NAVIGABLE CATHETER DISTAL TIP CONFIGURATION

• US 20170065793A1
• Filed: 09/08/2015
• Published: 03/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Williams, Ricky, Bernard, Francis, Scarpine, Frank, Sanson, Maria De Jesus
• Granted Patent: US 10,532,185 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22 Implements for squeezing-off ulcers or the like on the inside of inner organs of the body; Implements for scraping-out cavities of body organs, e.g. bones; Calculus removers; Calculus smashing apparatus; Apparatus for removing obstructions in blood vessels, not otherwise provided for dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22038 with a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22079 with suction of debris
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/00 Suction or pumping devices for medical purposes; Devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body-liquids; Drainage systems catheters A61M25/00; tube connectors, tube couplings, valves or branch units specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; devices for taking samples of blood A61B5/15; filters implantable into blood vessels A61F2/01
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/001 Forming the tip of a catheter, e.g. bevelling process, join or taper
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0074 Dynamic characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. openable, closable, expandable or deformable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/01 Introducing, guiding, advancing, emplacing or holding catheters A61M25/10 takes precedence

Abstract

In some examples, a catheter includes an elongated body extending between a proximal end and a distal end, and defining an inner lumen, an outer body wall having a wall cross-sectional diameter, and a distal aperture at the distal end. A distal portion of the elongated body including a taper section that tapers from the outer body wall of the distal portion to the distal aperture, with the distal portion defining a plurality of slits open to the distal aperture. The distal aperture has an aperture diameter greater than zero and less than the wall cross-sectional diameter. The distal portion defining the plurality of slits is configured to substantially center the distal end around a guide member when the guide member is introduced in the inner lumen and extends through the distal aperture.

Claims

1. A catheter comprising:

an elongated body extending between a proximal end and a distal end, and defining an inner lumen, an outer body wall having a wall cross-sectional diameter, and a distal aperture at the distal end, wherein a distal portion of the elongated body comprises a taper section that tapers from the outer body wall of the distal portion to the distal aperture, the distal portion defining a plurality of slits open to the distal aperture, wherein the distal aperture has an aperture diameter greater than zero and less than the wall cross-sectional diameter, and wherein the distal portion defining the plurality of slits is configured to substantially center the distal end around a guide member when the guide member is introduced in the inner lumen and extends through the distal aperture.

2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the plurality of slits extend radially outward from the distal aperture.

3. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the plurality of slits spiral radially outward from the distal aperture.

4. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the aperture diameter of the distal aperture is about 0.2 mm to about 0.8 mm.

5. The catheter of claim 4, wherein the aperture diameter of the distal aperture is about 0.36 mm.

6. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the taper section comprises a lubricious outer surface.

7. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the distal portion is thermally bonded to the elongated body.

8. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the taper section has a total length of less than about 10 mm.

9. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the outer body wall lacks any openings therein.

10. The catheter of claim 9, wherein the outer body wall is a sidewall of the elongated body.

11. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the taper section comprises a plurality of tip flaps defined by the plurality of slits, wherein the plurality of tip flaps are configured to retract proximally along the distal portion to change the size of the distal aperture.

12. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the distal aperture is positioned in a distalmost tip of the catheter.

13. An assembly comprising:

a catheter comprising an elongated body extending between a proximal end and a distal end, and defining an inner lumen, an outer body wall having a wall cross-sectional diameter, and a distal aperture at the distal end, wherein a distal portion of the elongated body comprises a taper section that tapers from the outer body wall to the distal aperture, the distal portion defining a plurality of slits open to the distal aperture, wherein the distal aperture has an aperture diameter greater than zero and less than the wall cross-sectional diameter; and

a guide member disposed within the inner lumen of the catheter and extending through the distal aperture of the catheter, wherein the distal end of the elongated body engages with the guide member to substantially center the distal end of the of the elongated body relative to the guide member.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the plurality of slits extend radially outward from the distal aperture.

15. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the plurality of slits spiral radially outward from the distal aperture.

16. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the aperture diameter of the distal aperture is about 0.2 mm to about 0.8 mm.

17. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the aperture diameter of the distal aperture is about 0.36 mm.

18. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the taper section of the catheter comprises a lubricious outer surface.

19. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the taper section has a total length of less than about 10 mm.

20. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the outer body wall lacks any openings therein.

21. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the outer body wall is a sidewall of the elongated body.

22. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the taper section comprises a plurality of tip flaps defined by the plurality of slits, wherein the plurality of tip flaps are configured to retract proximally along the distal portion to change the size of the distal aperture.

23. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the distal aperture is positioned in a distalmost tip of the catheter.

24. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the guide member comprises a guidewire.

25. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the catheter comprises a first catheter, and wherein the guide member comprises a second catheter.