Catheter

• US 20030109886A1
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Salviac Ltd. (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Salviac Ltd. (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Keegan, Martin, Horan, Steven, Casey, Brendan, Coll, Siora, Molloy, Shane
• Application Number:
  US10/180,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20030109886A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/011 Instruments for their placement or removal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9517 handle assemblies therefor
• 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 2002/9528 for retrieval of stents

Abstract

A delivery catheter 1 for rapid exchange delivery of a stent 7 through a vasculature over a guidewire 10, and for rapid exchange deployment of the stent 7 at a desired site in the vasculature. The catheter 1 comprises a hypotube 2, a distal sheath 4 which defines an internal reception space for the stent 7, and a push wire 3. The catheter body 2 is fixedly attached to the sheath 4 by means of a junction piece 9. At the distal end of the wire 3, the catheter 1 comprises a tubular inner core 5 and a coiled spring 6 which acts as an abutment means for engagement with the stent 7 in the reception space upon retraction of the sheath 4 to facilitate deployment of the stent 7. The guidewire 10 passes proximally from the inner core 5, through the junction piece 9, and out of the junction piece 9 through a proximal guidewire opening 11.

Claims

1. A delivery catheter comprising:

—

catheter shaft defining a reception space for a stent; and

an operating element extending through the catheter shaft for engagement with a stent in the reception space to facilitate deployment of the stent from within the reception space upon movement of the catheter shaft relative to the operating element from a delivery configuration to a deployment configuration;

along at least a portion of the length of the operating element, the cross-sectional area of the operating element being small relative to the cross-sectional area of the catheter shaft.

2. A catheter as claimed in claim 1 wherein a guidewire opening is provided in the catheter shaft, the guidewire opening being located a substantial distance distally of a proximal end of the catheter for rapid exchange of the catheter over a guidewire.

3. A catheter as claimed in claim 2 wherein the cross-sectional area of the operating element is small relative to the cross-sectional area of the catheter shaft in the region of the guidewire opening.

4. A catheter as claimed in claim 3 where in the delivery configuration the cross-sectional area of the operating element is small relative to the cross-sectional area of the catheter shaft for a distance of at least 10 mm proximally of the guidewire opening.

5. A catheter as claimed in claim 4 wherein in the delivery configuration the cross-sectional area of the operating element is small relative to the cross-sectional area of the catheter shaft for a distance of at least 20 mm proximally of the guidewire opening.

6. A catheter as claimed in claim 5 wherein in the delivery configuration the cross-sectional area of the operating element is small relative to the cross sectional area of the catheter shaft for a distance of at least 30 mm proximally of the guidewire opening.

7. A catheter as claimed in claim 6 wherein in the delivery configuration the cross sectional area of the operating element is small relative to the cross-sectional area of the catheter shaft for a distance of at least 40 mm proximally of the guidewire opening.

8. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7 wherein the diameter of the operating element is in the range of from 0.008″

to 0.015″

.

9. A catheter as claimed in claim 8 wherein the diameter of the operating element is in the range of from 0.01″

to 0.012″

.

10. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9 wherein the operating element comprises a control wire.

11. A catheter as claimed in claim 10 wherein the operating element comprises a push wire.

12. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11 wherein the operating element comprises a coiled spring.

13. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12 wherein the operating element is of a polymeric material.

14. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 1 to 13 wherein the operating element comprises a hypotube.

15. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 1 to 14 wherein the operating element defines a lumen therethrough.

16. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 1 to 15 wherein the operating element comprises a proximal actuating element, and a distal engagement element for engaging a stent in the reception space.

17. A catheter as claimed in claim 16 wherein the engagment element comprises a pusher.

18. A catheter as claimed in claim 17 wherein the pusher extends fully around the circumference of the engagement element.

19. A catheter as claimed in claim 18 wherein the pusher comprises a coiled spring.

20. A catheter as claimed in claim 17 wherein the pusher extends partially around the circumference of the engagement element.

21. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 16 to 20 wherein the engagement element is attached to the actuating element.

22. A catheter as claimed in claim 21 wherein the engagement element is integral with the actuating element.

23. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 16 to 22 wherein the engagement element extends distally of the actuating element.

24. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 16 to 23 wherein the engagement element defines a guidewire lumen therethrough.

25. A catheter as claimed in claim 24 wherein the guidewire opening in the catheter shaft is moveable relative to the guidewire lumen of the engagement element upon deployment of a stent from within the reception space.

26. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 16 to 25 wherein the catheter comprises a lateral support for the actuating element.

27. A catheter as claimed in claim 26 wherein the lateral support is mounted to the catheter shaft.

28. A catheter as claimed in claim 26 or 27 wherein the lateral support comprises a tubular member through which the actuating element extends.

29. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 1 to 28 wherein the catheter comprises a platform on which a stent may be mounted in the reception space.

30. A catheter as claimed in claim 29 wherein the platform comprises a tubular member.

31. A catheter as claimed in claim 30 wherein the tubular member defines a guidewire lumen therethrough.

32. A catheter as claimed in claim 30 or 31 wherein the tubular member has a flushing opening in a wall of the tubular member.

33. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 29 to 32 wherein the platform is attached to the operating element.

34. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 29 to 33 wherein the platform extends distally of the operating element.

35. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 29 to 34 wherein the catheter comprises a tip distally of the platform.

36. A catheter as claimed in claim 35 wherein the tip is configured to define a smooth crossing profile from the tip to the catheter shaft.

37. A catheter as claimed in claim 36 wherein the tip tapers distally inwardly.

38. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 1 to 37 wherein the catheter shaft is slidably movable relative to the operating element.

39. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 1 to 38 wherein the catheter shaft is movable proximally relative to the operating element to deploy a stent from within the reception space.

40. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 1 to 39 wherein the catheter shaft comprises a proximal shaft portion and a distal pod, the pod defining the reception space.

41. A catheter as claimed in claim 40 wherein the proximal shaft portion is offset in the radial direction from the pod.

42. A catheter as claimed in claim 41 wherein the proximal shaft portion is of a smaller diameter than the pod.

43. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 40 to 42 wherein the pod comprises means to radially reinforce the pod.

44. A catheter as claimed in claim 43 wherein the reinforcement means comprises one or more reinforcement elements embedded in a wall of the pod.

45. A catheter as claimed in claim 44 wherein the reinforcement element is of a high hoop strength material.

46. A catheter as claimed in claim 44 or 45 wherein the reinforcement element is braided.

47. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 44 to 46 wherein the reinforcement element comprises a coil.

48. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 40 to 47 wherein the proximal shaft portion tapers distally inwardly.

49. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 40 to 48 wherein the proximal shaft portion comprises a hypotube.

50. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 40 to 49 wherein the proximal shaft portion comprises means to radially reinforce the proximal shaft portion.

51. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 40 to 50 wherein the catheter shaft comprises a mounting piece for attaching the pod to the proximal shaft portion.

52. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 40 to 51 wherein the distal end of the proximal shaft portion is located distally of the proximal end of the pod.

53. A catheter as claimed in claim 52 wherein the mounting piece is more flexible than the proximal shaft portion and the pod.

54. A catheter as claimed in claim 51 or 52 wherein the mounting piece is more stiff than the proximal shaft portion and the pod.

55. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 51 to 54 wherein the mounting piece tapers proximally inwardly.

56. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 51 to 55 wherein the mounting piece tapers distally inwardly.

57. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 51 to 56 wherein the guidewire opening in the catheter shaft is provided by an opening in the mounting piece.

58. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 2 to 57 wherein the guidewire opening in the catheter shaft faces in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the catheter.

59. A catheter as claimed in claim 58 wherein the guidewire opening faces proximally.

60. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 2 to 59 wherein the catheter comprises means to guide passage of a guidewire through the guidewire opening in the catheter shaft.

61. A catheter as claimed in claim 60 wherein the means to guide passage comprises a guide tube through which a guidewire may pass.

62. A catheter as claimed in claim 61 wherein the guide tube extends at least partially internally through the catheter shaft.

63. A catheter as claimed in claim 61 or 62 wherein the guide tube extends at least partially externally of the catheter shaft.

64. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 61 to 63 wherein the guide tube is mounted to the catheter shaft.

65. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 60 to 64 wherein the means to guide passage comprises a guiding ramp.

66. A catheter comprising a proximal shaft portion and a distal shaft portion attached to the proximal shaft portion, and means to stiffen the catheter at the junction between the proximal shaft portion and the distal shaft portion.

67. A catheter as claimed in claim 66 wherein the catheter comprises a mounting piece for attaching the distal shaft portion to the proximal shaft portion.

68. A catheter as claimed in claim 66 or 67 wherein the distal end of the proximal shaft portion is located distally of the proximal end of the distal shaft portion to stiffen the junction.

69. A catheter as claimed in claim 68 wherein the mounting piece is more flexible than the proximal shaft portion and the distal shaft portion.

70. A catheter as claimed in claim 67 or 68 wherein the mounting piece is more stiff than the proximal shaft portion and the distal shaft portion to stiffen the junction.

71. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 66 to 70 wherein the catheter comprises strain relief means.

72. A catheter as claimed in claim 71 wherein the mounting piece tapers distally inwardly.

73. A catheter as claimed in claim 71 or 72 wherein the mounting piece tapers proximally inwardly.

74. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 66 to 73 wherein a guidewire opening is provided in the catheter, the guidewire opening being located a substantial distance distally of a proximal end of the catheter for rapid exchange of the catheter over a guidewire.

75. A catheter as claimed in claim 74 wherein the guidewire opening is provided by an opening in the mounting piece.

76. A catheter as claimed in claim 74 or 75 wherein the guidewire opening faces in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the catheter.

77. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 74 to 76 wherein the catheter comprises means to guide passage of a guidewire through the guidewire opening in the catheter.

78. A catheter as claimed in claim 77 wherein the means to guide passage is provided by the mounting piece.

79. A delivery catheter comprising:

—

catheter shaft defining a reception space for a stent;

a guidewire opening being provided in the catheter shaft; and

an engagement element for engagement with a stent in the reception space to facilitate deployment of the stent from within the reception space upon, movement of the catheter shaft relative to the engagement element;

the engagement element defining a guidewire lumen therethrough;

the guidewire opening in the catheter shaft being movable relative to the guidewire lumen of the engagement element upon deployment of a stent from within the reception space.

80. A catheter as claimed in claim 79 wherein the guidewire opening in the catheter shaft is located a substantial distance distally of a proximal end of the catheter for rapid exchange of the catheter over a guidewire.

81. A catheter as claimed in claim 80 wherein the guidewire opening in the catheter shaft faces in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the catheter.

82. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 79 to 81 wherein the catheter comprises means to guide passage of a guidewire through the guidewire opening in the catheter shaft.

83. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 79 to 82 wherein the catheter comprises an operating element extending through the catheter shaft, the engagement element being provided by at least part of the operating element.

84. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 79 to 83 wherein the catheter shaft is slidably movable relative to the engagement element.

85. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 79 to 84 wherein the catheter shaft is movable proximally relative to the engagement element to deploy a stent from within the reception space.

86. A delivery catheter comprising:

—

catheter shaft defining a reception space for a stent; and

a control wire extending through a substantial portion of the length of the catheter shaft for engagement with a stent in the reception space to facilitate deployment of the stent from within the reception space upon movement of the catheter shaft relative to the operating element.

87. A catheter as claimed in claim 86 wherein the catheter shaft defines a wire lumen extending from a proximal end of the catheter to the reception space, and the control wire extends through the full length of the wire lumen.

88. A catheter as claimed in claim 86 or 87 wherein the control wire is a push wire.

89. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 86 to 88 wherein the control wire comprises a coiled spring.

90. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 86 to 89 wherein the catheter comprises a lateral support for the control wire.

91. A catheter as claimed in any of claims 86 to 90 wherein the diameter of the wire is in the range of from 0.008″

to 0.015″

.

92. A catheter as claimed in claim 91 wherein the diameter of the wire is in the range of from 0.01″

to 0.012″

.

93. A catheter substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.