Cross-Reference to Related Applications

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 1 19 to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 61/776,637, filed March 1 1, 2013, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

The present disclosure pertains to medical devices, and methods for manufacturing medical devices. More particularly, the present disclosure pertains to elongated medical devices for modulating nerves.

Background

A wide variety of intracorporeal medical devices have been developed for medical use, for example, intravascular use. Some of these devices include guidewires, catheters, and the like. These devices are manufactured by any one of a variety of different manufacturing methods and may be used according to any one of a variety of methods. Of the known medical devices and methods, each has certain advantages and disadvantages. There is an ongoing need to provide alternative medical devices as well as alternative methods for manufacturing and using medical devices.

Brief Summary

This disclosure provides design, material, manufacturing method, and use alternatives for medical devices. An example medical device may include a medical device for modulating nerves. The medical device may include an elongated shaft having a distal region. A balloon may be coupled to the distal region. An electrode may be disposed within the balloon. A virtual electrode may be defined on the balloon. The virtual electrode may include a conductive region having an edge and a peripheral region disposed at least partially along the edge of the conductive region. The peripheral region may be configured to dissipate forces, electrical current, or both accumulating along the edge of the conductive region.

An example method for manufacturing a medical device may include providing an expandable balloon, disposing a first mask member on the balloon, disposing a second mask member on the balloon adjacent to the first mask member, coating the balloon with a non-conductive material, and removing the first mask and the second mask from the balloon to define a virtual electrode.

Another example method for manufacturing a medical device may include providing an expandable balloon, disposing a first mask member on the balloon, disposing a second mask member on the balloon adjacent to the first mask member, coating the balloon with a non-conductive material, removing the first mask member from the balloon, recoating the balloon, and removing the second mask from the balloon to define a virtual electrode. The virtual electrode may be defined along a first portion of the balloon corresponding to where the first mask was disposed and wherein a stepped edge region is defined along a second portion of the balloon corresponding to where the second mask was disposed- The method may also include providing a catheter shaft having an electrode coupled thereto and attaching the balloon the catheter shaft. The balloon may be disposed about the electrode.

Another example method for manufacturing a medical device may include providing an expandable balloon and disposing a first mask member on the balloon. The first mask member may project radially from an outer surface of the balloon. The method may also include disposing a second mask member on the balloon adjacent to the first mask member. At least a region of the second mask member may be free from contact with the outer surface of the balloon. The method may also include coating the balloon with a non-conductive material, removing the first mask member from the balloon, recoating the balloon, and removing the second mask from the balloon to define a virtual electrode. The virtual electrode may be defined along a first portion of the balloon corresponding to where the first mask was disposed and wherein a feathered, or tapered insulation coating thickness, edge region is defined along a second portion of the balloon corresponding to where the second mask was disposed. The method may also include providing a catheter shaft having an electrode coupled thereto and attaching the balloon the catheter shaft. The balloon may be disposed about the electrode.

An example balloon catheter for modulating renal nerves may include an elongate catheter shaft having a distal region. A balloon may be coupled to the distal region. The balloon may include an inner conductive layer, an outer insulating layer, and an intermediate layer disposed between the inner conductive layer and the outer insulating layer. An electrode may be coupled to the catheter shaft and may be disposed within the balloon. A virtual electrode may be defined on the balloon. The virtual electrode may include a conductive region and an edge region disposed at least partially along the conductive region. The conductive region may include the inner conductive layer. In addition, the conductive region may be free of the intermediate layer and may be free of the outer insulating layer. The edge region may include the inner conductive layer and the intermediate layer. In addition, the edge region may include the intermediate layer and may be free of the outer insulating layer.

The above summary of some embodiments is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment or every implementation of the present disclosure. The Figures, and Detailed Description, which follow, more particularly exemplify these embodiments.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The disclosure may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view illustrating a renal nerve modulation system in situ;

Figure 2 is a side view of a portion of an example medical device;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken through line 3— 3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through line 4— 4 in Figure 2;

Figures 5-1 1 illustrate some portions of an example method for manufacturing a medical device;

Figure 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of an example medical device;

Figures 13-14 illustrate some portions of another example method for manufacturing a medical device; and

Figures 15-17 illustrate some portions of another example method for manufacturing a medical device.

