Microcatheter

• US 20030225434A1
• Filed: 05/30/2002
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ev3 Peripheral Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Ev3 Peripheral Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Glantz, Jerald, Lee, Nathan T., Vreeman, Daniel J., Blackledge, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US10/160,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20030225434A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/194
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0009 Making of catheters or other medical or surgical tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/001 Forming the tip of a catheter, e.g. bevelling process, join or taper
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0069 Tip not integral with tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/008 Strength or flexibility characteristics of the catheter tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a catheter having an elongate body defining a lumen. An angioplasty balloon is mounted adjacent a distal end of the elongate body. A flexible tip is located proximal to the angioplasty balloon. In one embodiment, the flexible tip is integral with the elongate body.

Claims

1. A medical device comprising:

an elongate body having distal and proximal ends, the elongate body defining a lumen;

an expandable balloon mounted adjacent the distal end of the elongate body, the balloon being in fluid communication with the lumen of the elongate body; and

a flexible tip located at the distal end of the elongate body that is an integral part of the elongate body.

2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the flexible tip includes a coil.

3. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the flexible tip includes one or more cuts for providing flexibility.

4. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the elongate body includes metal.

5. The medical device of claim 4, wherein the metal includes Nitinol.

6. The medical device of claim 1, wherein a safety member is connected between a main body of the elongate body and the flexible tip.

7. The medical device of claim 6, wherein the safety member includes a wire attached to a distal-most end of the flexible tip.

8. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the elongate body defines a single lumen.

9. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the flexible tip has a maximum outer diameter less than 0.014″

.

10. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the flexible tip includes a radio opaque material.

11. A method for making a medical device comprising:

providing an elongate body having a lumen;

removing a portion of the elongate body adjacent one end of the elongate body to provide a flexible tip; and

attaching an expandable balloon adjacent the flexible tip such that the balloon is in fluid communication with the lumen of the elongate body.

12. A medical device comprising:

an elongate body having distal and proximal ends, the elongate body defining a lumen;

an expandable balloon positioned adjacent the distal end of the elongate body, the balloon having an interior region that is in fluid communication with the lumen; and

a flexible tip located at the distal end of the elongate body, the flexible tip having a maximum outer diameter less than 0.014″

inches.

13. The medical device of claim 12, wherein the flexible tip is integral with the elongate body.

14. The medical device of claim 12, wherein the flexible tip is defined by one or more cuts.

15. The medical device of claim 12, wherein the flexible tip includes a radio opaque material.

16. The medical device of claim 14, wherein the one or more cuts includes a helical cut.

17. The medical device of claim 12, wherein the elongate body includes metal.

18. The medical device of claim 16, wherein the metal includes Nitinol.

19. The medical device of claim 12, wherein the elongate body includes a single lumen.

20. A method for conducting a balloon angioplasty procedure on a cerebral vessel, the method comprising:

inserting a guide catheter into the vasculature of a patient and navigating the guide catheter to an occlusion in the cerebral vessel;

inserting a balloon catheter through the guide catheter and aligning a balloon of the balloon catheter with the occlusion; and

enlarging the occlusion by inflating the balloon.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising removing the balloon catheter after the occlusion has been enlarged, and conducting diagnostic procedures through the guide catheter.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising conducting diagnostic procedures through the guide catheter prior to insertion of the balloon catheter.