Guiding catheter system

Claim 2

A guidance catheter system of a size to fit within the human vascular or coronary system for providing a stabilizing platform proximate the ostium of a vessel that will minimize trauma and edema to the tissue of the vessel walls forming the ostium of the vessel, for inserting and guiding a surgical catheter therethrough and into the vessel to a selected position, comprising: a first hollow tubular body of semi-rigid, non-kinking material having an entry and an exit port and a first lumen therethrough, said first lumen having a diameter sufficient to permit the free passage therethrough of the surgical catheter inserted thereinto at said entry port so that it may exit therefrom at said exit port of said first hollow tubular body into the vessel; a fixation balloon of soft elastomeric material surrounding said first hollow tubular body proximate said exit port; a second hollow tubular body of semi-rigid non-kinking material attached in a lengthwise fashion to said first hollow tubular body and having a second lumen therethrough, said second hollow tubular body operatively attached at one end to said fixation balloon, and at an opposite second end connected to a source of liquid for selectively inflating and deflating said fixation balloon by applying a pressure differential to liquid applied to said second lumen, said second lumen providing a passageway for communicating said liquid under pressure to selectively inflate and deflate said fixation balloon; limiting means operatively coupled between said second hollow tubular body and said source of liquid for limiting the pressure differential applied to selectively inflate and deflate said fixation balloon to a selected pre-set limit that is sufficient to resist dislodging of said fixation balloon from the vessel ostium by the passage of the surgical catheter through said first lumen of said first hollow tubular body, and insufficient to cause dilation injury to the tissues forming the wall of the vessel ostium surrounding said fixation balloon when said fixation balloon is fully inflated; and a plurality of fluid passageway means extending from said exit port of said first hollow tubular body to the exterior surface thereof adjacent to and on the opposite side of said fixation balloon for communicating fluid contained in the vessel around said inflated fixation balloon, said fluid passageway means having a diameter less than that of said first lumen so as to be adapted to prevent the exit therethrough of the surgical catheter as it is advanced through said first lumen of said first hollow tubular body, whereby when said exit port of said first hollow tubular body is inserted into and positioned proximate the inside portion of a vein proximate a selected vascular ostium and said fixation balloon is inflated to said pre-set pressure limit to form an anatomically conforming seal against the inner walls of said vein, thereby holding said exit port of said first hollow tubular body in position, said guidance catheter system provides a stable guiding passageway through said first lumen of said first hollow tubular body for inserting and guiding an angioplasty catheter therethrough and into said vascular ostium.

Claim 3

A guidance catheter system as in claim 1 wherein said first hollow tubular body is comprised of a non-porous material.

Claim 4

A guidance catheter system as in claim 1 wherein said plurality of fluid passageway means includes a plurality of holes in said first hollow tubular body proximate said fixation balloon.

Claim 5

A guidance catheter system as in claim 3 wherein said liquid communicating the pressure differential to inflate and deflate said fixation balloon is a safe, non-toxic liquid.

Claim 6

A guidance catheter system as in claim 4 wherein said safe, non-toxic liquid is a dilute mixture of a radiographic contrast agent and saline.

Claim 7

A guidance catheter system as in claim 5 wherein said fixation balloon has an inflated shape adapted to resist backward movement of said first hollow tubular body from the vessel ostium once said fixation balloon is inserted into said vessel ostium and inflated to said pre-set inflation limit.

Claim 8

A guidance catheter system as in claim 1 wherein said second hollow tubular body is attached in a lengthwise fashion to said first hollow tubular body on the outer surface of said first hollow tubular body.

Claim 9

A guidance catheter system as in claim 1 wherein said second hollow tubular body is attached in a lengthwise fashion to said first hollow tubular body on the inner surface of said first hollow tubular body.

Claim 10

A guidance catheter system as in claim 1 wherein said second hollow tubular body is attached in a lengthwise fashion to said first hollow tubular body on the outer surface of said first hollow tubular body by being integrally formed therewith.

Claim 11

A guidance catheter system as in claim 1 wherein said second hollow tubular body is attached in a lengthwise fashion to said first hollow tubular body on the inner surface of said first hollow tubular body by being integrally formed therewith.

Claim 12

A guidance catheter system as in claim 1 wherein said second hollow tubular body is disposed within the material forming the wall of said first hollow tubular body.

