Puncturing tool for puncturing catheter shafts

• US 20050021004A1
• Filed: 06/14/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Original Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Inventors: Eskaros, Sherif A., Cully, Edward H., Flury, Keith M., Vonesh, Michael J., Trapp, Benjamin M., Mann, James W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,433,745 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/528
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0175 having telescopic features, interengaging nestable members movable in relations to one another
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/00 Catheters; Hollow probes dilators A61M29/00; peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00 ; for measuring or testing A61B; materials for catheters A61L29/00

Abstract

Puncturing tools that cause an aperture to be pierced through the wall of a guidewire lumen of a catheter shaft at a location at which it is desired to have a guidewire exit the guidewire lumen.

Claims

1. A tool for use with a catheter to aid in forming a guidewire exit site comprising:

a body adapted to be positioned on the catheter; and

a mechanism associated with the body that is adapted to engage the catheter at a position where a guidewire exit site is desired in such a manner that a guidewire is directed to exit the catheter at the guidewire exit site.

2. The tool of claim 1 wherein the actuation mechanism engages the catheter by bending the catheter at the desired guidewire exit site.

3. The tool of claim 2 that includes at least one strain relief.

4. The tool of claim 1 wherein the tool includes a cutting mechanism that assists in forming the guidewire exit site through the catheter from the outside of the catheter.

5. The tool of claim 3 wherein the catheter includes a second lumen and the tool is adapted to avoid accidental puncture of the second lumen.

6. The tool of claim 3 wherein the cutting mechanism is associated with the actuation mechanism so that the guidewire exit site is cut through the catheter when the actuation mechanism is activated.

7. The tool of claim 3 wherein the actuation mechanism engages the catheter by bending the catheter at the desired guidewire exit site.

8. The tool of claim 1 wherein the guidewire exit site is formed through the catheter from the inside of the catheter.

9. The tool of claim 1 wherein the tool is adapted to be used on a standard angioplasty catheter.

10. The tool of claim 1 wherein the tool includes transparent component to allow movement of the actuation mechanism to be observed by an operator.

11. The tool of claim 1 wherein the actuation mechanism includes a handle.

12. The tool of claim 11 wherein the tool is registered to the catheter shaft.

13. The tool of claim 12 wherein the handle aids in manipulation of the catheter.

14. The tool of claim 1 wherein the actuation mechanism includes a ramp to direct the guidewire out of the catheter.

15. The tool of claim 1, wherein the catheter has a length and the tool is selectively positionable along the length of the catheter.

16. The tool of claim 15, wherein the tool may be repositioned along the length of the catheter after the guidewire has exited the guidewire exit site.

17. The tool of claim 1 wherein the catheter has a length and the tool may be used to create more that one guidewire exit site along the length of the catheter.

18. A catheter system comprising

a guidewire;

a catheter having a length and adapted to track over the guidewire; and

a puncturing tool adapted to assist in forming a guidewire exit site at a user-defined location on the catheter to allow the guidewire to exit the catheter at one of a number of possible locations along the length of the catheter.

19. The catheter system of claim 18 wherein the catheter system can be used with guidewires ranging from 25 to over 300 cm length.

20. The catheter system of claim 18 wherein the catheter system can be utilized as either a rapid exchange or an over-the-wire catheter system.

21. The catheter system of claim 18 wherein the guidewire has a lumen.