Catheter positioning device

• US 20030069523A1
• Filed: 09/09/2002
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NV Thermocore Medical Systems SA, Thermocore Medical Systems NV
• Original Assignee: Thermocore Medical Systems NV
• Inventors: Diamantopoulos, Leonidas, Williams, John Vaughan
• Application Number:
  US10/238,016
• Publication Number:
  US 20030069523A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/585
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0113 Mechanical advancing means, e.g. catheter dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0662 Guide tubes

Abstract

A catheter positioning system comprises a guide catheter extension adapted to co-operate with a guide catheter, a catheter positioning device adapted to engage a catheter and guide the catheter within the guide catheter extension, wherein the guide catheter extension further comprises a plurality of engagement means for fixing the relative points of the guide catheter extension and the positioning device at any one of a number of positions over its length and a guide catheter extension capable of receiving a catheter, comprising a substantially rigid tubular section capable of sealing engagement within a compression fitting of the guide catheter.

Claims

1. A catheter positioning system comprising a guide catheter extension adapted to co-operate with a guide catheter, a catheter positioning device adapted to engage a catheter and guide the catheter within the guide catheter extension, wherein the guide catheter extension further comprises a plurality of engagement means for engaging the positioning device and thereby fixing the relative positions of the guide catheter extension and the positioning device at any one of a number of positions over its length.

2. A system according to claim 1, in which the guide catheter extension has a number of points adapted for engagement with the catheter positioning device.

3. A system according to claim 2, in which the points of engagement are formed as notches or annular indentations.

4. A system according to claim 1, in which the body of the guide catheter extension is substantially cylindrical in cross-section.

5. A system according to claim 1, in which the guide catheter extension comprises a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end is adapted for engagement with the guide catheter while the proximal end is adapted for engagement with a catheter positioning device.

6. A catheter according to claim 5, in which the distal end of the guide catheter extension comprises a substantially rigid tubular section which is fixed to a flexible section, and which is coaxial therewith.

7. A system according to claim 6, in which the rigid tubular section is integrally molded with the flexible section.

8. A system according to claim 1, in which the catheter positioning device comprises a first lumen mount for holding a first lumen of the catheter, a second lumen mount for holding the guide catheter extension, and a drive mechanism, where the first lumen mount is selectively connectable to the drive mechanism for relative movement with respect to the second lumen mount.

9. A system according to claim 8, in which the second lumen mount includes a bracket adapted for engagement with the guide catheter extension.

10. A system according to claim 9, in which the bracket is mounted at one end of an extension arm, and the other end of the extension arm is connected to the body of the positioning device.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein the length of the guide catheter extension is the range of 0.1 meters to one meter, preferably 0.15 to 0.5 meters.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein the guide catheter extension has between 2 and 200 fixation points, more preferably 5 to 100 fixation points, most preferably 10 to 50 fixation points.

13. A system according to claim 1, in which the guide catheter extension comprises a substantially rigid tubular section capable of sealing engagement with a compression fitting of the guide catheter.

14. A system according to claim 13, in which the guide catheter extension comprises a sealing element capable of sealing engagement with a catheter.

15. A guide catheter extension for a guide catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, the guide catheter extension being capable of receiving a catheter and comprising a substantially rigid tubular section capable of sealing engagement within a compression fitting of the guide catheter provided at the proximal end of the guide catheter.

16. A guide catheter extension according to claim 15, in which the guide catheter extension comprises a sealing element capable of sealing engagement with a catheter.