While the disclosure is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Detailed Description

For the following defined terms, these definitions shall be applied, unless a different definition is given in the claims or elsewhere in this specification.

All numeric values are herein assumed to be modified by the term "about," whether or not explicitly indicated. The term "about" generally refers to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited value (i.e., having the same function or result). In many instances, the terms "about" may include numbers that are rounded to the nearest significant figure.

The recitation of numerical ranges by endpoints includes all numbers within that range (e.g. 1 to 5 includes 1, 1.5, 2, 2.75, 3, 3.80, 4, and 5).

As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the term "or" is generally employed in its sense including "and/or" unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

It is noted that references in the specification to "an embodiment", "some embodiments", "other embodiments", etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include one or more particular features, structures, and/or characteristics. However, such recitations do not necessarily mean that all embodiments include the particular features, structures, and/or characteristics. Additionally, when particular features, structures, and/or characteristics are described in connection with one embodiment, it should be understood that such features, structures, and/or characteristics may also be used connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described unless clearly stated to the contrary.

The following detailed description should be read with reference to the drawings in which similar elements in different drawings are numbered the same. The drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, depict illustrative embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Certain treatments require the temporary or permanent interruption or modification of select nerve function. One example treatment is renal nerve ablation, which is sometimes used to treat conditions related to hypertension and/or congestive heart failure. The kidneys produce a sympathetic response to congestive heart failure, which, among other effects, increases the undesired retention of water and/or sodium. Ablating some of the nerves running to the kidneys may reduce or eliminate this sympathetic function, which may provide a corresponding reduction in the associated undesired symptoms.

While the devices and methods described herein are discussed relative to renal nerve modulation, it is contemplated that the devices and methods may be used in other treatment locations and/or applications where nerve modulation and/or other tissue modulation including heating, activation, blocking, disrupting, or ablation are desired, such as, but not limited to: blood vessels, urinary vessels, or in other tissues via trocar and cannula access. For example, the devices and methods described herein can be applied to hyperplastic tissue ablation, cardiac ablation, pulmonary vein isolation, tumor ablation, benign prostatic hyperplasia therapy, nerve excitation or blocking or ablation, modulation of muscle activity, hyperthermia or other warming of tissues, etc. In some instances, it may be desirable to ablate perivascular renal nerves with ultrasound ablation.

Figure 1 is a schematic view of an illustrative renal nerve modulation system in situ. System 10 may include one or more conductive element(s) 16 for providing power to a renal ablation system including a renal nerve modulation device 12 and, optionally, within delivery sheath or guide catheter 14. A proximal end of conductive element(s) 16 may be connected to a control and power unit 18, which may supply the appropriate electrical energy to activate one or more electrodes disposed at or near a distal end of the renal nerve modulation device 12. In addition, control and power unit 18 may also be utilized to supply/receive the appropriate electrical energy and/or signal to activate one or more sensors disposed at or near a distal end of the renal nerve modulation device 12. When suitably activated, the electrodes are capable of ablating tissue as described below and the sensors may be used to sense desired physical and/or biological parameters. The terms electrode and electrodes may be considered to be equivalent to elements capable of ablating adjacent tissue in the disclosure which follows. In some instances, return electrode patches 20 may be supplied on the legs or at another conventional location on the patient's body to complete the circuit. A proximal hub (not illustrated) having ports for a guidewire, an inflation lumen and a return lumen may also be included.

