Enhanced Modular Medical Device Catheter System

Publication ID: 24-11857736_0001_PTD
Published: October 28, 2025
Category:Direct Improvements & Enhancements

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Enhanced Modular Medical Device Catheter System,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857736_0001_PTD, Published October 28, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857736_0001_PTD
This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,857,736.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

An improved modular medical device catheter system that enhances the functionality and safety of medical device catheters through innovative adapter designs, providing better conversion, securement, and flexibility.

Background and Problem Solved

The original modular medical device catheter system had limitations in terms of securement, flexibility, and adaptability. The new inventive concept addresses these limitations by introducing thermally responsive adapters, self-expanding coils, mechanical locking mechanisms, and spiral cut patterns, ensuring a secure and efficient connection between the adapter and the medical device catheter.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The enhanced modular medical device catheter system comprises a range of innovative adapter designs. One adapter features a thermally responsive material that modifies its configuration in response to temperature changes, ensuring a secure connection. Another adapter incorporates a self-expanding coil that expands to secure the adapter to the medical device catheter. The system also includes an adapter with a mechanical locking mechanism to prevent over-insertion and ensure a secure connection. Additionally, the system features an adapter with a spiral cut pattern, providing enhanced flexibility and facilitating bending and rotation during use.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new claims introduce novel features that overcome the limitations of the original patent. The thermally responsive adapter, self-expanding coil, mechanical locking mechanism, and spiral cut pattern are non-obvious and provide a significant improvement over the existing technology.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept could include adapters with different materials, geometries, or mechanisms to achieve securement, flexibility, and adaptability. For example, adapters with shape-memory alloys, hydrophilic coatings, or adjustable diameter mechanisms could be developed to further enhance the system's performance.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The enhanced modular medical device catheter system has significant commercial potential in the medical device industry, particularly in the fields of cardiology, neurology, and oncology. The system's improved securement, flexibility, and adaptability make it an attractive solution for medical device manufacturers and healthcare providers seeking to enhance patient outcomes and reduce complications.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A61 A61M25/0052
A A61 A61M25/0069
A A61 A61M25/1011
A A61 A61M25/0097

Field of Art

Medical device engineering, specifically interventional catheter systems and adapters, focusing on modular connection technologies and device modifications

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A biomedical engineer with expertise in medical device design, familiar with catheter system modifications, materials science, and mechanical coupling mechanisms, typically holding a master's degree or equivalent professional experience

Obviousness Rationale

A person having ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the PTD's variations represent predictable engineering solutions to known challenges in medical device catheter systems. The disclosed adapter modifications leverage standard design techniques and material properties that would be apparent to a skilled practitioner seeking to enhance catheter functionality and connection reliability. The variations demonstrate incremental improvements using known techniques that do not require inventive insight beyond standard medical device engineering practices.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Attachment mechanism for coupling adapter to medical device catheter
PTD Variation
Thermally responsive material that modifies configuration in response to temperature changes
Obviousness Reasoning
Using temperature-responsive materials for mechanical adaptation is a known technique in medical device engineering, representing a predictable application of material science principles to improve connection mechanisms
Source Patent Element
Elongated element attached through attachment mechanism
PTD Variation
Self-expanding coil that expands to secure adapter to catheter
Obviousness Reasoning
Implementing self-expanding mechanical elements is a standard design approach for creating secure, adaptable connections in medical device systems, representing a finite and obvious solution to connection challenges
Source Patent Element
Adapter with lumen engagement configuration
PTD Variation
Mechanical locking mechanism to prevent over-insertion
Obviousness Reasoning
Adding mechanical stops and locking features is a routine design choice to enhance device safety and prevent improper insertion, utilizing well-understood mechanical engineering principles
Source Patent Element
Tubular medical device catheter structure
PTD Variation
Spiral cut pattern providing enhanced flexibility for bending and rotation
Obviousness Reasoning
Modifying tubular structures with geometric patterns to enhance flexibility is a known technique in medical device design, representing a predictable modification to improve device performance
Source Patent Element
Basic adapter attachment mechanism
PTD Variation
Adapter with variable diameter to match lumen configuration
Obviousness Reasoning
Designing adaptive connection mechanisms with variable geometry is a standard engineering approach to creating versatile, universally compatible medical device components
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on the teachings of US Patent 11857736 and the disclosed technical variations, a person having ordinary skill in the art would find the claimed medical device catheter adapter modifications obvious and lacking inventive step. The incremental improvements represent predictable engineering solutions utilizing known techniques in medical device design, thereby rendering subsequent claims involving similar technological approaches unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. Section 103.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,857,736
TitleModular medical device catheter system
Assignee(s)COVELLUS LLC