Cardiac catheter and method of using same

• US 4,033,331 A
• Filed: 07/17/1975
• Issued: 07/05/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Leonard M. Zir, Mark R. Goldman, Stephen B. Guss
• Original Assignee: Leonard M. Zir, Mark R. Goldman, Stephen B. Guss
• Inventors: Goldman, Mark R., Zir, Leonard M., Guss, Stephen B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truluck, Dalton L.
• Application Number:
  US05/596,644
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2 A, 128/2 M, 128/2.05 R, 128/348, 128/349 R, 128/349 B, 128/350 R, 128/351, 128/343, 128/DIG. 9
• US Class Current: 600/434
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0161 wherein the distal tips have two or more deflection regions
• 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 25/0152 with pre-shaped mechanisms, e.g. pre-shaped stylets or pre-shaped outer tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0662 Guide tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires

Abstract

A cardiac catheter being flexible throughout its length and having a deformable preformed distal end with a memory, that is, the distal end is formed with a set curvature to which the catheter tends to return when the deforming force is removed. A contour or stiffening wire slidably resides within a lumen separate from and parallel to the main fluid lumen of the catheter. The wire lumen is closed at the distal end of the catheter, the wire normally extending through substantially the full length of the wire lumen. The curvature of the preformed end of the catheter may be substantially reduced and the catheter straightened to some degree by extending the wire the full length of the catheter to the distal end thereof. The method of using the catheter employs the contour wire to create a plurality of different curvatures of the distal end of the catheter to aid in obtaining visual representations of different areas of the cardiac system.

Claims

1. A coronary catheter comprising:

an elongated flexible tube having a main lumen extending throughout its length and open from the proximal end through the distal end, and having a smaller wire lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the distal end of said wire lumen being closed, said main lumen and said wire lumen being parallel; and

a freely longitudinally movable contour wire residing within said wire lumen of said tube;

a portion of said distal end of said tube being formed with a predetermined deformable curved contour with different degrees of curvature at different distances from said distal end, said distal end assuming one contour curve when said contour wire extends fully to the closed distal end of said wire lumen and assuming a plurality of different complex contour curves when said contour wire is longitudinally moved within said wire lumen to different locations with respect to said closed distal end thereof.

2. The coronary catheter recited in claim 1 wherein said distal end is formed with at least one hole through the side of said catheter to said main lumen adjacent to but spaced from the opening at the distal end of said main lumen.

3. The coronary catheter recited in claim 1 and further comprising a Luer-Lok at said proximal end of said catheter.

4. The coronary catheter recited in claim 3 wherein said Luer-Lok is formed with an auxiliary branch fitting arranged at an angle with respect to the axis of said catheter through which said contour wire extends.

5. The coronary catheter recited in claim 1 wherein both said main lumen and said wire lumen are eccentric to the axis of said catheter.

6. A method for performing ventriculographies and coronary angiographies in a continuous set of procedures employing a flexible catheter having a deformable pre-set curvature at its distal end, a main fluid lumen, and a parallel wire lumen with a contour wire therein, said method being employed to obtain visual representations of the cardiac areas to be studied by such means as x-rays or fluoroscopes, said method comprising the steps of:

inserting a guide wire through an artery into a first area of a patient'"'"'s heart;

inserting said catheter over said guide wire to the heart, said guide wire passing through said main lumen, said catheter having a first curvature at its distal end, said catheter having said contour wire extending throughout the length of said wire lumen;

removing said guide wire from said main lumen;

injecting radiopaque dye into said first area of the heart;

making a first visual representation of said first area;

withdrawing said contour wire a short distance to permit said catheter to assume a second curvature;

adjusting the distal end of said catheter to a second area of the patient'"'"'s heart;

injecting radiopaque dye into said second area of the heart; and

making a second visual representation of said second area.

7. The method recited in claim 6 and comprising the further steps of:

withdrawing said contour wire a further distance from said distal end of said catheter to permit said catheter to assume a third curvature;

adjusting the distal end of said catheter to a third area of the patient'"'"'s heart;

injecting radiopaque dye into said third area of the heart; and

making a third visual representation of said third area.

8. The method recited in claim 7 and comprising the further step of withdrawing said catheter from the patient.