Guiding cathether with controllable distal tip

• US 4,898,577 A
• Filed: 09/28/1988
• Issued: 02/06/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rodney S. Badger
• Original Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Wasicek, Lawrence D., Wand, Bruce H., Badger, Rodney S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Application Number:
  US07/250,709
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 604/93, 604/95, 604/280-282, 604/53, 128/656-658, 128/344, 128/348.1
• US Class Current: 604/528
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0161 wherein the distal tips have two or more deflection regions
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/005 with embedded materials for reinforcement, e.g. wires, coils, braids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0147 with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0152 with pre-shaped mechanisms, e.g. pre-shaped stylets or pre-shaped outer tubes

Abstract

Guiding catheter and method of using the same in a cardiovascular procedure such as coronary angioplasty. The catheter has an elongated shaft with a deflectable distal portion. One lumen extends through the elongated shaft to form a passageway through which a dilatation catheter can be introduced. A second smaller lumen extends through the shaft to form a passageway for a control line which passes therethrough and which is connected to the distal tip. Proximal movement of the control line decreases the included angle between the distal portion and the main portion of the shaft. Pull on the control line also exerts a force on the distal portion of the guiding catheter which transmits a resultant axial force to push the catheter disposed within the first lumen. Pull on the control line also allows for catheter tip configuration adjustment thereby enabling the catheter to engage a difficult coronary ostium. In the disclosed embodiments, the distal portion is formed in two sections. Pulling the control line decreases the included angles between the distal sections and the main sections while the distal portion is positioned within a patient. The axial force is particularly advantageous with dilatation catheters to aid in directing the distal end thereof across a lesion.

Claims

1. A guiding catheter comprising:

(a) a tubular member having a proximal portion, a main portion, and a distal portion, the distal portion having at least one section which is performed at an angle with respect to the main portion;

(b) a first lumen of relatively large diameter disposed within the tubular member which extends along the length thereof and which is adapted to receive catheters or guidewires therethrough;

(c) a second lumen of relatively small diameter disposed within the tubular member, extending along the length thereof;

(d) a control line which is disposed within the second lumen and which is secured at the disposed tip thereof to the distal portion of the tubular member; and

(e) means at the proximal end of the control line to axially move the control line within the second lumen to thereby change the preformed angle between a section of the distal portion of the catheter and the main portion thereof.

2. The guiding catheter of claim 1 wherein the distal portion is provided with a plurality of articulated tubular sections.

3. The guiding catheter of claim 2 wherein the plurality of tubular sections are preformed to have included angles therebetween of less than 180°

.

4. The guiding catheter of claim 1 wherein the tubular member is formed of a braided wound fiber impregnated with suitable plastic material.

5. The guiding catheter of claim 4 wherein the plastic is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane and epoxy resin.

6. The guiding catheter of claim 4 wherein the fabric is formed of aramid fibers.

7. The guiding catheter of claim 1 wherein the second lumen is defined at least in part by polyimide tubing.

8. The guiding catheter of claim 1 wherein the first lumen is provided with a lubricious surface.

9. The guiding catheter of claim 8 wherein the lubricious surface is formed of polytetrafluoroethylene.

10. In a method of introducing a catheter into the cardiovascular system of a patient through a guiding catheter having a main portion and a deflectable distal portion which is preformed to have an included angle with the main section, the guiding catheter having a first lumen disposed therein through which a catheter may be introduced, and a second lumen having disposed therein a control line connected to the distal tip of the guiding catheter for positioning the tip at an angle relative to the shaft, said method comprising the steps of introducing the guiding catheter into the cardiovascular system of a patient, advancing a dilatation catheter disposed within the first lumen therethrough and pulling on the control line to exert a resultant axial force on the catheter disposed within the first lumen.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the guiding catheter is introduced percutaneously into a patient'"'"'s femoral artery and wherein the guiding catheter extends through the aortic arch and into the ostium of a coronary artery.

11. The method of claim 11 including the step of pulling on the control line to change the angle between the distal portion and the main portion and thereby control the location of the distal tip of the guiding catheter.