US5046497A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Structure for coupling a guidewire and a catheter
Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed Inc
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Filing: 1988-12-19
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Granted: 1991-09-10
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Expires: 2008-12-19
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for introducing one or more devices into a biological fluid vessel. The system includes a device having a coupling structure comprising a pair of spaced-apart fingers adapted for receiving a guidewire therebetween. Preferably, the system includes a guidewire having a constricted fitting region at its proximal end where the coupling structure may be easily connected to the guidewire. In one use, the method is used in coronary angioplasty to diagnose and treat stenosis across a coronary valve or other vessel in the coronary arterial tree. In this method, a guiding catheter is percutaneously inserted with its distal end proximate the ostium. A guidewire is inserted through the guiding catheter and subselectively positioned in a region of interest in the coronary arterial tree. Multiple devices may be coupled to the guidewire in accordance with the present invention and then threaded down the guidewire and positioned in the region of interest. Advantageously, the diagnostic and therapeutic devices are small (approximately 3 French in diameter), allowing multiple devices to be threaded through the guiding catheter and positioned in the small arteries of the coronary arterial tree. Such diagnostic devices may comprise a number of different sensors (e.g. pressure, temperature, pH, or Doppler sensors) and are useful in a variety of applications (e.g. venous, urinary tract, esophageal).
Inventors
- 👤 Huntly D. Millar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:40
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/0169; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/145; A61B5/14539; A61B5/02; A61B5/021; A61B5/0215; A61B8/00; A61B8/12; A61M25/0021; A61M25/0023; A61M25/0026; A61M2025/0037; A61M2025/0177; A61M2025/0183; A61M25/003; A61M25/0067; A61M25/0068; A61M25/0082
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A system for connecting a diagnostic or therapeutic device to a guidewire having a distal section for introduction into a biological vessel, comprising: an elongated body containing a diagnostic or therapeutic device; an elongated catheter connected to the body in longitudinal alignment therewith; coupling means depending from the body adapted for slidably engaging a guidewire, such that with the distal section of the guidewire positioned in the vessel and the coupling means engaging the guidewire, the body is slidable along the length of the guidewire in the vessel, the coupling means including a pair of spaced-apart fingers depending from the body and defining a guidewire-receiving groove therebetween, the ends of each finger spaced from the body being oriented towards one another and defining a slot therebetween.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
126 words
A system for connecting a diagnostic or therapeutic device to a guidewire having a distal section for introduction into a biological vessel, comprising: an elongated body containing a diagnostic or therapeutic device; an elongated catheter connected to the body in longitudinal alignment therewith; coupling means depending from the body adapted for slidably engaging a guidewire, such that with the distal section of the guidewire positioned in the vessel and the coupling means engaging the guidewire, the body is slidable along the length of the guidewire in the vessel, the coupling means including a pair of spaced-apart fingers depending from the body and defining a guidewire-receiving groove therebetween, the ends of each finger spaced from the body being oriented towards one another and defining a slot therebetween.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system according to claim 1, including an elongated, flexible, steerable guidewire slidably received by said groove, having a distal section adapted for reception in said groove.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system according to claim 2, the slot dimension between said ends of the fingers having less than the diameter of the distal section of the guidewire.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system according to claim 2, the guidewire having a constricted fitting region for residing outside the vessel with the guidewire positioned in the vessel, the fitting region having a transverse diameter less than the slot dimension to facilitate engagement and disengagement of the coupling means to the guidewire.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system according to claim 4, the fingers comprising a generally inflexible material such that with the coupling structure engaging the guidewire spaced from the fitting region, the body is slidably locked to the guidewire.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system according to claim 4, the constricted fitting region comprising a pair of parallel, flattened sections on opposing sides of the guidewire.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system according to claim 1, the fingers comprising a flexible, resilient material such that the distal ends of the fingers can be spaced apart greater than the diameter of the guidewire for positioning the guidewire in the guidewire receiving groove.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
In a diagnostic or therapeutic device for introduction into a biological vessel, a structure for connecting the device to a guidewire wherein the improvement comprises: a pair of spaced-apart fingers attached to the device and defining a groove capable of receiving a guidewire therebetween, the ends of the fingers defining a slot therebetween.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
In a diagnostic or therapeutic device for introduction into a biological vessel, a structure for connecting the device to a guidewire wherein the improvement comprises: a pair of spaced-apart fingers attached to the device and defining a groove capable of receiving a guidewire therebetween, the ends of the fingers defining a slot therebetween.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The improvement of claim 8, wherein the ends of the fingers are oriented towards each other and define said slot therebetween, the slot dimension being the distance between the ends of the fingers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The improvement of claim 8, including a guidewire wherein the slot dimension is less than the diameter of the guidewire to be received by the structure and the fingers are flexible and resilient to permit shifting of the guidewire through said slot into said groove.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The improvement of claim 8, including a guidewire wherein the slot dimension is greater than the diameter of a constricted region of the guidewire to be received by the structure to permit shifting of the constricted region through said slot.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of introducing a device into a biological vessel comprising the steps of: inserting an elongated flexible guidewire having distal and proximal sections into the vessel with the proximal section of the guidewire exposed; coupling a device to the guidewire, the device having a coupling structure including a pair of spaced-apart fingers defining a groove, including the substep of shifting the proximal section between the fingers into the groove; and advancing the device away from the proximal section and along the guidewire into the vessel.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of introducing a device into a biological vessel comprising the steps of: inserting an elongated flexible guidewire having distal and proximal sections into the vessel with the proximal section of the guidewire exposed; coupling a device to the guidewire, the device having a coupling structure including a pair of spaced-apart fingers defining a groove, including the substep of shifting the proximal section between the fingers into the groove; and advancing the device away from the proximal section and along the guidewire into the vessel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 12, the guidewire including a constricted fitting region, the coupling step including positioning the fingers adjacent the fitting region and shifting the fitting region between the fingers into the groove.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 13, the constricted fitting region including a pair of parallel, flattened sections on opposing sides of the guidewire, the positioning substep including orienting the flattened sections in alignment with the fingers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 12, including inserting a second device into the vessel by repeating the coupling and advancing steps with the second device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 12, the fingers comprising a flexible, resilient material, the coupling step including snapping the proximal section into the groove with the fingers flexing away to permit passage of the guidewire.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method according to claim 12, including removing the device from the vessel comprising the steps of-- retracting the device towards the proximal section along the guidewire; positioning the coupling structure adjacent the proximal section; shifting the coupling structure transversely away from the proximal section displacing the guidewire from the groove.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-09-09 | 1995-03-11 | 1995-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-09-09 | 1999-03-11 | 1999-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-09-09 | 2003-03-11 | 2003-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |