Medical device and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A catheter/dilator assembly comprising:
- a catheter assembly comprising;
a catheter having a proximal catheter end, a distal catheter end, a lumen, and an outer catheter surface; and
a material-directing element, movable between radially expanded and radially collapsed states, secured to and extending past the distal catheter end, the material-directing element having an axial length when in the radially collapsed state;
a dilator comprising a hollow shaft within the lumen of the catheter, the hollow shaft having an outer shaft surface, a proximal shaft end, a distal shaft end and a recessed region in the outer shaft surface at the distal shaft end;
the recessed region and the material-directing element being generally aligned with one another;
a compression element covering the material-directing element to temporarily retain the material-directing element in a radially collapsed state; and
the recessed region sized for receipt of at least substantially the entire axial length of the material-directing element so to reduce the radial cross-sectional dimension of the assembly at the material-directing element.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A medical device, such as a catheter/dilator assembly, a rapid exchange dilator assembly, a funnel catheter, an anastomotic medical device, and associated methods.
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Citations
122 Claims
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1. A catheter/dilator assembly comprising:
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a catheter assembly comprising;
a catheter having a proximal catheter end, a distal catheter end, a lumen, and an outer catheter surface; and
a material-directing element, movable between radially expanded and radially collapsed states, secured to and extending past the distal catheter end, the material-directing element having an axial length when in the radially collapsed state;
a dilator comprising a hollow shaft within the lumen of the catheter, the hollow shaft having an outer shaft surface, a proximal shaft end, a distal shaft end and a recessed region in the outer shaft surface at the distal shaft end;
the recessed region and the material-directing element being generally aligned with one another;
a compression element covering the material-directing element to temporarily retain the material-directing element in a radially collapsed state; and
the recessed region sized for receipt of at least substantially the entire axial length of the material-directing element so to reduce the radial cross-sectional dimension of the assembly at the material-directing element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for assembling a catheter/dilator assembly comprising:
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selecting a catheter assembly comprising;
a catheter having a proximal catheter end, a distal catheter end, a lumen, and an outer catheter surface; and
a material-directing element, movable between radially expanded and radially collapsed states, secured to and extending past the distal catheter end, the material-directing element having an axial length when in the radially collapsed state;
inserting a hollow shaft of a dilator through the proximal catheter end and into the lumen of the catheter;
positioning a recess formed in the distal shaft end of the hollow shaft to underlie the material-directing element;
placing the material-directing element in the radially collapsed state; and
sliding a first sleeve in a proximal direction to a first position covering the distal shaft end of the dilator and over the material-directing element to maintain the material-directing element in the radially collapsed state. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 37)
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27. A method for removing material from a tubular structure within a body comprising:
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selecting a catheter/dilator assembly comprising;
a catheter assembly comprising;
a catheter having a proximal catheter end, a distal catheter end, a lumen, and an outer catheter surface; and
a material-directing element, movable between radially expanded and radially collapsed states, secured to and extending past the distal catheter end, the material-directing element having an axial length when in the radially collapsed state;
a dilator comprising a hollow shaft within the lumen of the catheter, the hollow shaft having an outer shaft surface, a proximal shaft end, a distal shaft end and a recessed region in the outer shaft surface at or near the distal shaft end;
the recessed region and the material-directing element being generally aligned with one another;
a sleeve comprising distal and proximal portions, the distal portion covering the material-directing element to temporarily retain the material-directing element in a radially collapsed state, the proximal portion covering the distal catheter end; and
the recessed region sized for receipt of at least substantially the entire axial length of the material-directing element so to reduce the radial cross-sectional dimension of the assembly at the material-directing element;
locating the material-directing element at a first target location within a lumen of a tubular structure;
uncovering the material-directing element to place the material-directing element in a radially expanded state with the material-directing element contacting an inner surface of the tubular structure;
causing material within the lumen to move into the catheter/dilator assembly; and
removing the catheter/dilator assembly from the body. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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38. A dilator assembly comprising:
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an elongate dilator comprising proximal and distal portions, a dilator tip at the distal portion, and a dilator lumen extending from the dilator tip to at least a first position along the dilator;
the dilator comprising a guide wire pathway extending from a second position at the proximal portion of the dilator to the first position;
an opening in the dilator at the first position connecting the guide wire pathway and the dilator lumen; and
a flexible guide wire extending along the guide wire pathway, through the opening, through the dilator lumen and out of the dilator tip. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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40. A rapid exchange dilator assembly comprising:
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a catheter comprising a catheter lumen extending between a distal catheter end and a proximal catheter end;
an elongate dilator, removably housed within the catheter lumen, comprising a proximal portion extending to a proximal dilator end, a distal portion extending to a dilator tip, and a dilator lumen extending from the dilator tip to at least a first position along the dilator;
the dilator comprising a guide wire pathway extending from the proximal portion of the dilator to the first position;
an opening in the dilator at the first position connecting the guide wire pathway and the dilator lumen;
a flexible guide wire, comprising a guide wire proximal end and a guide wire distal end, extending along the guide wire pathway, through the opening, through the dilator lumen and out of the dilator tip; and
the guide wire proximal end and the proximal dilator end are positioned proximally of the proximal catheter end, the guide wire distal end and the distal dilator end is positioned distally of the distal catheter end;
whereby when the assembly is at a desired position within a body, the dilator can be removed leaving the catheter and guide wire in position. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A method for providing access to a target site within a tubular structure of a patient, comprising:
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positioning a distal catheter end of a first, guide catheter at a first position within a tubular structure of a patient;
passing a rapid exchange dilator assembly into the first catheter, the rapid exchange dilator assembly comprising a second catheter, the second catheter comprising a removable dilator, a guide wire and a second catheter lumen, the second catheter lumen housing the dilator and the guide wire;
removing the dilator from the patient leaving the second catheter and the guide wire within the patient; and
passing an operational device through the second catheter for performing a procedure at the target site. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A method for providing access to a target site within a tubular structure of a patient, comprising:
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selecting a rapid exchange dilator assembly comprising;
a catheter comprising a catheter lumen, extending between a distal catheter end and a proximal catheter end, and a material-directing element, movable between radially expanded and radially collapsed states, secured to the distal catheter end;
an elongate dilator, removably housed within the catheter lumen, comprising a proximal portion extending to a proximal dilator end, a distal portion extending to a dilator tip, and a dilator lumen extending from the dilator tip to at least a first position along the dilator;
the dilator comprising a guide wire pathway extending from the proximal portion of the dilator to the first position;
an opening in the dilator at the first position connecting the guide wire pathway and the dilator lumen;
a flexible guide wire, comprising a guide wire proximal end and a guide wire distal end, extending along the guide wire pathway, through the opening, through the dilator lumen and out of the dilator tip; and
the guide wire proximal end and the proximal dilator end position proximally of the proximal catheter end, the guide wire distal end and the distal dilator end position the distally of the distal catheter end;
positioning a distal catheter end of a guide catheter at a second position within a tubular structure of a patient;
passing the rapid exchange dilator assembly into the guide catheter;
removing the dilator from the patient leaving the catheter and the guide wire of the rapid exchange dilator assembly within the patient; and
passing an operational device through the catheter of the rapid exchange dilator assembly for performing a procedure at the target site. - View Dependent Claims (57)
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58. A funnel catheter having a distal funnel catheter end, the funnel catheter comprising:
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an outer tube;
an inner tube slidably located within the outer tube;
a tubular sleeve having first and second ends and movable between a radially expanded, use state and a radially contracted, deployment state;
the first end of the sleeve being secured to a distal end of the outer tube;
the second end of the sleeve being secured to a distal end of the inner tube; and
the sleeve having a movable, generally U-shaped direction-reversing region so that when the first and second ends move relative to one another the position of the direction-reversing region moves relative to the distal ends of the inner and outer tubes, the direction-reversing region constituting the distal funnel catheter end. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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67. A funnel catheter comprising:
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an outer tube having a first distal end and an inner surface, the inner surface defining an outer lumen;
an inner tube, slidably located within the outer lumen, having a second distal end and an outer surface positioned opposite the inner surface;
a tubular sleeve having first and second ends and movable between a radially expanded, use state and a radially contracted, deployment state;
the first end of the sleeve being secured to the first distal end;
the second end of the sleeve being secured to the second distal end so to extend from other than the outer surface; and
the sleeve having a movable, generally U-shaped direction-reversing region when the first and second distal ends move relative to one another with the position of the direction-reversing region moving relative to the first and second distal ends.