The control and power unit 18 may include monitoring elements to monitor parameters such as power, voltage, pulse size, temperature, force, contact, pressure, impedance and/or shape and other suitable parameters, with sensors mounted along renal nerve modulation device 12, as well as suitable controls for performing the desired procedure. In some embodiments, the power unit 18 may control a radiofrequency (RF) electrode and, in turn, may "power" other electrodes including so-called "virtual electrodes" described herein. The electrode may be configured to operate at a suitable frequency and generate a suitable signal. It is further contemplated that other ablation devices may be used as desired, for example, but not limited to resistance heating, ultrasound, microwave, and laser devices and these devices may require that power be supplied by the power unit 18 in a different form.

Figure 2 illustrates a distal portion of a renal nerve modulation device 12. Here it can be seen that renal nerve modulation device 12 may include an elongate member or catheter shaft 34, an expandable member or balloon 22 coupled to shaft 34, and an electrode 24 disposed within balloon 22. Additional electrodes 24 may also be utilized. When in use, balloon 22 may be filled with a conductive fluid such as saline to allow the ablation energy (e.g., radiofrequency energy) to be transmitted from electrode 24, through the conductive fluid, to one or more windows 28 disposed along balloon 22. While saline is one example conductive fluid, other conductive fluids may also be utilized including hypertonic solutions, contrast solution, mixtures of saline or hypertonic saline solutions with contrast solutions, and the like. The conductive fluid may be introduced through a fluid inlet 31 and evacuated through a fluid outlet 32. This may allow the fluid to be circulated within balloon 22. As described in more detail herein, windows 28 may be generally hydrophilic portions of balloon 22. Accordingly, windows 28 may absorb fluid (e.g., the conductive fluid) so that energy exposed to the conductive fluid can be conducted to windows 28 such that windows 28 to take the form of "virtual electrodes" capable of ablating tissue.

A cross-sectional view of shaft 34 of the renal nerve modulation device 12 proximal to balloon 22 is illustrated in Figure 3. Here it can be seen that shaft 34 may include a guidewire lumen 36, a lumen 38 connected to the fluid inlet 31, and a lumen 40 connected to the fluid outlet 32. Other configurations are contemplated. In some embodiments, guidewire lumen 36 and/or one of the fluid lumens 38/40 may be omitted. In some embodiments, guidewire lumen 36 may extend from the distal end of device 12 to a proximal hub. In other embodiments, the guidewire lumen can have a proximal opening that is distal the proximal portion of the system. In some embodiments, the fluid lumens 38/ 40 can be connected to a system to circulate the fluid through the balloon 22 or to a system that supplies new fluid and collects the evacuated fluid. It can be appreciated that embodiments may function with merely a single fluid lumen and a single fluid outlet into the balloon.

Electrode 24 (or a conductive element to supply power to electrode 24) may extend along the outer surface of shaft 34 or may be embedded within the shaft. Electrode 24 proximal to the balloon may be electrically insulated and may be used to transmit power to the portion of the electrode 24 disposed within balloon 22. Electrode 24 may be a flat ribbon electrode made from platinum, gold, stainless steel, cobalt alloys, or other non-oxidizing materials. In some instances, titanium, tantalum, or tungsten may be used. Electrode 24 may extend along substantially the whole length of the balloon 22 or may extend only as far as the distal edge of the most distal window 28. The electrode 24 may have a generally helical shape and may be wrapped around shaft 34. Alternatively, electrode 24 may have a linear or other suitable configuration. In some cases, electrode 24 may be bonded to shaft 34. The electrode 24 and windows 28 may be arranged so that the electrode extends directly under the windows 28. In some embodiments, electrode 24 may be a wire or may be a tubular member disposed around shaft 34. In some embodiments, a plurality of electrodes 24 may be used and each of the plurality may be fixed to the shaft 34 under windows 28 and may share a common connected to conductive element 16. In other embodiments that include more than one electrode, each electrode may be separately controllable. In such embodiments, balloon 22 may be partitioned into more than one chamber and each chamber may include one or more electrodes. The electrode 24 may be selected to provide a particular level of flexibility to the balloon to enhance the maneuverability of the system. It can be appreciated that there are many variations contemplated for electrode 24.

