System and method for deflecting a delivery catheter

• US 10,154,905 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2015
• Issued: 12/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Duffy, Niall
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Son
• Application Number:
  US14/820,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20170035567A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2436 Deployment by retracting a sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/966 with relative longitudinal movement between outer sleeve and prosthesis, e.g. using a push rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9623 the sleeve being reinforced
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0018 differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0029 differing in bending or flexure capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/015 Details of the distal fixation of the movable mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0052 Localized reinforcement, e.g. where only a specific part of the catheter is reinforced, for rapid exchange guidewire port
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/008 Strength or flexibility characteristics of the catheter tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0141 having flexible regions as a result of using materials with different mechanical properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0144 having flexible regions as a result of inner reinforcement means, e.g. struts or rods
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0147 with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires

Abstract

Distal tips for use with delivery catheters are disclosed that are configured to facilitate deflection of the catheters as they are advanced through the vasculature to a desired treatment site. Distal tips so configured realize one or more of the objectives of safer, more accurate steering of the catheter through the vasculature.

Claims

1. A catheter comprising:

a sheath component having a distal edge; and

a tip disposed distal of the sheath component, the tip having a proximally-extending projection,

wherein the proximally-extending projection longitudinally extends from a remaining surface of a proximal end of the tip, and

wherein when the sheath component is distally advanced against the tip, the distal edge of the sheath component engages the proximally-extending projection of the tip causing deflection of at least a portion of the catheter.

2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein a circumferential segment of the proximal end of the tip forms the projection.

3. The catheter of claim 2, wherein the circumferential segment extends around less than one third of a circumference of the proximal end of the tip.

4. A catheter comprising:

a sheath component having a distal edge; and

a tip disposed distal of the sheath component, the tip having a proximally-extending projection,

wherein when the sheath component is distally advanced against the tip, the distal edge of the sheath component engages the proximally-extending projection of the tip causing deflection of at least a portion of the catheter, and

wherein the sheath component includes a capsule segment configured for holding a prosthesis in a compressed configuration therein, and wherein the capsule segment defines the distal edge of the sheath component.

5. The catheter of claim 4, wherein the capsule segment has a tubular shape with a pair of longitudinally-extending supports embedded in a wall thereof at diametrically opposed locations.

6. The catheter of claim 5, wherein the distal edge of the capsule segment engages with the proximally-extending projection at a point that is midway between the pair of longitudinally-extending supports.