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68. A method for deploying a material-directing element within a tubular structure within a patient comprising:
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selecting a funnel catheter having a distal funnel catheter end, the funnel catheter comprising;
an outer tube;
an inner tube slidably located within the outer tube;
a tubular sleeve having first and second ends and movable between a radially expanded, use state and a radially contracted, deployment state;
the first end of the sleeve being secured to a distal end of the outer tube;
the second end of the sleeve being secured to a distal end of the inner tube; and
the sleeve having a movable, generally U-shaped direction-reversing region, the direction-reversing region constituting the distal funnel catheter end;
deploying the funnel catheter with the sleeve in a reduced diameter, deployment state and with the sleeve being generally parallel to the outer and inner tubes;
positioning the direction-reversing region at a chosen position within a tubular structure within a patient; and
moving the distal ends of the inner and outer tubes relative to one another;
causing the position of the direction-reversing region to move relative to the first and second ends;
causing the sleeve to form a distally-opening material-directing funnel, the funnel having a distal funnel portion and a proximal funnel portion; and
causing the distal funnel portion to contact the inner wall of the tubular structure. - View Dependent Claims (69)
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70. A method for making a funnel catheter comprising:
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winding material onto a mandril to create a tubular braided sleeve having a proximal portion, a distal portion, a proximal end, and a distal end;
removing the tubular braided sleeve from the mandril; and
securing the proximal end to a first position on an outer tube and securing a distal end to a second position on an inner tube to create a funnel catheter. - View Dependent Claims (71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83)
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84. A balloon funnel catheter comprising:
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a shaft having an end, a main lumen and an inflation lumen;
an annular balloon mounted to the end of the shaft and fluidly coupled to the inflation lumen for movement between a radially contracted, uninflated state and a radially expanded, inflated state;
the balloon defining an open region opening into the main lumen when in the inflated state; and
the balloon extending distally past the end of the shaft when in the inflated state. - View Dependent Claims (85, 86)
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87. A method for securing a tubular braid to a tube comprising:
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bringing a first end of a tubular braid into engagement with an end portion of a tube, said end portion comprising a temporarily softenable tube material;
softening the temporarily softenable tube material; and
merging the end portion of the tube and the first end of the tubular braid into one another to create a tube material/tubular braid matrix. - View Dependent Claims (88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95)
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96. A method for controlling the shape of a radially expandable and contractible tubular braid device comprising:
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choosing a radially expanded shape for the braid device when the braid device is in a radially expanded state, the radially expanded shape having a length and different cross-sectional dimensions at selected positions along the length;
selectively applying a material to at least some of the selected positions along the braid device; and
adjusting the stretch resistance of the material according to the selected positions;
whereby the different stretch resistances at the selected positions cause the braid device to assume the chosen radially expanded shape when the braid device is in the radially expanded state. - View Dependent Claims (97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105)
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106. A method for imparting a shape to a thermoplastic membrane comprising:
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surrounding at least a portion of a radially expandable device with a thermoplastic membrane;
radially expanding the radially expandable device to a chosen expanded configuration thereby reshaping the thermoplastic membrane to assume an expanded state corresponding to the chosen expanded configuration; and
imparting a set to the thermoplastic membrane while in the expanded state. - View Dependent Claims (107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114)
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115. An anastomotic medical device comprising:
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a tube having first and second ends and a lumen extending therebetween;
an anchor member at the first end for securing the first end to a first tubular structure of a patient, the first tubular structure having a first open interior, with the first open interior opening into the lumen. - View Dependent Claims (116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121)
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122. An anastomotic medical assembly comprising:
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a first anastomotic medical device comprising;
a first tube having first and second ends and a first lumen extending therebetween; and
a first anchor member at the first end of the first tube for securing the first end of the first tube to a first tubular structure of a patient, the first tubular structure having a first open interior, with the first open interior opening into the first lumen;
a second anastomotic medical device comprising;
a second tube having first and second ends and a first lumen extending therebetween; and
a second anchor member at the first end of the second tube for securing the first end of the second tube to a second tubular structure of a patient, the second tubular structure having a second open interior, with the second open interior opening into the second lumen; and
the second ends of the first and second tubes connected to one another to create a fluid path between the first and second anchor members, whereby the first and second open interiors of the first and second tubular structures of the patient may be fluidly connected.
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Specification