EP0380873A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rapidly exchangeable coronary catheter
Assignee: Medtronic Vascular Inc
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Filing: 1989-12-04
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-12-04
Abstract
Abstract A rapidly exchangeable catheter for use in the coronary arteries includes an elongate relatively stiff proximal segment (28) that defines an inflation lumen (36), an intermediate, shorter segment (30) formed from a more flexible plastic material and having two lumens, and a third, single lumen distal segment (32). A balloon (34) or other instrumentality adapted to operate in a coronary artery is mounted to the distal region of the catheter. The intermediate and distal segments include a guidewire lumen (44) by which the catheter may be advanced along a guidewire. The proximal segment may include an inflation lumen when the operating instrumentality at the distal end of the catheter is a balloon. The intermediate and distal segments of the catheter are of a length of between about 35 to 45 cm such that when the catheter is advanced into the most remote distal portions of the coronary anatomy, the flexible plastic intermediate and distal segments will extend over the aortic arch of the patient thereby containing the guidewire over the aortic arch and maintaining the juncture of the relatively stiff proximal segment and the more flexible intermediate segment proximally of the aortic arch. The relatively stiff proximal section thus extends generally along a straight line from the femoral artery into the descending aorta but not so far as into the aortic arch. Buckling of the catheter is avoided so that the catheter is more easily manipulated.
Inventors
- 👤 Christine D. Enger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:23
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/10; A61M25/104; A61M25/0043; A61M25/0054; A61M25/01; A61M2025/0183; A61M2025/1043; A61M2025/1079
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
240 words
A balloon dilatation catheter for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty comprising: an elongate proximal segment formed from a relatively stiff tubular shaft having an inflation lumen extending therethrough; an intermediate catheter segment attached to the distal end of the proximal segment, the intermediate segment being formed from a more flexible elongate plastic member having two lumens formed therethrough including a first lumen in communication with the inflation lumen of the proximal segment to define a continuation of the inflation lumen, the inflation lumen in the intermediate segment terminating in an outlet port, the intermediate segment having a second, guidewire lumen extending parallel to the first lumen and being adapted to receive a guidewire, the guidewire lumen having a proximal opening in the region of the juncture of the intermediate and proximal segments; a distal segment attached to the distal end of the intermediate segment and defining an elongate lumen in communication with and defining a continuation of the distal end of the guidewire lumen of the intermediate segment, and terminating, at its distal tip, in a distal outlet; a dilatation balloon mounted on the distal and intermediate segment, the interior of the balloon being in communication with the outlet port of the inflation lumen; whereby when a guidewire is received in the guidewire lumen the catheter will have continuous column support fully along its length from the proximal end of the tubular shaft to the distal outlet of the distal segment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
240 words
A balloon dilatation catheter for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty comprising: an elongate proximal segment formed from a relatively stiff tubular shaft having an inflation lumen extending therethrough; an intermediate catheter segment attached to the distal end of the proximal segment, the intermediate segment being formed from a more flexible elongate plastic member having two lumens formed therethrough including a first lumen in communication with the inflation lumen of the proximal segment to define a continuation of the inflation lumen, the inflation lumen in the intermediate segment terminating in an outlet port, the intermediate segment having a second, guidewire lumen extending parallel to the first lumen and being adapted to receive a guidewire, the guidewire lumen having a proximal opening in the region of the juncture of the intermediate and proximal segments; a distal segment attached to the distal end of the intermediate segment and defining an elongate lumen in communication with and defining a continuation of the distal end of the guidewire lumen of the intermediate segment, and terminating, at its distal tip, in a distal outlet; a dilatation balloon mounted on the distal and intermediate segment, the interior of the balloon being in communication with the outlet port of the inflation lumen; whereby when a guidewire is received in the guidewire lumen the catheter will have continuous column support fully along its length from the proximal end of the tubular shaft to the distal outlet of the distal segment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A balloon dilatation catheter as defined in claim 1 wherein the proximal end of the balloon is mounted to the distal end of the intermediate segment and the distal end of the balloon is mounted to the distal end of the distal segment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A balloon dilatation catheter as defined in claim 2 wherein the distal segment is of smaller diameter and is more flexible than the intermediate segment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A balloon dilatation catheter as defined in and of claims 1-3 wherein the distal and intermediate segments extend over a length of between 35 to 45 cm and wherein the overall length of the catheter is between about 145 to 155 cm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A balloon dilatation catheter as defined in claim 4 wherein the length of the distal and intermediate segments is about 40 cm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A balloon dilatation catheter as defined in any of claims 1-3 or 5 further comprising, in combination, a guidewire extending through the guidewire lumen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A balloon dilatation catheter as defined in claim 4 further comprising, in combination, a guidewire extending through the guidewire lumen.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
