<unit of the seventh zone. 
     
     
         18 . The guide catheter extension of  claim 17 , wherein the zones are arranged in sequence as first zone, second zone, third zone, fourth zone, fifth zone, sixth zone and seventh zone. 
     
     
         19 . The guide catheter extension of  claim 15 , wherein the cutout segments are in the shape of a hexagon. 
     
     
         20 . A guide catheter extension comprising:
 a tube comprising at least one zone along a portion of the length of the tube, the zone comprising a plurality of units, wherein the units of the zone are distributed circumferentially around the tube in at least one first band, each unit of the zone comprises at least one cutout segment that is oriented around a center of symmetry, wherein the center of symmetry of each unit in the band is positioned equally from the center of symmetry of an adjacent unit in the same band and the center of symmetry of each unit is positioned at the same point on the circumference of the tube as the center of symmetry of a second unit in a third band which is separated by one band from the first band;   
       a flare, that is substantially perpendicular to the long axis of the tube, where the flare and a bib have a greater diameter than the outer diameter of the tube; and,
 a push rod attached at the long end of the transition section. 
 
     
     
         21 . The guide catheter extension of  claim 15  or  20 , wherein the diameter of the tube tapers from a proximal end to a distal end. 
     
     
         22 . The guide catheter extension of  claim 20 , further comprising a section wherein the tube has a spiral cut section along a portion of the length of the tube and the spiral cut section is contiguous with the zone of the tube. 
     
     
         23 . The guide catheter extension of  claim 22 , wherein the spiral cut section is an interrupted spiral cut.