Rapid exchange catheter with stent deployment, therapeutic infusion, and lesion sampling features

• US 20030120208A1
• Filed: 11/08/2002
• Published: 06/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CardioVascular Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Russell A. Houser, William D. Hare
• Inventors: Houser, Russell A., Hare, William D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,229,431 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/103.04
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/821 Ostial stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0183 Rapid exchange or monorail catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1047 having centering means, e.g. balloons having an appropriate shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1056 having guide wire lumens outside the main shaft, i.e. the guide wire lumen is within or on the surface of the balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/107 having a longitudinal slit in the balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1072 having balloons with two or more compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1095 with perfusion means for enabling blood circulation while the balloon is in an inflated state or in a deflated state, e.g. permanent by-pass within catheter shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty

Abstract

A catheter is insertable into a vessel within a mammalian body. The catheter includes a tubular body, at least one channel extending along the tubular body; and a central lumen. The tubular body includes an exterior surface, a first end and a second end, and defines a length between the first end and the second end. The channel passes between a first opening and a second opening and includes a slot in the tubular body between the channel and the exterior surface of the tubular body such that a tubular member can be passed between the channel and the exterior surface. The slot extends from the first opening to the second opening and includes a pair of edges. The central lumen extends along the tubular body at least for a portion of the length of the tubular body. The catheter can be used as a rapid exchange catheter, for stent deployment, for drug delivery or therapeutic infusion with or without electroporation, to provide localized heat, to provide ultrasonic visualization and ablation, and to examine for vulnerable plaque. The catheter may have multiple balloons.

Claims

1. A catheter configured to be inserted into a vessel within a mammalian body, the catheter comprising:

a tubular body having an exterior surface, a first end and a second end, and defining a length between the first end and the second end;

at least one channel extending along the tubular body at least for a portion of the length of the tubular body, the channel passing between a first opening and a second opening and having a slot in the tubular body between the channel and the exterior surface of the tubular body such that a tubular member can be passed between the channel and the exterior surface, wherein the slot extends from the first opening to the second opening and includes a pair of edges; and

a central lumen extending along the tubular body at least for a portion of the length of the tubular body.

2. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising a balloon extending around the tubular body proximal of the second end of the tubular body and at least a portion of the balloon being in contact with the exterior surface of the tubular body.

3. The catheter of claim 2, wherein the balloon extends into the channel for at least a portion of the length of the channel.

4. The catheter of claim 3, wherein the balloon further includes a first surface extending from the channel and a second surface extending from the channel.

5. The catheter of claim 4, wherein each of the first surface and the second surface include a radially extending channel passing between the channel in the tubular body and an opening on an outer surface of the balloon.

6. The catheter of claim 4, further comprising a band encircling at least a portion of a circumference of the tubular body under the balloon.

7. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the edges of the slot overlap.

8. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the edges of the slot are aligned and in contact along at least a portion of the length of the edges without being connected.

9. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the edges are aligned and spaced apart from one another.

10. The catheter of claim 2, wherein the balloon comprises at least two discrete diameters.

11. The catheter of claim 2, wherein the balloon comprises a diameter that is tapered along a length of the balloon.

12. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising a band encircling at least a portion of a circumference of the tubular body proximal of the second end of the tubular body.

13. The catheter of claim 12, wherein the channel passes below the band.

14. A catheter configured to be inserted into a vessel within a mammalian body, the catheter comprising:

a tubular body having an exterior surface, a first end and a second end that define a length between the first end and the second end, and a central lumen extending along the tubular body at least for a portion of the length of the tubular body; and

at least one tube having an exterior surface and extending along the exterior surface of the tubular body at least for a portion of the length of the tubular body, the tube including a first opening, a second opening, and a passage way passing between the first opening and the second opening.

15. The catheter of claim 14, further comprising a balloon extending around the tube and the tubular body proximal of the second end of the tubular body and at least a portion of the balloon being in contact with the exterior surface of the tubular body and the exterior surface of the tube

16. The catheter of claim 14, wherein the tube includes a channel comprising a slot opening into the passage way such that a tubular member can be passed between the channel and the exterior surface of the tube, wherein the slot extends from the first opening to the second opening and includes a pair of edges.