A cross-sectional view of the shaft 34 distal to fluid outlet 32 is illustrated in Figure 4. The guidewire lumen 36 and the fluid inlet lumen 40 are present, as well as electrode 24. In addition, balloon 22 is shown in cross-section as having a first layer 44 and a second layer 46. Window 28 is formed in balloon 22 by the absence of second layer 46. First layer 44 may include a hydrophilic, hydratable, RF permeable, and/or conductive material. One example material is a hydrophilic polyurethane (e.g., TECOPHILIC® TPUs such as TECOPHILIC® HP-60D-60 and mixtures thereof, commercially available from the Lubrizol Corporation in Wickliffe, Ohio). Other suitable materials include other hydrophilic polymers such as hydrophilic polyether block amide (e.g., PEBAX® MV1074 and MH1657, commercially available from Arkema headquartered in King of Prussia, PA), hydrophilic nylons, hydrophilic polyesters, block co-polymers with built-in hydrophilic blocks, polymers including ionic conductors, polymers including electrical conductors, metallic or nanoparticle filled polymers, and the like. Suitable hydrophilic polymers may exhibit between 20% to 120% hydrophilicity (or % water absorption). In at least some embodiments, first layer 44 may include a hydratable polymer that is blended with a non-hydratable polymer such as a non-hydratable polyether block amide (e.g., PEBAX® 7033 and 7233, commercially available from Arkema) and/or styrenic block copolymers such as styrene-isoprene-styrene. These are just examples.

The second layer 46 may include an electrically non-conductive polymer such as a non-hydrophilic polyurethane, homopolymeric and copolymeric polyurethanes (e.g., NeoRez R-967, commercially available from NeoResins, Inc. in Wilmington, MA; and/or TECOFLEX® SG-85A and/or TECOFLEX SG-60D, commercially available from Lubrizol Corp. in Wickliffe, Ohio), polyether block amide, nylon, polyester or block-copolymer. Other suitable materials include any of a range of electrically non-conductive polymers. These are just examples.

The materials of the first layer and the second layer may be selected to have good bonding characteristics between the two layers. For example, a balloon 22 may be formed from a first layer 44 made from a hydrophilic polyether block amide and a second layer 46 made from a regular or non-hydrophilic polyether block amide. In other embodiments, a suitable tie layer (not illustrated) may be provided between the two layers. These are just examples.

Prior to use, balloon 22 may be hydrated as part of the preparatory steps. Hydration may be effected by soaking the balloon in a saline solution. During ablation, a conductive fluid may be infused into balloon 22, for example via outlet 32. The conductive fluid may expand the balloon to the desired size. The balloon expansion may be monitored indirectly by monitoring the volume of conductive fluid introduced into the system or may be monitored through radiographic or other conventional means. Optionally, once the balloon is expanded to the desired size, fluid may be circulated within the balloon by continuing to introduced fluid through the fluid inlet 31 while withdrawing fluid from the balloon through the fluid outlet 32. The rate of circulation of the fluid may be between 2 and 20 ml/min, between 3 and 15 ml/min, between 5 and 10 ml/min or other desired rate of circulation. These are just examples. The circulation of the conductive fluid may mitigate the temperature rise of the tissue of the blood vessel in contact with the windows 28.

Electrode 24 may be activated by supplying energy to electrode 24. The energy may be supplied at 400-500 KHz at about 5-30 watts of power. These are just examples, other energies are contemplated. The energy may be transmitted through the medium of the conductive fluid and through windows 28 to the blood vessel wall to modulate or ablate the tissue. The second layer 46 of the balloon prevents the energy transmission through the balloon wall except at windows 28 (which lack second layer 46).

Electrode 24 may be activated for an effective length of time, such as 1 minute or 2 minutes. One the procedure is finished at a particular location, balloon 22 may be partially or wholly deflated and moved to a different location such as the other renal artery, and the procedure may be repeated at another location as desired using conventional delivery and repositioning techniques.

