Stent delivery catheter positioning device

• US 20050049607A1
• Filed: 05/25/2004
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Wadleigh, Glenn H., LeClair, Ryan M., Wetherbee, Bill A., Hart, Colin P., Van Diver, Mark H., Martin, Kevin C.
• Application Number:
  US10/853,079
• Publication Number:
  US 20050049607A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9517 handle assemblies therefor

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to a medical device and procedure for accurately positioning a catheter across a desired region within a patient'"'"'s vasculature. In particular, the present invention provides a hub assembly unit that allows a physician to precisely position a stent within a vessel utilizing a stent delivery catheter. The hub assembly unit includes a fine adjustment mechanism. The fine adjustment mechanism extends or contracts the length of the hub assembly unit in controlled incremental units. These controlled fine displacements are then translated directly to the stent delivery or balloon dilation catheter.

Claims

1. A method for placing and positioning a delivery catheter at a desired location in a vascular system, the method comprising the steps of:

advancing a guide catheter having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending the length therethrough within the vascular system;

providing a hub assembly, the hub assembly being hemostatically affixed to and in fluid communication with the proximal end of the guide catheter, the hub assembly further including a fine adjustment mechanism capable of extending or contracting the hub assembly unit from a first length to a second length;

advancing a delivery catheter having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending the length therethrough within the hub assembly and through the guide catheter until reaching a desired region; and

positioning the distal end of the delivery catheter precisely across a desired point within the desired region using the fine adjustment mechanism.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein rotation of the delivery catheter is prohibited while positioning the distal end of the delivery catheter using the fine adjustment mechanism.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein longitudinal movement of the guide catheter is prohibited while positioning the distal end of the delivery catheter using the fine adjustment mechanism.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the guide catheter includes a means for securing the guide catheter in a fixed position relative to a patient.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the fine adjustment mechanism comprises a turnbuckle mechanism.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the fine adjustment mechanism comprises a rack and pinion mechanism.

7. A method for placing and positioning a medical device at a desired location in a vascular system, the method comprising the steps of:

advancing a first medical device having a proximal portion, a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending the length therethrough within the vascular system until the distal end of the first medical device reaches a first desired region;

advancing a second medical device having a proximal portion, a proximal end and a distal end within the lumen of the first medical device until the distal end of the second medical device reaches a second desired region distal of the first desired region;

providing a fine adjustment mechanism, the fine adjustment mechanism attached to the proximal portion of the first medical device and the proximal portion of the second medical device;

actuating the fine adjustment mechanism wherein the distal end of the second medical device is translated proximally or distally relative to the distal end of the first medical device.

8. The method in claim 7, wherein the second medical device is translated proximally or distally relative to the distal end of the first medical device by rotating the fine adjustment mechanism.

9. The method in claim 7, wherein the fine adjustment mechanism includes a lumen extending therethrough, wherein the second medical device extends through the lumen.

10. The method in claim 7, wherein the fine adjustment mechanism comprises a turnbuckle mechanism.

11. The method in claim 7, wherein the fine adjustment mechanism comprises a rack and pinion mechanism.

12. A method for placing and positioning a delivery catheter at a desired location in a vascular system, the method comprising the steps of:

advancing a guide catheter having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending the length thererthrough within the vascular system;

providing a hub assembly, the hub assembly having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending therethrough and in fluid communication with the lumen of the guide catheter, wherein the distal end of the hub assembly is connected to the proximal end of the guide catheter;

advancing a delivery catheter having a proximal end and a distal end within the hub assembly lumen and the guide catheter lumen until the distal end of the delivery catheter reaches a desired region distal of the guide catheter;

providing a fine adjustment mechanism, the fine adjustment mechanism connected to the proximal end of the hub assembly and the proximal end of the delivery catheter;

actuating the fine adjustment mechanism whereby the delivery catheter is longitudinally extended or contracted relative to the guide catheter.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the proximal end of the delivery catheter includes a hemostatsis valve.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the fine adjustment mechanism is actuated by rotating the fine adjustment mechanism.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the fine adjustment mechanism comprises a turnbuckle mechanism.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the fine adjustment mechanism includes a lumen extending therethrough, wherein the delivery catheter extends through the lumen.