Method of and apparatus for navigating medical devices in body lumens
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A guide wire combined with a catheter or medical device for moving through a body lumen to a desired position in the body with the aid of an applied magnetic field. The guide wire is provided with a magnet on its distal end that can be oriented or oriented and moved by the application of a magnetic field to the magnet. A catheter or other medical device can be advanced over the guide wire. Once the medical device is in its desired position, the magnet can be withdrawn through the lumen of the catheter. Alternatively, a guide wire with a magnet on its distal end can be docked at the distal end of a catheter or medical device and can be oriented, or oriented and moved by the application of a magnetic field.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1-20. -20. (canceled)
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21. A method of navigating a medical device having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a magnetically responsive element disposed on the distal end portion of the medical device, the method comprising:
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introducing the distal end portion of the medical device having the magnetically responsive element into a subject'"'"'s body;
applying a magnetic field to the area of the subject in which the medical device is located, the magnetic field being effective for orienting the magnetically responsive element on the distal end portion of the medical device with the magnetic field, wherein the application of the magnetic field is controlled to allow an operator to guide the distal end portion of the medical device in a desired direction; and
applying a subsequent magnetic field to the area of the subject in which the medical device is located, the subsequent magnetic field being effective for pulling the magnetically responsive element on the distal end portion of the medical device to advance the medical device in the desired direction. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of navigating a catheter device having a passageway therein through a subject'"'"'s body, the method comprising:
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introducing the distal end portion of the catheter device into a subject'"'"'s body;
introducing the distal end portion of a medical device into the passage in the catheter device, the medical device having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a magnetically responsive element disposed on the distal end portion of the medical device;
applying a magnetic field to the area of the subject in which the medical device is located, the magnetic field being effective for orienting the magnetically responsive element on the distal end portion of the medical device with the magnetic field, wherein the application of the magnetic field is controlled to allow an operator to guide the distal end portion of the medical device in a desired direction;
applying a subsequent magnetic field to the area of the subject in which the medical device is located, the subsequent magnetic field being effective for pulling the magnetically responsive element on the distal end portion of the medical device to advance the medical device in the desired direction; and
advancing the catheter device, if necessary, over the medical device received within the passage in the catheter device. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of navigating a medical device having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a magnetically responsive element disposed on the distal end portion of the medical device, the method comprising:
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introducing the distal end portion of the medical device having the magnetically responsive element into a subject'"'"'s body;
applying a magnetic field to the area of the subject in which the medical device is located, the magnetic field being effective for orienting the magnetically responsive element on the distal end portion of the medical device with the magnetic field, wherein the application of the magnetic field is controlled to allow an operator to guide the distal end portion of the medical device in a desired direction; and
pushing the proximal end of the medical device, while the magnetic field is being applied to orient the magnetically responsive element on the distal end portion of the medical device with the magnetic field, to advance the medical device in the desired direction. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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Specification