Medical devices with a slotted tubular member having improved stress distribution

Abstract

Medical devices and methods for making and using the same. A medical device may include an elongate tubular member. The tubular member may include a first circumferential tube segment, a second circumferential tube segment disposed next to the first circumferential tube segment, and a third circumferential tube segment disposed next to the second circumferential tube segment. The first tube segment and the second tube segment may be separated by a first set of slots formed in the tubular member. The second tube segment and the third tube segment may be separated by a second set of slots formed in the tubular member. The second tube segment may be connected to the first tube segment with a proximally-extending beam formed in the tubular member. The second tube segment may also be connected to the third tube segment with a distally-extending beam formed in the tubular member. A ring may be defined in the second tube segment between the proximally-extending beam and the distally-extending beam. The ring may have a first portion with a first width and a second portion with a second width different from the first width.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medical device comprising:
 an elongated tubular member extending from a proximal end to a distal end; and   a first group of two or more opposed slots formed in the tubular member at a first longitudinal position separated from a second group of two or more opposed slots formed in the tubular member at a second longitudinal position, wherein the first group of two or more opposed slots is radially offset from the second group of two or more slots,   wherein each of the slots includes a first rounded region having a first width, a second rounded region having a second width the same as the first width, and a middle region between the first rounded region and the second rounded region having a third width smaller than the first width.   
     
     
         2 . The medical device of  claim 1 , the tubular member further comprising a ring defined between the first and second group of two or more opposed slots. 
     
     
         3 . The medical device of  claim 2 , the ring having a varying width. 
     
     
         4 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the first rounded region of at least one slot of the first group of slots is longitudinally aligned with the second rounded region of at least one slot of the second slots defining a ring disposed between the at least one slot of the first group of slots and the at least one slot of the second group of slots, the ring having a varying width. 
     
     
         5 . The medical device of  claim 1 , further comprising a first longitudinally extending beam defined between at least a first slot and a second slot of the first group of slots and a second longitudinally extending beam defined between at least a first slot and a second slot of the second group of slots. 
     
     
         6 . The medical device of  claim 5 , each beam has a longitudinal axis extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongate tubular member, each beam axis extending through at least one slot, and wherein each beam has a varying height along its longitudinal axis from a first end to a second of the beam. 
     
     
         7 . The medical device of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second longitudinally extending beams are radially offset from one another. 
     
     
         8 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the medical device is a guidewire. 
     
     
         9 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the medical device is a catheter. 
     
     
         10 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate tubular member comprises a nickel-titanium alloy. 
     
     
         11 . The medical device of  claim 1 , further comprising a third group of two or more opposed slots formed in the tubular member at a third longitudinal position separated from the second group of two or more opposed slots formed in the tubular member at the second longitudinal position, wherein the third group of two or more opposed slots is radially aligned with the first group of two or more slots and radially offset from the second group of two or more slots, wherein each of the slots includes a first rounded region having a first width, a second rounded region having a second width the same as the first width, and a middle region between the first rounded region and the second rounded region having a third width smaller than the first width. 
     
     
         12 . A medical device comprising:
 an elongate tubular member extending from a proximal end to a distal end; and   a first group of alternating slots and beams formed in the tubular member radially spaced apart about an outer circumference of the tubular member and longitudinally offset from a second group of alternating slots and beams formed in the tubular member,   wherein each of the slots includes a first rounded region having a first width, a second rounded region having a second width the same as the first width, and a middle region between the first rounded region and the second rounded region having a third width smaller than the first width.   
     
     
         13 . The medical device of  claim 12 , wherein the first rounded region of at least one slot of the first group of alternating slots and beams is longitudinally aligned with the second rounded region of at least one slot of the second group of alternating slots and beams defining a ring disposed between the at least one slot of the first group of slots and the at least one slot of the second group of slots, the ring having a varying width. 
     
     
         14 . The medical device of  claim 13 , wherein the ring comprises an hourglass shape. 
     
     
         15 . The medical device of  claim 12 , further at least one ring disposed between a first slot of the first group of alternating slots and beams from a second slot of the second group if alternating slots and beams. 
     
     
         16 . The medical device of  claim 12 , wherein the medical device is a guidewire. 
     
     
         17 . The medical device of  claim 12 , wherein the medical device is a catheter. 
     
     
         18 . The medical device of  claim 12 , wherein the elongate tubular member comprises a nickel-titanium alloy. 
     
     
         19 . The medical device of  claim 12 , each beam has a longitudinal axis extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongate tubular member, each beam axis extending through at least one slot, and wherein each beam has a varying height along its longitudinal axis from a first end to a second of the beam. 
     
     
         20 . A method of manufacturing a medical device comprising:
 providing an elongate tubular member; and   laser cutting the elongate tubular member to form a first group of two or more opposed slots formed in the tubular member at a first longitudinal position and a second group of two or more opposed slots formed in the tubular member at a second longitudinal position such the first group of two or more opposed slots is radially offset from the second group of two or more slots, and wherein each of the slots includes a first rounded region having a first width, a second rounded region having a second width the same as the first width, and a middle region between the first rounded region and the second rounded region having a third width smaller than the first width.