Catheter with splittable wall shaft and peel tool

• US 20060030864A1
• Filed: 09/26/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cook Medical Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wilson-Cook Medical Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Karpiel, John A., Waller, David F., Carter, Matthew P., Haller, Frederick B., Kennedy,, Kenneth C. II, Hardin,, David M. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 8,591,563 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9517 handle assemblies therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/954 for placing stents or stent-grafts in a bifurcation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/962 having an outer sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/97 the outer sleeve being splittable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/065 Y-shaped blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9623 the sleeve being reinforced
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/004 characterized by lumina being arranged circumferentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0079 Separate user-activated means, e.g. guidewires, guide tubes, balloon catheters or sheaths, for sealing off an orifice, e.g. a lumen or side holes, of a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0183 Rapid exchange or monorail catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09116 Design of handles or shafts or gripping surfaces thereof for manipulating guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0009 Making of catheters or other medical or surgical tubes
• 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 25/0102 Insertion or introduction using an inner stiffening member, e.g. stylet or push-rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0169 Exchanging a catheter while keeping the guidewire in place
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0668 splittable, tear apart

Abstract

A method and apparatus for uncoupling a wire guide from and elongate medical device comprising a catheter shaft having a wire guide lumen extending there through, wherein the material surrounding the wire guide lumen is selected or adapted to facilitate splittability for removal of the wire guide. The catheter shaft is coextruded and comprises a plurality of materials. The portion of the shaft adjacent the wire guide lumen is formed from a first material and the balance of the shaft is formed from a second material. The first material is selected or adapted to facilitate splittability as compared to the second material. The first material may have a lower durometer than the second material. A peel tool for separating the wire guide from the catheter shaft is also provided.

Claims

1. An elongate medical device for use with a wire guide having a distal end, the elongate medical device comprising a shaft extending between a distal end and a proximal end, and a lumen extending through at least a portion of the shaft, the lumen comprising a coupling region extending between a distal opening and a proximal opening, the coupling region being configured to receive a wire guide extending there through,

wherein the shaft comprises a first material and a second material, the first material being more splittable than the second material, the first material being disposed between the lumen and an exterior surface of the shaft along at least a portion of the coupling region, the first material being splittable by an outwardly directed force of a wire guide disposed with the lumen as the wire guide is pulled out of and away from the shaft of the elongate medical device.

2. The elongate medical device of claim 1, wherein the shaft comprises a coextruded shaft.

3. The elongate medical device of claim 1, wherein the first material has a durometer that is lower than that of the second material.

4. The elongate medical device of claim 1, wherein the first material is weaker than the second material.

5. The elongate medical device of claim 1, wherein the lumen is completely surrounded by the first material.

6. The elongate medical device of claim 1, further comprising a second lumen, the second lumen being completely surrounded by the second material.

7. The elongate medical device of claim 1, wherein the shaft comprises a cross-sectional area, and the first material comprises less than 50 percent of the cross-sectional area of the shaft.

8. The elongate medical device of claim 7, wherein the second material comprises more than 50 percent of the cross-sectional area of the shaft.

9. The elongate medical device of claim 1, wherein the first material is configured to split in along a pathway that is generally parallel to a longitudinal central axis of the shaft.

10. The elongate medical device of claim 1, wherein the elongate medical device comprises a sphincterotome.

11. The elongate medical device of claim 1, further comprising a peel tool engaged with the shaft and the wire guide, the peel tool being configure to facilitate separation of the wire guide from the shaft.

12. The elongate medical device of claim 11, wherein the peel tool comprises a body portion and an engagement portion, the body portion configured to be grasped by a user, the engagement portion comprising at least one groove for engaging one of the wire guide and the shaft.

13. The elongate medical device of claim 12, wherein the at least one groove comprises a first groove and a second groove, the first groove for engaging the wire guide and the second groove for engaging the shaft.

14. The elongate medical device of claim 11, wherein the peel tool comprises a central portion and a distal engagement portion, the central portion configured to slidably engage the shaft, and the distal engagement portion configured to engage the wire guide.

15. The elongate medical device of claim 11, wherein the peel tool is attached to an endoscope.

16. A system comprising:

a. a catheter comprising a shaft and a lumen extending through at least a portion of the shaft;

b. a wire guide having a distal portion and a proximal portion, the distal portion extending through at least a portion of the lumen, the proximal portion extending out through a wall portion of the shaft; and

c. a peel tool having an engagement portion, the engagement portion being engaged with the wall of the shaft and the proximal portion of the wire guide, wherein distal movement of the peel tool relative to one of the wire guide and the shaft causes the wire guide to separate from the shaft.