When expanding a multilayer balloon where a portion of one layer of the balloon is absent (e.g., defining a "window") may tend to concentrate stress and/or forces on the balloon adjacent to the window. This may include the concentration of forces along the edge or periphery of a balloon window. Repeated expansion of the balloon could lead to stress on the balloon and, potentially, balloon failure. In addition, current transmitted to a discrete balloon region such as a balloon window may also tend to accumulate along the edge of the window. This accumulation of current may lead to temperature increases along the window edge, which could also reduce the long-term resiliency of the balloon.

Disclosed herein are medical devices, balloons, and methods for making the same where one or more discrete balloon "conductive windows" or "virtual electrodes" are defined. The virtual electrodes are designed to dissipate or otherwise help to spread out forces that may tend to accumulate along the edge of the window. In addition, the virtual electrodes may also help to more evenly distribute or otherwise spread current so that current accumulation along the edge of the window can also be reduced. Some of these and other features are described in more detail herein.

In at least some embodiments, a "dual mask" manufacturing process may be utilized to manufacture a balloon 122 as shown schematically in Figures 5-1 1. In general, the process may result in balloon 122 having a tapered or stepped edge along the periphery of the balloon windows. The stepped edge may aid in distributing forces and/or current that may accumulate adjacent the window edge. In the schematic drawings, other portions of the catheter or medical device that includes balloon 122 may also be seen. The other portions of the devices may or may not be present during the manufacturing process. The intent of showing these structures in the drawings is to demonstrate that balloon 122 may be used with medical devices such as those disclosed herein. In addition, balloon 122 may be utilized in medical devices such as device 12 (and/or other devices disclosed herein). Accordingly, the structural features of balloon 122 may be incorporated into device 12 (and/or other devices disclosed herein).

Figure 5 is a side view of a portion of an example balloon 122. Balloon 122 may include a base or inner layer 144. In at least some embodiments, inner layer 144 may include a hydrophilic and/or conductive material such as those materials disclosed herein. A first mask member 148 may be disposed on inner layer 144. First mask member 148 may vary but in some embodiments may include a masking tape or other suitable masking material. A second mask member 150 may be disposed adjacent to first mask member 148 as shown in Figure 6. This may include disposing second mask member 150 over or on top of first mask member 148 (which is schematically illustrated by showing first mask member 148 in phantom line). Alternatively, first mask member 148 and second mask member 150 may be formed from single member that can be separated into multiple pieces. For example, first mask member 148 and second mask member 150 may be discrete portions of a single "mask" that are separated by a perforation or line of weakness (which may be schematically represented by the phantom line between mask members 148/150 in Figure 6). Such a configuration may allow mask members 148/150 to be applied collectively to balloon 122 in a single step and to be removed independently from one another by tearing or otherwise separating mask members 148/150 along the perforation.

With mask members 148/150 in place, a coating 146 may be applied onto balloon 122 (e.g., onto inner layer 144) as shown in Figure 7. In at least some embodiments, coating 146 may be applied by spray coating. Other methods may also be used including dip coating or the like. Coating 146 may include an electrically non-conductive and/or non-hydrophilic material such as those disclosed herein. After application of coating 146, mask member 150 may be removed, exposing a peripheral region 152 corresponding to area covered by second mask member 150 but not first mask member 148 as shown in Figure 8. Subsequently, one or more additional coating processes may be performed. For example, a second coating 154 may be applied onto balloon 122 (e.g., onto coating 146) as shown in Figure 9. Coating 154 may also include an electrically non-conductive and/or non-hydrophilic material such as those disclosed herein and may or may not be the same material as coating 146. After application of coating 154, first mask member 148 may be removed, exposing an electrode or conductive region 128 as shown in Figure 10.

The process described above may result in a "stepped edge" or "tapered edge" adjacent to conductive region 128. For example, the application of coating 154 may cover all of coating 146 and then extend onto peripheral region 152 as shown in Figure 1 1. Thus, a stepped edge to conductive region 128 may be formed at peripheral region 152 (e.g., by the presence of coating 154 along with the absence of coating 146). Because only coating 146 may be present on inner layer 144 along peripheral region 152, peripheral region 152 may have less resistance to expansion or stretching than other portions of balloon 122 including both coatings 146/154. In other words, the thickness of the outer insulating layer of balloon 122 (which may include both coatings 146/154) may vary or otherwise define a thickness gradient adjacent to the perimeter of conductive region 128. Because of this, peripheral region 152 may help to spread out forces that may be present along the edge of conductive region 128. Peripheral region 152 may also help to dissipate current present along the edge of conductive region 128.

