DIAGNOSTIC CATHETER

• US 20080255447A1
• Filed: 04/16/2007
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
• Original Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
• Inventors: Nguyen, Duy, Bourang, Henry, Hosmer, Ronald J., Buller, Christopher, Wertenberg, William R.
• Application Number:
  US11/735,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20080255447A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/434
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0004 having two or more concentrically arranged tubes for forming a concentric catheter system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0036 with more than four lumina
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0039 characterized by lumina being arranged coaxially
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/004 characterized by lumina being arranged circumferentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0041 pre-formed, e.g. specially adapted to fit with the anatomy of body channels urethral catheters A61F2/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0045 multi-layered, e.g. coated coating materials A61L29/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/04 in the body, e.g. expansible A61M25/10, A61M16/0488 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1002 characterised by balloon shape A61M25/1006, A61M25/1009 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1011 Multiple balloon catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/005 for contrast media

Abstract

A diagnostic catheter having both a guidewire lumen and at least one contrast lumen is disclosed. In one embodiment, the contrast lumens allow the user to deliver contrast to a target area within the patient without removing the guidewire. Preferably, a plurality of contrast exit ports are included along the length of the catheter body to evenly and consistently distribute contrast into the blood stream, thereby providing improved visualization during radioscopy.

Claims

1. A diagnostic catheter for delivering contrast within a patient comprising:

an elongated body;

a first lumen within said elongated body sized to accept a guidewire;

a second lumen within said elongated body having an opening at a proximal end of said elongated body for accepting contrast media and a second opening between said proximal end and a distal end of said elongated body for disbursing said contrast media; and

a plurality radiopaque markers disposed in said elongated body and positioned at preset distances from each other so as to visually convey measurement of a distance to a user.

2. The diagnostic catheter of claim 1, wherein said distal end of said elongated body includes a tapered region.

3. The diagnostic catheter of claim 2, wherein said second opening of said second lumen is positioned within said tapered region.

4. The diagnostic catheter of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of diffusion openings disposed along a length of said elongated body.

5. The diagnostic catheter of claim 1, wherein said second lumen is coaxial to said first lumen.

6. The diagnostic catheter of claim 1, wherein said second lumen is adjacent to said first lumen.

7. The diagnostic catheter of claim 6, further comprising a third lumen adjacent to said first lumen.

8. The diagnostic catheter of claim 1, wherein said distal end of said elongated body is curved to facilitate entry into a coronary artery.

9. The diagnostic catheter of claim 8, wherein said distal end is more flexible than said proximal end.

10. A diagnostic catheter for delivering contrast within a patient comprising:

a catheter body;

a guidewire lumen within said catheter body, said guidewire lumen positioned along an axis of said catheter body;

a contrast lumen within said catheter body having an opening located at a proximal end of said catheter body and an opening located between said proximal end and a distal end of said catheter body; and

a plurality radiopaque measurement markers within said catheter body, said markers spaced at predetermined distances from each other to visually indicate a known distance.

11. The diagnostic catheter of claim 10, wherein said contrast lumen includes at least four passages positioned along said axis of said catheter body and in communication with said opening at said proximal end.

12. The diagnostic catheter of claim 10, wherein said distal end of said catheter body is more flexible than said proximal end of said catheter body.

13. The diagnostic catheter of claim 10, wherein said distal end of said catheter body is curved.

14. The diagnostic catheter of claim 10, wherein said catheter body is progressively more flexible towards said distal end of said catheter body.

15. A method of delivering contrast within a patient comprising:

advancing a guidewire into a vascular system of a patient until a distal end of said guidewire is positioned near a desired target location;

placing a proximal end of said guidewire within a guidewire lumen of a catheter and advancing said catheter over said guidewire;

maintaining a position of said guidewire in said vascular system;

injecting contrast into a contrast lumen of said catheter and disbursing said contrast near said target location; and

viewing said contrast and a plurality of radiopaque measurement markers of said catheter.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said injecting contrast into a contrast lumen of said catheter and disbursing said contrast near said target location further comprises passing said contrast through a second contrast lumen of said catheter.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said disbursing said contrast near said target location further comprises diffusing said contrast along a length of said catheter.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein advancing a guidewire into a vascular system of a patient until a distal end of said guidewire is positioned near a desired target location further comprises advancing said distal end near an ostium of a coronary sinus.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein placing a proximal end of said guidewire within a guidewire lumen of a catheter and advancing said catheter over said guidewire further comprises directing a distal end of said catheter into said coronary sinus.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein directing a distal end of said catheter into said coronary sinus further comprises directing a curved portion of said distal end of said catheter into said coronary sinus and flexing said distal end of said catheter while said catheter advances into said coronary sinus.