125 words
A catheter for accessing the coronary arteries in a human comprising: an elongate proximal segment comprising a relatively stiff tube; a relatively flexible elongate plastic member mounted to the distal end of the proximal segment, the plastic member being more flexible than the proximal segment and having a guidewire lumen formed therethrough, the guidewire lumen having a proximal opening in the region of the juncture of the plastic member and the proximal segment and having a distal opening at its distal end whereby when a guidewire is contained within the lumen, the catheter will have continuous longitudinal support from its proximal end to its distal tip; and means carried by the distal end of the plastic member for performing a procedure in a coronary artery.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
125 words
A catheter for accessing the coronary arteries in a human comprising: an elongate proximal segment comprising a relatively stiff tube; a relatively flexible elongate plastic member mounted to the distal end of the proximal segment, the plastic member being more flexible than the proximal segment and having a guidewire lumen formed therethrough, the guidewire lumen having a proximal opening in the region of the juncture of the plastic member and the proximal segment and having a distal opening at its distal end whereby when a guidewire is contained within the lumen, the catheter will have continuous longitudinal support from its proximal end to its distal tip; and means carried by the distal end of the plastic member for performing a procedure in a coronary artery.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
A catheter as defined in claim 8 wherein the means for performing a procedure in an artery comprises a dilatation balloon and where the proximal segment and the plastic member have an inflation lumen communicating the interior of the balloon with the proximal end of the catheter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A catheter as defined in either of claims 7 or 8 wherein the plastic segment is between 35 to 45 cm long.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A catheter as defined in claim 9 wherein the plastic segment is about 40 cm long.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A catheter as defined in any of claims 8, 9 and 11 further comprising, in combination, a guidewire extending through the guidewire lumen.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A catheter as defined in claim 10 further comprising, in combination, a guidewire in the guidewire lumen.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A catheter as defined in either of claims 4 or 9 wherein the guidewire is about 175 cm long.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A catheter as defined in any of claims 1-3 and 8-11 wherein the proximal segment is formed from metal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
A catheter as defined in claim 4 wherein the proximal segment is formed from metal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
A catheter as defined in claim 6 wherein the proximal segment is formed from metal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
A catheter as defined in claim 12 wherein the proximal segment is formed from metal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
A catheter as defined in claim 10 wherein the proximal segment is formed from metal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
A catheter as defined in claim 14 wherein the proximal segment is formed from metal.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
133 words
A method for performing a procedure in a coronary artery comprising: percutaneously placing the small diameter steerable guidewire in the patient's arteries and advancing the guidewire into a selected coronary artery; percutaneously inserting a catheter as defined in either of claims 4, 8 or 10 into the patient's arterial system over the guidewire; advancing the catheter through the patient's arterial system over the guidewire to place the distal end of the catheter in the coronary artery, with the juncture of the plastic portion and proximal portion of the catheters being disposed proximally of the aortic arch; whereby the relatively stiff proximal segment of the catheter will remain substantially straight within the descending aorta and the catheter will be supported by the guidewire fully through the aortic arch and into the patient's coronary arteries.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method as defined in claim 21 further comprising: performing a catheter exchange including the steps of withdrawing the catheter while holding the guidewire from its proximal end thereby to maintain the position of the guidewire; advancing another catheter constructed as defined in claims 4, 8 or 10 over the guidewire and advancing the catheter along the guidewire to the intended site in the patient's coronary arteries.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as defined in claim 21 wherein the proximal segment of the catheter is formed from metal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as defined in claim 22 wherein the proximal segment of the catheter is formed from metal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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