Single lumen rapid-exchange catheter

• US 20030040769A1
• Filed: 08/23/2001
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Kelley, Gregory S., Wu, Show-Mean, Radisch, Herbert R. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 6,730,107 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/194
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0046 Coatings for improving slidability
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0183 Rapid exchange or monorail catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1063 having only one lumen used for guide wire and inflation, e.g. to minimise the diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0075 Valve means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty

Abstract

A single lumen rapid-exchange catheter includes a distal sealing port and a proximal sealing port both dimensioned for receiving a guidewire to establish a fluid-tight seal therewith. Each tubular shaped sealing port has a length, and a diameter, and is made of a hydrophilic polymer. In operation, the guidewire is inserted through the distal sealing port and exits from the catheter tube at the shoulder of the catheter tube and through the proximal sealing port. When fluid is present, each sealing port will enlarge to establish a fluid-tight seal with the guidewire. A diverter can be disposed at the proximal sealing port to redirect the guidewire from the lumen and out of the catheter tube through the proximal sealing port.

Claims

1. A rapid-exchange catheter system which comprises:

a guidewire;

a catheter tube formed with a lumen and having a distal end and a proximal end;

a distal sealing port formed into said catheter tube in fluid communication with said lumen and dimensioned for receiving said guidewire therethrough to establish a substantially fluid-tight seal therewith;

a proximal sealing port formed into said catheter tube in fluid communication with said lumen and dimensioned for receiving said guidewire therethrough to establish a substantially fluid-tight seal therewith; and

a balloon connected in fluid communication with said lumen of said catheter tube between said proximal sealing port and said distal sealing port, with said guidewire extending between said distal sealing port and said proximal sealing port and through said balloon when said guidewire is engaged with said catheter tube.

2. A rapid-exchange catheter system as recited in claim 1 wherein said distal sealing port and said proximal sealing port each has a respective length to receive said guidewire and to establish a substantially fluid-tight seal therewith.

3. A rapid-exchange catheter system as recited in claim 1 wherein said guidewire has a diameter and said distal sealing port and said proximal sealing port each has a respective diameter for receiving said guidewire with a distance therebetween, and further wherein said distance between said diameter of said guidewire and respective said diameters of said distal sealing port and said proximal sealing port varies within a range between zero and approximately two thousandths of an inch (0-0.002 inches).

4. A rapid-exchange catheter system as recited in claim 1 wherein said distal sealing port and said proximal sealing port are made with a hydrophilic polymer.

5. A rapid-exchange catheter system as recited in claim 1 wherein said distal sealing port and said proximal sealing port each has an inner lining along said length of each said sealing port, each said inner lining is made of a hydrophilic polymer.

6. A rapid-exchange catheter system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a diverter disposed at said proximal sealing port of said catheter tube and dimensioned for redirecting said guidewire therethrough.

7. A rapid-exchange catheter system as recited in claim 6 wherein said catheter tube has a lumen with a diameter and said diverter has a lip, with said lip of said diverter extending radially into said lumen of said catheter tube approximately one-half said diameter of said catheter tube to redirect said guidewire from inside said lumen of said catheter tube through said proximal sealing port.

8. A rapid-exchange catheter system as recited in claim 1 wherein said balloon is inflated to a pressure of eighteen atmospheres and further wherein said catheter tube is formed with a shoulder.

9. A rapid-exchange catheter system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a fluid source attached to said proximal end of said catheter tube in fluid communication with said balloon.

10. A rapid-exchange catheter for receiving a guidewire, said rapid-exchange catheter comprising:

a balloon;

a catheter tube having a proximal sealing means and a distal sealing means with said balloon mounted on said catheter tube therebetween, wherein each sealing means is dimensioned for receiving said guidewire therethrough with said guidewire extending inside said balloon between said proximal sealing means and said distal sealing means, and further wherein said balloon is in fluid communication with said catheter tube; and

a fluid source in fluid communication with said catheter tube.

11. A rapid-exchange catheter as recited in claim 10 wherein each said sealing means has a respective length to receive said guidewire and to establish a substantially fluid-tight seal therewith.

12. A rapid-exchange catheter as recited in claim 10 wherein each said sealing means is made of a hydrophilic polymer.

13. A rapid-exchange catheter as recited in claim 10 wherein each said sealing means has an inner lining covering said length of each said sealing means, each said inner lining is made of a hydrophilic polymer.

14. A rapid-exchange catheter as recited in claim 10 further comprising a diverter disposed at said proximal sealing means of said catheter tube and dimensioned for redirecting said guidewire.

15. A rapid-exchange catheter as recited in claim 14 wherein said catheter tube has a lumen and is formed with a shoulder, said diverter extends radially into said lumen of said catheter tube to redirect said guidewire from inside said catheter tube through said proximal sealing means.

16. A rapid-exchange catheter as recited in claim 10 wherein said guidewire has a diameter, said diameter of said guidewire is smaller than said diameter of said each sealing means to allow said guidewire to pass through each said sealing means.

17. A method for replacing a rapid-exchange catheter with a replacement catheter, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning a guidewire in the vasculature of a patient;

providing said rapid-exchange catheter having a catheter tube formed with a distal sealing port and a proximal sealing port and having a balloon mounted on said catheter tube therebetween, with each said sealing port being dimensioned for receiving a guidewire therethrough to establish a substantially fluid-tight seal therewith;

inserting said guidewire through said distal sealing port of said rapid-exchange catheter and extending inside said catheter tube through said balloon and through said proximal sealing port of said rapid-exchange catheter; and

advancing said rapid-exchange catheter into the vasculature of the patient over said guidewire.

18. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein each said sealing port is made of a hydrophilic polymer.

19. A method as recited in claim 17 further comprising inflating said balloon with a fluid source wherein each said sealing port is swelled against said guidewire to establish a substantially fluid-tight seal therewith.

20. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein each said sealing port has an inner lining and further wherein said inner lining is made of a hydrophilic polymer.