Claim 13

A guidance catheter system of a size to fit within the human vascular or coronary system for providing a stabilizing platform proximate the ostium of a vessel that will minimize trauma and edema to the tissue of the vessel walls forming the ostium of the vessel, for inserting and guiding a surgical catheter therethrough and into the vessel to a selected position, comprising: a first hollow tubular body of semi-rigid, non-kinking porous material having an entry and an exit port and a single first lumen therethrough, said first lumen having a diameter sufficient to permit the free passage therethrough of the surgical catheter inserted thereinto at said entry port so that it may exit therefrom at said exit port of said first hollow tubular body into the vessel; a single fixation balloon of soft elastomeric material surrounding said first hollow tubular body proximate said exit port; a second hollow tubular body of semi-rigid non-kinking material attached in a lengthwise fashion to said first hollow tubular body and having a second lumen therethrough, said second hollow tubular body operatively attached at one end to said fixation balloon, and at an opposite second end connected to a source of liquid for selectively inflating and deflating said fixation balloon by applying a pressure differential to liquid applied to said second lumen, said second lumen providing a passageway for communicating said liquid under pressure to selectively inflate and deflate said fixation balloon; limiting means operatively coupled between said second hollow tubular body and said source of liquid for limiting the pressure differential applied to selectively inflate and deflate said fixation balloon to a selected pre-set limit that is sufficient to resist dislodging of said fixation balloon from the vessel ostium by the passage of the surgical catheter through said first lumen of said first hollow tubular body, and insufficient to cause dilation injury to the tissues forming the wall of the vessel ostium surrounding said fixation balloon when said fixation balloon is fully inflated; and a plurality of fluid passageway means extending from said exit port of said first hollow tubular body to the exterior surface thereof adjacent to and on the opposite side of said fixation balloon for communicating fluid contained in the vessel around said inflated fixation balloon, said fluid passageway means having a diameter less than that of said first lumen so as to be adapted to prevent the exit therethrough of the surgical catheter as it is advanced through said first lumen of said first hollow tubular body, whereby when said exit port of said first hollow tubular body is inserted into and positioned proximate the inside portion of a vein proximate a selected vascular ostium and said fixation balloon is inflated to said pre-set pressure limit to form an anatomically conforming seal against the inner walls of said vein, thereby holding said exit port of said first hollow tubular body in position, said guidance catheter system provides a stable guiding passageway through said first lumen of said first hollow tubular body for inserting and guiding an angioplasty catheter therethrough and into said vascular ostium.

Claim 14

A guidance catheter system of a size to fit within the human vascular or coronary system for providing a stabilizing platform proximate the ostium of a vessel that will minimize trauma and edema to the tissue of the vessel walls forming the ostium of the vessel, for inserting and guiding a surgical catheter therethrough and into the vessel to a selected position, comprising: a first hollow tubular body of semi-rigid, non-kinking porous material having an entry and an exit port and a single first lumen therethrough, said first lumen having a diameter sufficient to permit the free passage therethrough of the surgical catheter inserted thereinto at said entry port so that it may exit therefrom at said exit port of said first hollow tubular body into the vessel; a single fixation balloon of soft elastomeric material surrounding said first hollow tubular body proximate said exit port; a second hollow tubular body of semi-rigid non-kinking material attached in a lengthwise fashion to said first hollow tubular body and having a second lumen therethrough, said second hollow tubular body operatively attached at one end to said fixation balloon, and at an opposite second end connected to a source of liquid for selectively inflating and deflating said fixation balloon by applying a pressure differential to liquid applied to said second lumen, said second lumen providing a passageway for communicating said liquid under pressure to selectively inflate and deflate said fixation balloon; limiting means operatively coupled between said second hollow tubular body and said source of liquid for limiting the pressure differential applied to selectively inflate and deflate said fixation balloon to a selected pre-set limit that is sufficient to resist dislodging of said fixation balloon from the vessel ostium by the passage of the surgical catheter through said first lumen of said first hollow tubular body, and insufficient to cause dilation injury to the tissues forming the wall of the vessel ostium surrounding said fixation balloon when said fixation balloon is fully inflated; and a plurality of fluid passageway means extending from said exit port of said first hollow tubular body to the exterior surface thereof adjacent to and on the opposite side of said fixation balloon for communicating fluid contained in the vessel around said inflated fixation balloon, said fluid passageway means having a diameter less than that of said first lumen so as to be adapted to prevent the exit therethrough of the surgical catheter as it is advanced through said first lumen of said first hollow tubular body, whereby when said exit port of said first hollow tubular body is inserted into and positioned proximate the inside portion of a vein proximate a selected vascular ostium and said fixation balloon is inflated to said pre-set pressure limit to form an anatomically conforming seal against the inner walls of said vein, thereby holding said exit port of said first hollow tubular body in position, said guidance catheter system provides a stable guiding passageway through said first lumen of said first hollow tubular body for inserting and guiding an angioplasty catheter therethrough and into said vascular ostium.