Controllable flexibility catheter
First Claim
1. A catheter comprising:
- an elongate housing having an opening extending from a proximal end to a distal end of its length, the housing adapted to be inserted into a vessel wherein said housing, when inserted in the vessel, has a first substantially curved portion and a second substantially straight portion, said first portion being more proximate to the distal end than said second portion; and
controllable stiffening means coupled to said first portion of the length of the elongated housing to provide at least a first higher flexibility of said first portion of the elongated housing and a second lower flexibility of said first portion of the elongated housing as selected by a user of the catheter,wherein the flexibility of said second portion of said elongate housing is substantially unchanged by said user-selected change in flexibility of said first portion of said elongated housing, and wherein the curvature of said curved portion is not substantially decreased when said housing has said second lower flexibility.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A guiding catheter 40 of variable, operator-controlled flexibility to be used in the performance of a percutaneous translumenal coronary angioplasty procedure is described which includes an elongate housing 42 suitable for insertion into an artery, as well as an operator-controlled variable stiffener coupled to the distal aspect of the catheter to permit the operator performing the angioplasty procedure to increase the rigidity of the catheter. In a preferred embodiment the stiffening apparatus consists of a balloon 50 extending longitudinally along the distal end of the catheter to allow increases in rigidity of the distal end as desired by the operator. Increasing the rigidity of the guiding catheter, once installed within the coronary ostium, precludes disengagement of the guiding catheter, thus expediting the performance and enhancing the safety of the procedure.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A catheter comprising:
-
an elongate housing having an opening extending from a proximal end to a distal end of its length, the housing adapted to be inserted into a vessel wherein said housing, when inserted in the vessel, has a first substantially curved portion and a second substantially straight portion, said first portion being more proximate to the distal end than said second portion; and controllable stiffening means coupled to said first portion of the length of the elongated housing to provide at least a first higher flexibility of said first portion of the elongated housing and a second lower flexibility of said first portion of the elongated housing as selected by a user of the catheter, wherein the flexibility of said second portion of said elongate housing is substantially unchanged by said user-selected change in flexibility of said first portion of said elongated housing, and wherein the curvature of said curved portion is not substantially decreased when said housing has said second lower flexibility. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
9. A catheter comprising:
-
an elongate housing having an opening extending from a proximal end to a distal end of its length, the housing adapted to be inserted into a vessel; controllable stiffening means comprising a longitudinally extending primary balloon coupled to a portion of the length of the elongate housing to provide at least a first higher flexibility of that portion of the elongate housing and a second lower flexibility of that portion of the elongate housing as selected by a user of the catheter; and a secondary balloon disposed along the elongate housing more proximal to the distal end than the primary balloon. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A catheter comprising:
-
an elongate housing having an opening extending from a proximal end to a distal end of its length, the housing adapted to be inserted into a vessel; controllable stiffening means coupled to a portion of the length of the elongate housing to provide at least a first higher flexibility of that portion of the elongate housing and a second lower flexibility of that portion of the elongate housing as selected by a user of the catheter; and an angioplasty dilation catheter disposed within the opening.
-
-
14. A guiding catheter for use in angioplasty comprising:
-
an elongate tube having an opening therethrough extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the tube adapted to be inserted into a vascular member; and controllable stiffening means coupled to a surface of the elongate tube along a first non-linear portion of its length, said stiffening means being substantially uncoupled along a second portion of the length of the tube, said first portion being more proximate to the distal end than said second portion, said stiffening means being adapted to allow said first portion of the elongate tube to which the controllable stiffening means is coupled to be made more rigid at selected times, without substantially affecting the flexibility of said second portion, and wherein the tube and a guidewire may be introduced into a vesicular member in a first less rigid state, then changed to a second more rigid state to facilitate introduction of an angioplasty dilation balloon catheter across a region of coronary stenosis. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
-
-
15. A method for performing an angioplasty procedure using a guiding catheter having controllable stiffening means affixed to a portion of the catheter in proximity to the distal end comprising:
-
introducing the guiding catheter to a desired position within a patient; employing the controllable stiffening means to increase the rigidity of the portion of the catheter to which the controllable stiffening means is affixed; performing the angioplasty procedure; employing the controllable stiffening means to reduce the rigidity of the portion of the catheter; and
removing the catheter. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
-
-
23. A guiding catheter for use in angioplasty comprising:
-
an elongate tube having an opening therethrough extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the tube adapted to be inserted into a vascular member; and controllable stiffening means coupled to a surface of the elongate tube along a first non-linear portion of its length, said stiffening means being substantially uncoupled along a second portion of a length of the tube, said stiffening means being adapted to allow said first portion of the elongate tube to which the controllable stiffening means is coupled to be more rigid at selected times, without substantially affecting the flexibility of said second portion, and wherein the controllable stiffening means is effective to position the distal end of said elongate tube for alignment in the coronary ostium.
-
Specification