Deflectable guide
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for accessing a cardiac region of a patient, comprising:
- advancing a guide catheter from a peripheral vascular site in a retrograde direction through an aorta into a left ventricle, the guide catheter comprising a tubular body comprising a proximal section and a distal section, the distal section comprising a deformation zone, a curved pre-deformation section proximal to the deformation zone and a curved post-deformation section distal to the deformation zone, wherein the deformation zone has a proximal end, a distal end, a longitudinal length and a longitudinal axis therebetween, a first constricting portion, a second constricting portion and a compressible portion in alternating configuration with the first and second constricting portions along the longitudinal axis, wherein the first and second constricting portions have a higher hardness and the compressible portion has a lower hardness and wherein the guide catheter further comprises a pull member coupled to a pull structure that is located in the post-deformation section;
steering the guide catheter into a subvalvular region adjacent mitral valve leaflets by pulling the pull member to bend the catheter such that the first and second constricting portions compress the compressible portion therebetween.
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Abstract
Described herein are devices and methods for guide catheters having one or more regions of increased flexibility. A flexibility region comprises one tubular segment of the guide catheter with a non-linear seam between two non-concentric layers of material having different durometers. A non-linear seam, such as a zig-zag or sinusoidal configuration, permits controlled compression of lower durometer material between portions of higher durometer material.
300 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for accessing a cardiac region of a patient, comprising:
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advancing a guide catheter from a peripheral vascular site in a retrograde direction through an aorta into a left ventricle, the guide catheter comprising a tubular body comprising a proximal section and a distal section, the distal section comprising a deformation zone, a curved pre-deformation section proximal to the deformation zone and a curved post-deformation section distal to the deformation zone, wherein the deformation zone has a proximal end, a distal end, a longitudinal length and a longitudinal axis therebetween, a first constricting portion, a second constricting portion and a compressible portion in alternating configuration with the first and second constricting portions along the longitudinal axis, wherein the first and second constricting portions have a higher hardness and the compressible portion has a lower hardness and wherein the guide catheter further comprises a pull member coupled to a pull structure that is located in the post-deformation section; steering the guide catheter into a subvalvular region adjacent mitral valve leaflets by pulling the pull member to bend the catheter such that the first and second constricting portions compress the compressible portion therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for accessing a cardiac region of a patient, comprising:
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advancing a guide catheter from a peripheral vascular site in a retrograde direction through an aorta into a left ventricle, the guide catheter comprising a tubular body comprising a proximal section and a distal section, the distal section comprising a deformation zone, a curved pre-deformation section proximal to the deformation zone and a curved post-deformation section distal to the deformation zone, wherein the deformation zone has a proximal end, a distal end, a longitudinal length and a longitudinal axis therebetween, a first constricting portion, a second constricting portion and a compressible portion in alternating configuration with the first and second constricting portions along the longitudinal axis, wherein the first and second constricting portions have a higher hardness and the compressible portion has a lower hardness and wherein the guide catheter further comprises a pull member coupled to a pull structure that is located in the post-deformation section; passing the guide catheter through a cardiac valve orifice; and steering the guide catheter into a subvalvular region adjacent the cardiac valve orifice by pulling the pull member to bend the catheter such that the first and second constricting portions compress the compressible portion therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification