Catheter assembly

• US 20050283221A1
• Filed: 06/17/2004
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Original Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Inventors: Lafferty, Eric C., Messick, David J., Mann, James W., Eskaros, Sherif A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,289,576 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0037 characterized by lumina being arranged side-by-side
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0039 characterized by lumina being arranged coaxially
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0183 Rapid exchange or monorail catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0023 by the form of the lumen, e.g. cross-section, variable diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0029 characterized by features relating to least one lumen located at the middle part of the catheter, e.g. slots, flaps, valves, cuffs, apertures, notches, grooves or rapid exchange ports catheter shaft surface irregularities A61M2025/006
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0045 multi-layered, e.g. coated coating materials A61L29/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0054 with regions for increasing flexibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10 Balloon catheters A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02; inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 ; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00

Abstract

Catheter having a proximal section and a distal section. The proximal section having at least a delivery lumen and a guidewire receiving lumen, the guidewire receiving lumen having a proximal guidewire exit port at a location proximal of the distal end of the proximal section. A reinforcing tubular member located in the proximal section delivery lumen extending from substantially the proximal end of the proximal section to a point distal to the proximal guidewire exit port, wherein the reinforcing tubular member transitions from relatively rigid to relatively more flexible from a proximal point to a distal point thereon and has an outer diameter equal to about the inner diameter of the delivery lumen for at least a portion of the reinforcing tubular member that extends distal to the proximal guidewire exit port. The distal section having at least a delivery lumen and a guidewire receiving lumen.

Claims

1. A catheter comprising:

proximal section having a proximal end and a distal end and at least two parallel extending lumens including a delivery lumen having an inner diameter extending substantially from the proximal end to the distal end and a guidewire receiving lumen, the guidewire receiving lumen having a proximal guidewire exit port at a location distal to the proximal end;

reinforcing tubular member located in the proximal section delivery lumen extending from substantially the proximal section proximal end to a point distal to the proximal guidewire exit port, wherein the reinforcing tubular member transitions from relatively rigid to relatively more flexible from a proximal point to a distal point thereon and has an outer diameter equal to about the inner diameter of the delivery lumen for at least a portion of the reinforcing tubular member that extends distal to the proximal guidewire exit port; and

distal section having at least a distal section guidewire receiving lumen and a distal section delivery lumen, the distal section guidewire receiving lumen being in fluid communication with the distal end of the guidewire receiving lumen of the proximal section and the distal section delivery lumen being in fluid communication with the distal end of the delivery lumen of the proximal section.

2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the proximal guidewire exit port is located less than about 10 cm from the distal end of the distal section of the catheter.

3. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the proximal guidewire exit port is located greater than about 10 cm from the distal end of the distal section of the catheter.

4. The catheter of claim 3, wherein the proximal guidewire exit port is located about 24 cm to about 34 cm from the distal end of the distal section of the catheter.

5. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the proximal section and the distal section are joined together at a joint.

6. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing tubular member comprises a spirally cut tube.

7. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the catheter transitions from the proximal section to the distal section in a smooth joint without one section overlapping the other section.

8. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the distal section guidewire receiving lumen and the distal section delivery lumen transition from being parallel to coaxial near the proximal end of the distal section.

9. The catheter of claim 1, wherein a balloon is located on the distal end of the distal section of the catheter.

10. The catheter of claim 9, wherein a stent is mounted on the balloon.

11. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the proximal section and the distal section are formed from a plastic extrusion.

12. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing tubular member continuously increases in flexibility from its proximal end to its distal end.

13. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing tubular member has an outer diameter equal to about the inner diameter of the proximal section delivery lumen over the entire length of the reinforcing tubular member.

14. The catheter of claim 6, wherein the spirally cut tube transitions continuously from a pitch of about 10 mm to a pitch of about 1 mm at the distal end thereof.

15. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing tubular member has a reduced wall thickness as the tube extends from its proximal end to its distal end.

16. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing tubular member is comprised of at least two materials of varying stiffness.

17. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing tubular member transitions from relatively rigid at a point proximal to the proximal guidewire exit port to relatively more flexible at a point distal to the proximal guidewire exit port.

18. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing tubular member maintains the same flexibility from a point proximal to the proximal guidewire exit port to a point distal to the proximal guidewire exit port.

19. A catheter comprising:

proximal section having a proximal end and a distal end and at least two parallel extending lumens including a delivery lumen having an inner diameter extending substantially from the proximal end to the distal end and a guidewire receiving lumen extending substantially from the proximal end to the distal end, the guidewire receiving lumen having a first proximal guidewire exit port located between the proximal end and the distal end and a second proximal guidewire port located at the proximal end;

reinforcing tubular member located in the proximal section delivery lumen, wherein the reinforcing tubular member transitions from relatively rigid to relatively more flexible from a proximal point to a distal point thereon and having an outer diameter equal to about the inner diameter of the delivery lumen for at least a portion of the reinforcing tubular member that extends distal to the first proximal guidewire exit port; and

distal section having at least a distal section guidewire receiving lumen and a distal section delivery lumen, the distal section guidewire receiving lumen being in fluid communication with the distal end of the guidewire receiving lumen of the proximal section and the distal section delivery lumen being in fluid communication with the distal end of the delivery lumen of the proximal section.

20. The catheter of claim 19, wherein the first proximal guidewire exit port is located less than about 10 cm from the distal end of the distal section of the catheter.

21. The catheter of claim 19, wherein the first proximal guidewire exit port is located greater than about 10 cm from the distal end of the distal section of the catheter.

22. The catheter of claim 21, wherein the first proximal guidewire exit port is located about 24 cm to about 34 cm from the distal end of the distal section of the catheter.

23. The catheter of claim 19, wherein the first proximal section and the distal section are joined together at a joint.

24. The catheter of claim 19, wherein the reinforcing tubular member comprises a spirally cut tube.

25. The catheter of claim 19, wherein the catheter transitions from the proximal section to the distal section in a smooth joint without one section overlapping the other section.

26. The catheter of claim 19, wherein the distal section guidewire receiving lumen and the distal section delivery lumen transition from being parallel to coaxial near the proximal end of the distal section.

27. The catheter of claim 19, wherein a balloon is located on the distal end of the distal section of the catheter.

28. The catheter of claim 27, wherein a stent is mounted on the balloon.

29. The catheter of claim 19, wherein the proximal section and the distal section are formed from a plastic extrusion.

30. The catheter of claim 19, wherein the reinforcing tubular member continuously increases in flexibility from its proximal end to its distal end.

31. The catheter of claim 19, wherein the reinforcing tubular member has an outer diameter equal to about the inner diameter of the proximal section delivery lumen over the entire length of the reinforcing tubular member.

32. The catheter of claim 24, wherein the spirally cut tube transitions continuously from a pitch of about 10 mm to a pitch of about 1 mm at the distal end thereof.

33. The catheter of claim 19 wherein the reinforcing tubular member has a reduced wall thickness as the tube extends from its proximal end to its distal end.

34. The catheter of claim 19, wherein the reinforcing tubular member is comprised of at least two materials of varying stiffness.

35. The catheter of claim 19, wherein the reinforcing tubular member transitions from relatively rigid at a point proximal to the proximal guidewire exit port to relatively more flexible at a point distal to the proximal guidewire exit port.

36. A catheter comprising:

proximal section having a proximal end and a distal end and at least two parallel extending lumens including a delivery lumen having an inner diameter extending substantially from the proximal end to the distal end and a guidewire receiving lumen, the guidewire receiving lumen being defined by a longitudinally extending channel provided with a thin material capable of being punctured to form a proximal guidewire exit port at a location distal to the proximal end;

reinforcing tubular member located in the proximal section delivery lumen wherein the reinforcing tubular member transitions from relatively rigid to relatively more flexible from a proximal point to a distal point thereon and extends from substantially the proximal section proximal end to the proximal section distal end and having an outer diameter equal to about the inner diameter of the proximal section delivery lumen for at least a portion of the reinforcing tubular member; and

distal section having at least a distal section guidewire receiving lumen and a distal section delivery lumen, the distal section guidewire receiving lumen being in fluid communication with the distal end of the guidewire receiving lumen of the proximal section and the distal section delivery lumen being in fluid communication with the distal end of the delivery lumen of the proximal section.