Numerous variations are contemplated for the process described above. For example, the shape, position, and/or configuration of mask members 148/150 may vary. For example, one or both of mask members 148/150 may have a circular, oval, polygonal, irregular, or other shape. The thicknesses, material composition, and other features of coatings 146/154 may also vary. In some embodiments, additional mask members may be utilized to form one or more additional conductive regions 128. In addition, additional masks and/or coating steps may also be performed. For example, Figure 12 illustrates balloon 122' that may be formed using three masks and includes a third coating 156 that may cover all of coating 154 and may include a first peripheral portion 158a that extends onto and covers peripheral region 152 and then a second peripheral portion 158b that extends onto inner layer 144. This is just an example. Other variations are contemplated. In use, balloon 122 may be used in a manner similar to balloon 22. For example, balloon 122 may be attached to catheter shaft such as catheter shaft 34 and used for a suitable intervention such as an ablation procedure. During ablation, a conductive fluid may be infused into balloon 122 and an electrode positioned within balloon 122 (e.g., electrode 24) may be activated. The energy may be transmitted through the medium of the conductive fluid and through conductive region 128 to the blood vessel wall to modulate or ablate the tissue. Coatings 146/154 may prevent the energy transmission through the balloon wall at locations other than conductive region 128. In some embodiments, a relatively small amount of energy may be transmitted along peripheral region 152 due to the presence of a smaller amount of insulating material along peripheral region 152. This may help improve current distribution.

Figure 13 illustrates another example balloon 222 and the process for manufacturing balloon 222. In at least some embodiments, first mask 248 may be disposed on inner layer 244 of balloon 222. First mask 248 may protrude from the surface of balloon 22 (e.g., may project radially from inner layer 244). Second mask 250 may be positioned on first mask 248. Because first mask 248 may project radially outward from inner layer 244, portions of second mask 250 such as edge portions 260 may not be secured to or otherwise be in contact with balloon 222. Accordingly, the application of coating 246 (e.g., via spray coating, dip coating, or the like) may result in parts of coating 246 migrating under edge portions 260 of second mask 250 and define a smooth tapering or "feathered" edge 252 adjacent to window or conductive region 228 as shown in Figure 14. This featured edge adjacent to conductive region may help to spread out forces that may be present along the edge of conductive region 228 and may also help to dissipate current present along the edge of conductive region 228.

Figure 15 illustrates another example balloon 322 having inner layer 344. First mask member 348 and second mask member 350 may be disposed on balloon 322. In this example, first mask member 348 may be disposed on inner layer 344 and second mask member 350 may be disposed on first mask member 348. Other configurations are contemplated.

Inner layer 344 may be subjected to a surface treatment that may aid in adhering additional layers or material thereto. For example, a portion of balloon 322 may include a plasma treated region 362. In general, plasma treated region 362 may be defined by plasma treating portion(s) of balloon 322. This may include developing or otherwise defining an appropriate plasma treatment cycle that provides the desired adhesion sufficient to define adhesion differences from non-treated regions. Some example parameters for plasma treatment are provided in Table 1 below.

Table 1

After plasma treatment, second mask member 350 may be removed and coating 346 may be applied to balloon 322 as shown in Figure 16. First mask member 348 may then be removed from balloon 322 to define window or conductive region 328 as shown in Figure 17. Due to plasma treatment, coating 346 may adhere to inner layer 344 along plasma treated region 362. A peripheral region 352 of coating 346 may defined a "non-adhered" or "less-adhered" region. The non-adhered peripheral region 352 may help to diffuse and distribute mechanical, electrical, heat- induced or other forces that may be present along the edge of conductive region 328 and may also help to dissipate current present along the edge of conductive region 328.

