Variable lumen guiding catheter

• US 20060184099A1
• Filed: 12/05/2005
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mun Kyung Hong
• Original Assignee: Mun Kyung Hong
• Inventors: Hong, Mun Kyung
• Application Number:
  US11/293,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20060184099A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/43
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0024 Expandable catheters or sheaths
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0025 having a collapsible lumen
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0023 by the form of the lumen, e.g. cross-section, variable diameter

Abstract

A method of reducing an amount of contrast material delivered to a patient during an imaging procedure. The method comprising: (a) injecting contrast material through a catheter with a first cross-section; and (b) increasing said cross-section of said lumen to a second cross-section greater than said first cross-section along a portion of the lumen comprising 10% to 90% of a length of said lumen; wherein said increasing occurs after said injection.

Claims

1. A method of reducing an amount of contrast material delivered to a patient during an imaging procedure, the method comprising:

(a) injecting contrast material through a catheter with a first cross-section; and

(b) increasing said cross-section of said lumen to a second cross-section greater than said first cross-section along a portion of the lumen comprising 10% to 90% of a length of said lumen;

wherein said increasing occurs after said injection.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said increasing said cross-section of said lumen is applied along a portion of the lumen comprising 15% to 80% of a length of said lumen.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said increasing said cross-section of said lumen is applied along a portion of the lumen comprising 25% to 75% of a length of said lumen.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said increasing said cross-section of said lumen is applied along a portion of the lumen comprising 40% to 70% of a length of said lumen.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said increasing said cross-section of said lumen is applied along a portion of the lumen comprising 50% to 70% of a length of said lumen.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said increasing said cross-section of said lumen includes removing an object from said lumen.

7. A method according to claim 1, additionally comprising:

(c) providing a catheter with said second cross-section; and

(d) reducing said second cross-section to said first cross-section; and

(e) maintaining said first cross-section during cessation of said injecting.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said reducing occurs during said injection.

9. A method according to claim 1, additionally comprising conducting an imaging procedure after or during (a).

10. A method according to claim 1, additionally comprising inserting a medical tool via said lumen of said catheter after (b).

11. A method according to claim 10, additionally comprising performing a procedure with said tool.

12. A coronary catheter, the catheter comprising;

(a) a lumen having a cross-sectional area; and

(b) a collapse mechanism adapted to switch said cross-sectional area between a first configuration and a second configuration over a portion of the catheter, said portion comprising between 10% and 90% of a total catheter length.

13. A catheter according to claim 12, wherein said portion of the catheter is a contiguous portion.

14. A catheter according to claim 12, wherein said portion of the catheter is a non-contiguous portion.

15. A catheter according to claim 12, wherein said portion of the catheter does not include a distal region of the catheter.

16. A catheter according to claim 15, wherein said distal region of the catheter has a length in the range of 1 to 20 cm measured from a distal tip of the catheter.

17. A catheter according to claim 12, wherein said collapse mechanism provides a non-radial change in said cross-sectional area.

18. A catheter according to claim 12, wherein said collapse mechanism is capable of reducing said cross-sectional area by at least 25%.

19. A catheter according to claim 12, wherein said collapse mechanism is capable of reducing said cross-sectional area by no more than 50%.

20. A catheter according to claim 12, wherein said switch between said first configuration and said second configuration alters a total volume of said lumen of the catheter by at least 33%.

21. A catheter according to claim 12, supplied as an arterial catheter.

22. A catheter according to claim 12, characterized in that it has sufficient pushability to permit insertion in the face of a resistive force.

23. A catheter according to claim 12, comprising a lumen which is partially, but not completely, filled with a contrast material.

24. A catheter according to claim 12, wherein said collapse mechanism comprises:

(a) a series of structures deployed along a length of a wall of a lumen of a catheter, each of said structures attached to said wall; and

(b) a mechanism adapted to move said structures in concert to alter said cross-sectional area of said lumen.

25. A catheter according to claim 24, wherein said series includes at least two sub-series and a length of wall of said lumen devoid of said structures is interposed between each pair of said at least two sub-series.

26. A catheter according to claim 24, wherein said structures include arches.

27. A catheter according to claim 24, wherein said structures are attached to said wall by being embedded therein.

28. A catheter according to claim 24, wherein said structures are characterized by a height which does not exceed a radius of said lumen.

29. A catheter according to claim 24, wherein said structures are characterized by a height equal to a radius of said lumen.

30. A mechanism for adjusting a cross-sectional area of a lumen of a catheter, the mechanism comprising:

(a) a series of structures deployed along a length of a wall of a lumen of a catheter; and

(b) a mechanism adapted to rotate said structures in concert to alter a cross-sectional area of said lumen.

31. A method of reducing an amount of contrast material delivered to a patient during an imaging procedure, the method comprising:

(a) reducing a cross-sectional area of a portion of a lumen of a catheter from an original cross-sectional area to a reduced cross-sectional area;

(b) injecting contrast material; and

(c) increasing said cross-sectional area of said lumen to a cross-sectional area greater than said reduced cross-sectional area.

32. A method according to claim 31, wherein said increasing comprises restoration of said cross-sectional area of said lumen at least to said original cross-sectional area.

33. A catheter with an adjustable lumen volume, the catheter comprising a mechanism to reduce a cross-sectional area of at least two separate portions of the catheter, said separate portions characterized by an aggregate length comprising between 10% and 90% of a total catheter length.

34. A catheter according to claim 33 wherein said mechanism does not reduce a cross-sectional area of at least one intervening portion between said two separate portions.

35. A method of reducing an amount of contrast material injected during an imaging procedure conducted with a dual purpose catheter, the method comprising causing an increased resistance to flow of a contrast material.

36. A method according to claim 35, wherein said increased resistance to flow causes an increase in injection pressure.

37. A method according to claim 35, wherein said increased resistance to flow alters flow properties of said contrast material during ejection from a catheter.

38. A system for reducing an amount of contrast material injected during an imaging procedure conducted with a dual purpose catheter, the system comprising:

(a) a dual purpose catheter operably connectable to a manual injector;

(b) said manual injector containing a contrast material; and

(c) a regulation mechanism adapted to increase flow resistance to a degree perceivable by an operator of said manual injector.

39. A system according to claim 38, wherein said regulation mechanism operates by altering a cross-sectional area of a portion of a lumen of said catheter.

40. A catheter with an adjustable fluid resistance characteristic, the catheter comprising:

(a) a lumen with a cross-sectional area; and

(b) a shielding mechanism to shield a portion of said cross-sectional area from a flow of contrast material over 10 to 90% of a length of said lumen.

41. A catheter according to claim 40, wherein operation of said mechanism shields at least 40% of said cross-sectional area from said flow of contrast material.

42. A catheter according to claim 41, wherein operation of said mechanism shields at least 50% of said cross-sectional area from said flow of contrast material.

43. A catheter according to claim 42, wherein operation of said mechanism shields at least 70% of said cross-sectional area from said flow of contrast material.

44. A catheter, said catheter comprising a lumen, said lumen characterized by a cross-sectional area sufficient to permit passage of a tool and contrast material occupying no more than 50% of said cross-sectional area of said lumen over at least 50% of a length of said lumen.