17. The catheter of claim 16, wherein the balloon extends into the channel for at least a portion of the length of the channel.

18. The catheter of claim 17, wherein the balloon further includes a first surface extending from the channel and a second surface extending from the channel.

19. The catheter of claim 18, wherein each of the first surface and the second surface include a radially extending channel passing between the channel in the tube and an opening on an outer surface of the balloon.

20. The catheter of claim 18, further comprising a band encircling at least a portion of a circumference of the tube under the balloon.

21. The catheter of claim 16, wherein the edges of the slot overlap.

22. The catheter of claim 16, wherein the edges of the slot are aligned and in contact along at least a portion of the length of the edges without being connected.

23. The catheter of claim 16, wherein the edges are aligned and spaced apart from one another.

24. The catheter of claim 15, wherein the balloon comprises at least two discrete diameters.

25. The catheter of claim 15, wherein the balloon comprises a diameter that is tapered along a length of the balloon

26. The catheter of claim 14, further comprising a band encircling at least a portion of a circumference of the tube proximal of the second opening of the tube.

27. A catheter configured to be inserted into a vessel within a mammalian body and track a guide wire, the catheter comprising:

a tubular body having an exterior surface, a first end and a second end, a length defined between the first end and the second end, and a central lumen extending along the tubular body at least for a portion of the length of the tubular body, and

at least one coiled member extending from the second end of the tubular body and including one or more extension members and one or more loop members configured to receive a guide wire and defining an inner diameter of each loop, the loop members connected to the extension members and defining a first opening and a second opening.

28. The catheter of claim 27, further comprising a balloon extending around the tubular body proximal of the second end of the tubular body and being in contact with the exterior surface of the tubular body.

29. The catheter of claim 27, wherein the loop member comprises a closed circumference.

30. The catheter of claim 29, wherein the closed circumference is openable.

31. The catheter of claim 27, wherein the loop member comprises an open circumference.

32. A method for removing a guide wire from a catheter, the method comprising:

providing a catheter including;

a tubular body having an exterior surface, a first end and a second end, and defining a length between the first end and the second end;

at least one channel extending along the tubular body at least for a portion of the length of the tubular body, the channel passing between a first opening and a second opening and having a slot in the tubular body between the channel and the exterior surface of the tubular body, wherein the slot extends from the first opening to the second opening and includes a pair of edges; and

a central lumen extending along the tubular body at least for a portion of the length of the tubular body;

inserting a guide wire into the channel;

advancing the catheter along the guide wire; and

removing the guide wire from the channel, wherein removing the guide wire comprises passing the guide wire from the channel to the exterior surface of the tubular body through the slot in the tubular body.

33. A method for removing a guide wire from a catheter, the method comprising:

providing a guide wire including;

a tubular body having an exterior surface, a first end and a second end, a length defined between the first end and the second end, and a central lumen extending along the tubular body at least for a portion of the length of the tubular body; and

at least one tube having an exterior surface and extending along the exterior surface of tubular body at least for a portion of the length of the tubular body, the tube including a first opening, a second opening, and a passage way passing between the first opening and the second opening;

inserting a guide wire into passage way in the tube through either of the first opening and the second opening in the tube;

advancing the catheter along the guide wire through the tube; and

removing the guide wire from the passage way, wherein removing the guide wire comprises withdrawing the guide wire from the passage way through either of the first opening and the second opening in the tube.

34. A method for removing a guide wire from a catheter, the method comprising:

providing a guide wire including;

a tubular body having an exterior surface, a first end and a second end, a length defined between the first end and the second end, and a central lumen extending along the tubular body at least for a portion of the length of the tubular body; and

at least one coiled member extending from the second end of the tubular body and including one or more extension members and one or more loop members configured to receive a guide wire and defining an inner diameter of each loop, the loop members connected to the extension members and defining a first opening and a second opening;

inserting a guide wire into the loop member through either of the first opening or the second opening;

advancing the catheter along the guide wire through the loop member; and

removing the guide wire from the loop member, wherein removing the guide wire comprises withdrawing the guide wire from the loop member through either of the first opening or the second opening.