The materials that can be used for the various components of device 12 (and/or other medical devices disclosed herein) may include those commonly associated with medical devices. For simplicity purposes, the following discussion makes reference to device 12. However, this is not intended to limit the devices and methods described herein, as the discussion may be applied to other similar medical devices disclosed herein.

Device 12 may be made from a metal, metal alloy, polymer (some examples of which are disclosed below), a metal-polymer composite, ceramics, combinations thereof, and the like, or other suitable material. Some examples of suitable metals and metal alloys include stainless steel, such as 304V, 304L, and 316LV stainless steel; mild steel; nickel-titanium alloy such as linear-elastic and/or super-elastic nitinol; other nickel alloys such as nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloys (e.g., U S: N06625 such as INCONEL® 625, UNS: N06022 such as HASTELLOY® C-22®, UNS: N 10276 such as HASTELLOY® C276®, other HASTELLOY® alloys, and the like), nickel-copper alloys (e.g., UNS: N04400 such as MONEL® 400, NICKELVAC® 400, NICORROS® 400, and the like), nickel-cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloys (e.g., UNS: R30035 such as MP35-N® and the like), nickel-molybdenum alloys (e.g., UNS: N 10665 such as HASTELLOY® ALLOY B2®), other nickel-chromium alloys, other nickel-molybdenum alloys, other nickel-cobalt alloys, other nickel-iron alloys, other nickel-copper alloys, other nickel-tungsten or tungsten alloys, and the like; cobalt-chromium alloys; cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloys (e.g., UNS: R30003 such as ELGILOY®, PHYNOX®, and the like); platinum enriched stainless steel; titanium; combinations thereof; and the like; or any other suitable material.

As alluded to herein, within the family of commercially available nickel- titanium or nitinol alloys, is a category designated "linear elastic" or "non-super- elastic" which, although may be similar in chemistry to conventional shape memory and super elastic varieties, may exhibit distinct and useful mechanical properties. Linear elastic and/or non-super-elastic nitinol may be distinguished from super elastic nitinol in that the linear elastic and/or non-super-elastic nitinol does not display a substantial "superelastic plateau" or "flag region" in its stress/strain curve like super elastic nitinol does. Instead, in the linear elastic and/or non-super-elastic nitinol, as recoverable strain increases, the stress continues to increase in a substantially linear, or a somewhat, but not necessarily entirely linear relationship until plastic deformation begins or at least in a relationship that is more linear that the super elastic plateau and/or flag region that may be seen with super elastic nitinol. Thus, for the purposes of this disclosure linear elastic and/or non-super-elastic nitinol may also be termed "substantially" linear elastic and/or non-super-elastic nitinol. In some cases, linear elastic and/or non-super-elastic nitinol may also be distinguishable from super elastic nitinol in that linear elastic and/or non-super-elastic nitinol may accept up to about 2-5% strain while remaining substantially elastic (e.g., before plastically deforming) whereas super elastic nitinol may accept up to about 8% strain before plastically deforming. Both of these materials can be distinguished from other linear elastic materials such as stainless steel (that can also can be distinguished based on its composition), which may accept only about 0.2 to 0.44 percent strain before plastically deforming.

In some embodiments, the linear elastic and/or non-super-elastic nickel- titanium alloy is an alloy that does not show any martens ite/austenite phase changes that are detectable by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic metal thermal analysis (DMTA) analysis over a large temperature range. For example, in some embodiments, there may be no martens ite/austenite phase changes detectable by DSC and DMTA analysis in the range of about -60 degrees Celsius (°C) to about 120 °C in the linear elastic and/or non-super-elastic nickel-titanium alloy. The mechanical bending properties of such material may therefore be generally inert to the effect of temperature over this very broad range of temperature. In some embodiments, the mechanical bending properties of the linear elastic and/or non-super-elastic nickel- titanium alloy at ambient or room temperature are substantially the same as the mechanical properties at body temperature, for example, in that they do not display a super-elastic plateau and/or flag region. In other words, across a broad temperature range, the linear elastic and/or non-super-elastic nickel-titanium alloy maintains its linear elastic and/or non-super-elastic characteristics and/or properties.

