GUIDE CATHETER

• US 20090005758A1
• Filed: 02/27/2008
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Jannicke, Jeff, SHAH, SONAR, Goode, Johnson E,, Schneider, Mark D., Kelley, James F., Spear, Stanten C.
• Application Number:
  US12/038,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20090005758A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/529
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/02 Inorganic materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/18 Materials at least partially X-ray or laser opaque
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/005 with embedded materials for reinforcement, e.g. wires, coils, braids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0108 using radio-opaque or ultrasound markers

Abstract

An elongated sheath of a guide catheter includes a fully radiopaque and echogenic distal tip having a length greater than approximately 0.08 inch.

Claims

1. A guide catheter, comprising:

an outer sheath; and

an inner sheath slideably engaged within the outer sheath and including a fully radiopaque distal tip having a length greater than or equal to approximately 0.2 inch;

wherein the inner sheath engaged within the outer sheath may be positioned such that the radiopaque distal tip protrudes from a distal end of the outer sheath.

2. The guide catheter of claim 1, wherein the fully radiopaque distal tip is also fully echogenic.

3. The guide catheter of claim 2, wherein the distal tip is formed of a material comprising tungsten carbide particles.

4. The guide catheter of claim 3, wherein the fully radiopaque distal tip includes a first resilient preformed curve.

5. The guide catheter of claim 4, wherein the first curve sweeps about an angle greater than or equal to approximately 180°

.

6. The guide catheter of claim 4, wherein the first curve sweeps about an angle of approximately 90°

.

7. The guide catheter of claim 4, wherein the first curve sweeps about an angle between approximately 10°

and approximately 70°

.

8. The guide catheter of claim 4, wherein the fully radiopaque distal tip further includes a second resilient preformed curve extending from the first resilient preformed curve.

9. The guide catheter of claim 6, wherein the first and second curves, together, sweep about an angle greater than approximately 90°

.

10. The guide catheter of claim 6, wherein the first curve sweeps about an angle between approximately 160°

and approximately 180° and

the second curve sweeps, in an opposite direction to the first curve, about an angle between approximately 40° and

approximately 80°

.

11. The guide catheter of claim 6, wherein the first curve and the second curve form an Amplatz shape.

12. The guide catheter of claim 6, wherein the fully radiopaque distal tip further includes a third resilient preformed curve extending from the second resilient preformed curve.

13. The guide catheter of claim 12, wherein the first, second and third curves, together, sweep about an angle greater than approximately 100°

.

14. The guide catheter of claim 1, wherein the fully radiopaque distal tip includes a tapered transition.

15. The guide catheter of claim 4, wherein the fully radiopaque distal tip includes a tapered transition.

16. The guide catheter of claim 15, wherein the tapered transition is located proximal to the first resilient preformed curve.

17. The guide catheter of claim 6, wherein the fully radiopaque distal tip includes a tapered transition.

18. The guide catheter of claim 17, wherein the tapered transition is located proximal to the second resilient preformed curve.

19. The guide catheter of claim 12, wherein the fully radiopaque distal tip includes a tapered transition.

20. The guide catheter of claim 19, wherein the tapered transition is located proximal to the third resilient preformed curve.

21. A method for positioning a guide catheter within a body in order to deliver a medical device or agent, comprising:

advancing an inner sheath of the guide catheter through an outer sheath of the guide catheter such that distal tip of the inner sheath extends distally from a distal end of the outer sheath;

wherein the distal tip of the inner sheath is fully radiopaque.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the distal tip is also fully echogenic.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising visualizing the distal tip of the inner sheath by means of ultrasound.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising cannulating a coronary sinus with the distal end of the outer sheath such that advancing the inner sheath positions the distal tip of the inner sheath within the coronary vasculature.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising dilating of a structure of coronary vasculature when the inner sheath is advanced.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising cannulating a coronary sinus with the distal tip of the inner sheath.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising cannulating a branch vein of the coronary vasculature with the distal tip of the inner sheath.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising advancing a guide wire through the inner sheath, out through the distal tip of the inner sheath and into the branch vein.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising advancing a lead through the inner sheath, out through the distal tip of the inner sheath and into the branch vein.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising advancing a lead over the guide wire and into the branch vein.