Magnetic device for use with medical catheters and method

Claim 2

A medical catheter system having a magnetic retainer for use with a medical catheter to impose a magnetic force on a guidewire, comprising: a plurality of magnetic elements each generating a magnetic field; a carrier member holding said magnetic elements in a longitudinal array and having a similar array of substantially non-magnetic spacers being interspersed between said magnetic elements; wherein the respective polarities of said magnetic elements are arranged such that each magnetic element tends to repel the next successive magnetic element; and wherein said magnetic elements are each adapted to attract a proximate one of a plurality of nodes formed on a guidewire, said magnetic retainer allowing longitudinal motion of a medical catheter while imposing a magnetic force tending to inhibit longitudinal motion of said guidewire with respect to said magnetic retainer.

Claim 3

The magnetic retainer as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a locking member for selectively securing a portion of said guidewire in proximity to at least one of said magnetic elements.

Claim 4

The magnetic retainer as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a second locking member for selectively securing a second portion of said guidewire in proximity to another of said magnetic elements.

Claim 5

The magnetic retainer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said magnetic elements are formed as permanent magnets.

Claim 6

The magnetic retainer as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a base for stabilizing said magnetic retainer on an operating surface.

Claim 7

The magnetic retainer as set forth in claim 5, further comprising a handle which may be removably affixed to said base for further stabilizing the magnetic retainer.

Claim 8

The magnetic retainer as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a cover member coupled with said carrier member to restrict removal of said magnetic elements therefrom.

Claim 9

The magnetic retainer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said magnetic retainer incorporates a fewer number of said magnetic elements than said nodes defined by said guidewire.

Claim 10

The magnetic retainer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said magnetic elements are adapted to attract an alternative one of said nodes when said guidewire is forced to move longitudinally relative to said magnetic retainer, thereby subsequently restricting longitudinal movement of said guidewire from a shifted position.

Claim 11

A magnetic retainer for use with a medical catheter to impose a magnetic force on a guidewire, comprising: a plurality of magnetic elements each generating a magnetic field; a carrier member holding said magnetic elements in a longitudinal array and having a similar array of substantially non-magnetic spacers interspersed between said magnetic elements; a longitudinally extending channel defined by said magnetic retainer for accepting a guidewire having a plurality of nodes, said channel being open in a radial direction to allow said guidewire to be removed; wherein said magnetic elements are each adapted to attract a proximate one of said nodes when said guidewire is placed within said channel, said magnetic retainer thereby allowing longitudinal motion of a medical catheter while imposing a magnetic force tending to inhibit longitudinal motion of said guidewire with respect to said magnetic retainer.

Claim 12

A magnetic retainer for use with a medical catheter to impose a magnetic force on a guidewire, comprising: a plurality of magnetic elements each generating a magnetic field; a carrier member holding said magnetic elements in a longitudinal array and having a similar array of substantially non-magnetic spacers interspersed between said magnetic elements; a longitudinally extending channel defined by said magnetic retainer for accepting a guidewire having a plurality of nodes, said channel being open in a radial direction to allow said guidewire to be removed; wherein said magnetic elements are each adapted to attract a proximate one of said nodes when said guidewire is placed within said channel, said magnetic retainer thereby allowing longitudinal motion of a medical catheter while imposing a magnetic force tending to inhibit longitudinal motion of said guidewire with respect to said magnetic retainer.

Claim 13

The magnetic retainer as set forth in claim 10, further comprising a locking member for selectively securing a portion of said guidewire within said channel.

Claim 14

The magnetic retainer as set forth in claim 11, wherein said locking member defines a longitudinal opening, said locking member being rotatably affixed to said carrier for rotation between a first locking position in which a portion of said locking member covers a portion of said channel to restrict radial removal of said guidewire therefrom, and a second releasing position in which said longitudinal opening uncovers said portion of said channel to allow radial removal of said guidewire therefrom.

Claim 15

A magnetic device for use with a medical catheter to impose a magnetic force on a guidewire, comprising: a magnetic element which generates a magnetic field; a longitudinally extending channel defined by said device for accepting a guidewire, said channel being open in a radial direction; and a locking member for selectively restricting removal of a portion of said guidewire in a radial direction from said channel; wherein said magnetic element is adapted to attract a portion of said guidewire when said guidewire is placed within said channel, said magnetic device thereby allowing longitudinal motion of a medical catheter while imposing a magnetic force tending to inhibit longitudinal motion of said guidewire with respect to said medical catheter.

Claim 16

A magnetic device for use with a medical catheter to impose a magnetic force on a guidewire, comprising: a magnetic element which generates a magnetic field; a longitudinally extending channel defined by said device for accepting a guidewire, said channel being open in a radial direction; and a locking member for selectively restricting removal of a portion of said guidewire in a radial direction from said channel; wherein said magnetic element is adapted to attract a portion of said guidewire when said guidewire is placed within said channel, said magnetic device thereby allowing longitudinal motion of a medical catheter while imposing a magnetic force tending to inhibit longitudinal motion of said guidewire with respect to said medical catheter.

Claim 17

The magnetic device as set forth in claim 13, further comprising at least one additional magnetic element; a carrier member formed of substantially non-magnetic material and having a longitudinal array of openings, said magnetic elements being disposed within said openings in an arrangement whereby each magnetic element repels the next successive magnetic element; and an armature coupled to said guidewire, said magnetic elements each being adapted to magnetically attract one of a plurality of portions of said armature.

Claim 18

The magnetic device as set forth in claim 14, further comprising a sleeve surrounding said armature.

Claim 19

A medical catheter system, comprising: a guidewire adapted to be inserted within a patient; a tubular medical catheter adapted to be threaded over said guidewire; a magnetic retainer having a plurality of magnetic elements each generating a magnetic field, a carrier member holding said magnetic elements and having a plurality of substantially non-magnetic spacers interspersed between said magnetic elements, said magnetic retainer defining a channel in which a portion of said catheter and guidewire are disposed, wherein said magnetic elements are each adapted to attract a portion of said guidewire when said guidewire is within said channel, said magnetic retainer thereby allowing longitudinal motion of said medical catheter while imposing a magnetic force tending to inhibit longitudinal motion of said guidewire with respect to said magnetic retainer.

Claim 20

A medical catheter system, comprising: a guidewire adapted to be inserted within a patient; a tubular medical catheter adapted to be threaded over said guidewire; a magnetic retainer having a plurality of magnetic elements each generating a magnetic field, a carrier member holding said magnetic elements and having a plurality of substantially non-magnetic spacers interspersed between said magnetic elements, said magnetic retainer defining a channel in which a portion of said catheter and guidewire are disposed, wherein said magnetic elements are each adapted to attract a portion of said guidewire when said guidewire is within said channel, said magnetic retainer thereby allowing longitudinal motion of said medical catheter while imposing a magnetic force tending to inhibit longitudinal motion of said guidewire with respect to said magnetic retainer.

Claim 21

The magnetic device as set forth in claim 16, wherein said guidewire further comprises a series of expanded portions having a greater cross-section than a series of reduced portions arranged in an alternating sequence, wherein a sum of the longitudinal dimensions of one of said magnetic elements and an adjacent one of said spacers equals a corresponding sum of the longitudinal dimensions of one of said expanded portions and an adjacent one of said reduced portions.