In some embodiments, the linear elastic and/or non-super-elastic nickel- titanium alloy may be in the range of about 50 to about 60 weight percent nickel, with the remainder being essentially titanium. In some embodiments, the composition is in the range of about 54 to about 57 weight percent nickel. One example of a suitable nickel-titanium alloy is FHP-NT alloy commercially available from Furukawa Techno Material Co. of Kanagawa, Japan. Some examples of nickel titanium alloys are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,238,004 and 6,508,803, which are incorporated herein by reference. Other suitable materials may include ULTANIUM™ (available from Neo-Metrics) and GUM METAL™ (available from Toyota). In some other embodiments, a superelastic alloy, for example a superelastic nitinol can be used to achieve desired properties. In at least some embodiments, portions or all of device 12 may also be doped with, made of, or otherwise include a radiopaque material. Radiopaque materials are understood to be materials capable of producing a relatively bright image on a fluoroscopy screen or another imaging technique during a medical procedure. This relatively bright image aids the user of device 12 in determining its location. Some examples of radiopaque materials can include, but are not limited to, gold, platinum, palladium, tantalum, tungsten alloy, polymer material loaded with a radiopaque filler, and the like. Additionally, other radiopaque marker bands and/or coils may also be incorporated into the design of device 12 to achieve the same result.

In some embodiments, a degree of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) compatibility is imparted into device 12. For example, device 12 or portions thereof, may be made of a material that does not substantially distort the image and create substantial artifacts (i.e., gaps in the image). Certain ferromagnetic materials, for example, may not be suitable because they may create artifacts in an MRI image. Device 12 or portions thereof, may also be made from a material that the MRI machine can image. Some materials that exhibit these characteristics include, for example, tungsten, cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloys (e.g., U S: R30003 such as ELGILOY®, PHY OX®, and the like), nickel-cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloys (e.g., UNS: R30035 such as MP35-N® and the like), nitinol, and the like, and others.

Some examples of suitable polymers for device 12 may include polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), polyoxymethylene (POM, for example, DELRIN® available from DuPont), polyether block ester, polyurethane (for example, Polyurethane 85A), polypropylene (PP), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyether-ester (for example, ARNITEL® available from DSM Engineering Plastics), ether or ester based copolymers (for example, butylene/poly(alkylene ether) phthalate and/or other polyester elastomers such as HYTREL® available from DuPont), polyamide (for example, DURETHAN® available from Bayer or CRISTAMID® available from Elf Atochem), elastomeric polyamides, block polyamide/ethers, polyether block amide (PEBA, for example available under the trade name PEBAX®), ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers (EVA), silicones, polyethylene (PE), Marlex high-density polyethylene, Marlex low-density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene (for example REXELL®), polyester, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polytrimethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyimide (PI), polyetherimide (PEI), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyphenylene oxide (PPO), poly paraphenylene terephthalamide (for example, KEVLAR®), polysulfone, nylon, nylon- 12 (such as GRILAMID® available from EMS American Grilon), perfluoro(propyl vinyl ether) (PFA), ethylene vinyl alcohol, polyolefin, polystyrene, epoxy, polyvinylidene chloride (PVdC), poly(styrene-£-isobutylene-£-styrene) (for example, SIBS and/or SIBS 50A), polycarbonates, ionomers, biocompatible polymers, other suitable materials, or mixtures, combinations, copolymers thereof, polymer/metal composites, and the like.

It should be understood that this disclosure is, in many respects, only illustrative. Changes may be made in details, particularly in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of steps without exceeding the scope of the disclosure. This may include, to the extent that it is appropriate, the use of any of the features of one example embodiment being used in other embodiments. The invention's scope is, of course, defined in the language in which the appended claims are expressed.