US5472425A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rapid exchange catheter
Assignee: W.L. Gore and Associates Inc
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Filing: 1994-04-22
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Granted: 1995-12-05
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Expires: 2014-04-22
Abstract
Abstract An over-the-wire rapid-exchange catheter having a guidewire channel and a rupturable membrane along one side of the guidewire channel. The catheter is exchanged by withdrawing the catheter from a guiding catheter, while stripping the operative catheter from the guidewire by tearing the guidewire through the rupturable membrane. The guidewire channel provides a sealing surface for a releasable seal on the guiding catheter, avoiding the gripping of the guidewire. A replacement catheter can be threaded onto the guidewire, and the end of the guidewire can puncture the rupturable membrane at a selected location to establish a guidewire channel at the distal end of the catheter.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul S. Teirstein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 00:27
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0021; A61M25/0023; A61M25/0026; A61M25/0029; A61M25/10; A61M25/1002; A61M25/104; A61M29/00; A61M29/02; A61N; A61N5/00; A61N5/10; A61N5/1001; A61N5/1002; A61M25/01; A61M2025/0177; A61M2025/0183; A61M2025/1043; A61M2025/1047; A61M2025/1056; A61M25/0032; A61N2005/1003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
An operative catheter, comprising: an elongated catheter body having a distal end and a proximal end; a branch formed on said catheter body distal from said proximal end; an operative means mountable on said catheter body adjacent said distal end of said catheter body, for performing a diagnostic or therapeutic operation on a patient; a communicative means extending through said catheter body from said branch on said catheter body to said operative means; a guidewire channel formed on said catheter body, said guidewire channel having a distal entry port and a proximal exit port; and a rupturable membrane formed in a wall of said guidewire channel, extending from said proximal end of said catheter body toward said distal end, said membrane being sufficiently thin to be parted by a guidewire at a location selected by the user.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
An operative catheter, comprising: an elongated catheter body having a distal end and a proximal end; a branch formed on said catheter body distal from said proximal end; an operative means mountable on said catheter body adjacent said distal end of said catheter body, for performing a diagnostic or therapeutic operation on a patient; a communicative means extending through said catheter body from said branch on said catheter body to said operative means; a guidewire channel formed on said catheter body, said guidewire channel having a distal entry port and a proximal exit port; and a rupturable membrane formed in a wall of said guidewire channel, extending from said proximal end of said catheter body toward said distal end, said membrane being sufficiently thin to be parted by a guidewire at a location selected by the user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
An operative catheter as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said operative means comprises an angioplasty balloon; and said rupturable membrane extends the full length of said catheter body from said proximal end to a location beyond said balloon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
An operative catheter as claimed in claim 2, wherein said communicative means comprises a fluid passageway extending longitudinally through said catheter body from said branch of said catheter body to said balloon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
219 words
A vascular catheter system, comprising: an elongated guiding catheter having a distal end and a proximal end; a releasable seal mountable on said guiding catheter adjacent said proximal end of said guiding catheter; an elongated operative catheter body having a distal end and a proximal end, said operative catheter body being insertable through said guiding catheter to an area to be treated; a branch formed on said catheter body distal from said proximal end; an operative means mountable on said operative catheter body adjacent said distal end of said operative catheter body, for performing a diagnostic or therapeutic operation on a patient; a communicative means extending through said operative catheter body from said branch on said operative catheter body to said operative means; a guidewire channel formed on said operative catheter body, said guidewire channel having a distal port and a proximal port; a guidewire passing through said guidewire channel, with a distal end of said guidewire extending distally through said distal port and a proximal end of said guidewire extending proximally through said proximal port; and a rupturable membrane formed in a wall of said guidewire channel, extending from said proximal end of said catheter body toward said distal end, said membrane being sufficiently thin to be parted by said guidewire at a location selected by the user.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
219 words
A vascular catheter system, comprising: an elongated guiding catheter having a distal end and a proximal end; a releasable seal mountable on said guiding catheter adjacent said proximal end of said guiding catheter; an elongated operative catheter body having a distal end and a proximal end, said operative catheter body being insertable through said guiding catheter to an area to be treated; a branch formed on said catheter body distal from said proximal end; an operative means mountable on said operative catheter body adjacent said distal end of said operative catheter body, for performing a diagnostic or therapeutic operation on a patient; a communicative means extending through said operative catheter body from said branch on said operative catheter body to said operative means; a guidewire channel formed on said operative catheter body, said guidewire channel having a distal port and a proximal port; a guidewire passing through said guidewire channel, with a distal end of said guidewire extending distally through said distal port and a proximal end of said guidewire extending proximally through said proximal port; and a rupturable membrane formed in a wall of said guidewire channel, extending from said proximal end of said catheter body toward said distal end, said membrane being sufficiently thin to be parted by said guidewire at a location selected by the user.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A vascular catheter system as claimed in claim 4, wherein: said operative means comprises an angioplasty balloon; and said rupturable membrane extends the full length of said catheter body from said proximal end to a location beyond said balloon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A vascular catheter system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said communicative means comprises a fluid passageway extending longitudinally through said catheter body from said branch of said catheter body to said balloon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
