Angioplasty apparatus facilitating rapid exchanges and method
First Claim
1. In an apparatus of the character described for introduction into the vessel of a patient, a guiding catheter adapted to be inserted into the vessel of the patient, and a device adapted to be inserted into the guiding catheter, the device including a flexible elongate member, a sleeve carried by the flexible elongate member near the distal extremity thereof and extending from a region near the distal extremity to a region spaced from the distal extremity of the flexible elongate element, the device also including a guide wire adapted to extend through the sleeve so that the guide wire can be positioned so that it extends from the distal extremity of the flexible elongate member, through the sleeve and rearwardly of the sleeve alongside of and exteriorally of the flexible elongate element into a region near the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for introduction into the vessel of a patient comprising a guiding catheter adapted to be inserted into the vessel of the patient and a device adapted to be inserted into the guiding catheter. The device includes a flexible elongate member and a sleeve carried by the flexible elongate member near the distal extremity thereof and extending from a region near the distal extremity to a region spaced from the distal extremity of the flexible elongate element. The device also includes a guide wire adapted to extend through the sleeve so that the guide wire extends rearwardly of the sleeve extending alongside of and exteriorally of the flexible elongate element into a region near the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate element.
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Citations
17 Claims
- 1. In an apparatus of the character described for introduction into the vessel of a patient, a guiding catheter adapted to be inserted into the vessel of the patient, and a device adapted to be inserted into the guiding catheter, the device including a flexible elongate member, a sleeve carried by the flexible elongate member near the distal extremity thereof and extending from a region near the distal extremity to a region spaced from the distal extremity of the flexible elongate element, the device also including a guide wire adapted to extend through the sleeve so that the guide wire can be positioned so that it extends from the distal extremity of the flexible elongate member, through the sleeve and rearwardly of the sleeve alongside of and exteriorally of the flexible elongate element into a region near the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate element.
- 13. In an angioplasty apparatus adapted to be inserted into the vessel of a patient, a guiding catheter, balloon dilatation catheter including a flexible elongate element having a balloon inflating lumen extending therethrough, a balloon, means for establishing a fluid-tight connection between the balloon inflating lumen and the balloon so that the balloon can be inflated and deflated, a sleeve extending through the balloon and extending rearwardly from the balloon and extending alongside and exteriorally of the flexible elongate element, said sleeve having a guide wire lumen extending therethrough and a guide wire extending through the sleeve and extending beyond the distal extremity of the flexible elongate element and extending rearwardly from the sleeve alongside and exteriorally of the flexible elongate element into a region adjacent the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate element.
- 16. In a method for performing an angioplasty procedure in which a guiding catheter is disposed in the vessel of the patient and in which a device is to be inserted into the guiding catheter, the device including a flexible elongate element and a sleeve carried by the flexible elongate element extending from approximately the distal extremity thereof rearwardly of the flexible elongate element for a distance of approximately 10 centimeters, the device also including a guide wire, the method including the steps of taking the proximal extremity of the guide wire and inserting it in the distal extremity of the sleeve and pushing it rearwardly through the sleeve until it exits from the sleeve and then further advancing the guide wire so that the guide wire extends alongside and exteriorally substantially the entire length of the flexible elongate element, inserting the device into the guiding catheter with the guide wire thereon, advancing the guide wire ahead of the device to position the guide wire in the desired location in the vessel, and thereafter further advancing the device on the guide wire until the device is positioned in the desired location for performing an operation with the device, and removing device from the guide wire while the guide wire remains in place.
Specification