A vascular catheter system as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a reference mark placed on said operative catheter body at a longitudinal distance from said distal end of said operative catheter body, said longitudinal distance being slightly less than the length of said guiding catheter.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of removing a first over-the-wire operative catheter from a guiding catheter in a patient, and replacing it with a second operative catheter, over the same guidewire, the method comprising the steps of: providing said first operative catheter with a rupturable membrane along one side of its guidewire channel, and an operative means mounted on a distal end of said operative catheter; withdrawing said first operative catheter from said guiding catheter, while stripping said guidewire from said operative catheter by tearing said guidewire through said rupturable membrane from a proximal end of said operative catheter; threading the proximal end of said guidewire through a distal end of a guidewire channel on a second operative catheter; and inserting said second operative catheter into said guiding catheter over said guidewire.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of removing a first over-the-wire operative catheter from a guiding catheter in a patient, and replacing it with a second operative catheter, over the same guidewire, the method comprising the steps of: providing said first operative catheter with a rupturable membrane along one side of its guidewire channel, and an operative means mounted on a distal end of said operative catheter; withdrawing said first operative catheter from said guiding catheter, while stripping said guidewire from said operative catheter by tearing said guidewire through said rupturable membrane from a proximal end of said operative catheter; threading the proximal end of said guidewire through a distal end of a guidewire channel on a second operative catheter; and inserting said second operative catheter into said guiding catheter over said guidewire.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method of removing a first over-the-wire operative catheter from a guiding catheter in a patient, and replacing it with a second operative catheter, over the same guidewire, as claimed in claim 8, further comprising the steps of: bending said operative catheter to expose said rupturable membrane on the outside of the bend; and pushing said proximal end of said guidewire through said rupturable membrane at a selected location.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
187 words
A method of rapid replacement of a first operative catheter with a second operative catheter, the method comprising the steps of: providing a guiding catheter having a releasable seal; inserting said guiding catheter through an internal passageway of a patient to a selected treatment area; providing a first operative catheter having a guidewire channel and a rupturable membrane along a side of said guidewire channel; providing a guidewire; positioning said guidewire through said guidewire channel; inserting said first operative catheter and said guidewire through said guiding catheter to a selected depth; selectively sealingly engaging said releasable seal around said first operative catheter; withdrawing said first operative catheter from said guiding catheter, while holding said guidewire in place by its proximal end, and while tearing said guidewire through said rupturable membrane from a proximal end of said operative catheter; providing a second operative catheter having a guidewire channel and a rupturable membrane along a side of said guidewire channel; threading said proximal end of said guidewire through said guidewire channel on said second operative catheter; and inserting said second operative catheter into said guiding catheter over said guidewire.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
187 words
A method of rapid replacement of a first operative catheter with a second operative catheter, the method comprising the steps of: providing a guiding catheter having a releasable seal; inserting said guiding catheter through an internal passageway of a patient to a selected treatment area; providing a first operative catheter having a guidewire channel and a rupturable membrane along a side of said guidewire channel; providing a guidewire; positioning said guidewire through said guidewire channel; inserting said first operative catheter and said guidewire through said guiding catheter to a selected depth; selectively sealingly engaging said releasable seal around said first operative catheter; withdrawing said first operative catheter from said guiding catheter, while holding said guidewire in place by its proximal end, and while tearing said guidewire through said rupturable membrane from a proximal end of said operative catheter; providing a second operative catheter having a guidewire channel and a rupturable membrane along a side of said guidewire channel; threading said proximal end of said guidewire through said guidewire channel on said second operative catheter; and inserting said second operative catheter into said guiding catheter over said guidewire.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method of rapid replacement of a first operative catheter with a second operative catheter, as claimed in claim 10, further comprising the steps of: bending said second operative catheter to expose said rupturable membrane on the outside of the bend; and pushing said proximal end of said guidewire through said rupturable membrane at a selected location.
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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) | 1998-12-04 | 1999-06-05 | 1999-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-12-04 | 2003-06-05 | 2003-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-12-04 | 2007-06-05 | 2007-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |