Topless catheters

• US 4,976,691 A
• Filed: 01/23/1989
• Issued: 12/11/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harvinder Sahota
• Original Assignee: Harvinder Sahota
• Inventors: Sahota, Harvinder
• Primary Examiner(s): Yasko, John D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CERMAK, ADAM
• Application Number:
  US07/301,179
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 604/93-103, 604/266, 604/268, 604/281, 604/282, 604/52, 604/53, 128/344, 128/348.1, 128/325, 128/343, 128/207.14, 128/207.15, 128/200.26, 128/656-658, 128/772
• US Class Current: 604/103.05
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0081 Soft tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure

Abstract

A topless catheter, which can be used as either a guiding catheter for guiding balloon dilatation catheters into a body lumen, or as a diagnostic catheter for conducting radio opaque dyes into a predetermined body lumen or both is disclosed. The topless catheter comprises a cylinderical catheter shaft, integrally connected to an arcuate topless guiding finger. The guiding finger is adapted for placement proximate to, or partially within a predetermined blood vessel for subselective placement of a dilation balloon catheter. By virtue of the manner in which the guiding finger is configured, blood flow through the more distal arteries is substantially unimpeded without detracting from the support and guidance features, found in conventional guiding catheters.

Claims

1. A guiding catheter for use in the diagnosis and treatment of arterial stenosis, constructed and arranged to (i) conduct radio opaque dyes into a predetermined blood vessel and (ii) guide a balloon dilation catheter into the blood vessel to relieve the stenosis, said guiding catheter comprising:

an axially elongate cylindrical shaft, having a proximal end and a distal end;

an open section having a uniform arcuate cross-sectional configuration along its length, said open section being integrally connected to said distal end of said shaft; and

a soft tip, abutted against said open arcuate portion, and bonded thereto, said soft tip formed of a material substantially more malleable than that of said shaft.

2. A catheter system, comprising:

an axially elongate, hollow cylindrical shaft, having a proximal end and a distal end, said shaft adapted for insertion into a predetermined blood vessel;

an arcuate open section having an arcuate cross-sectional configuration along its length, said open section being integrally connected to said distal end of said shaft and forming an angle therewith, said open section constructed and arranged to sit at a predetermined vascular orifice after insertion into said blood vessel; and

a balloon dilation catheter, adapted for insertion into said hollow shaft, so as to be guided through said vascular orifice and into said blood vessel without substantially impeding the normal flow of blood therethrough,

said open section having a smaller cross-sectional dimension than that of said shaft.

3. A method of diagnosing and relieving the symptoms of arterial stenosis, comprising the steps of:

positioning a guiding catheter with an open distal section having a substantially uniform arcuate cross-sectional configuration along its length proximate the desired arterial orifice;

injecting a radio opaque dye into said guiding catheter;

allowing said dye to be carried by the blood into the desired artery;

sequentially monitoring the injected dye to find the obstructed area;

inserting a balloon dilation catheter through said guiding catheter and said open distal end into said artery; and

dilating said balloon dilation catheter to relieve said stenosis.

4. A method of subselective placement of a balloon dilatation catheter within a predetermined blood vessel, without significantly impeding the normal flow of blood to the more distal blood vessels, comprising the steps of:

providing a guiding sheath, having a shaft portion and a guiding finger portion, said guiding finger having a reduced cross-sectional area than that of said shaft;

inserting said sheath into said blood vessel, proximate a predetermined vascular orifice;

further advancing said sheath so as to position said guiding finger at least partially in said predetermined blood vessel; and

advancing said balloon dilatation catheter through said sheath and into said blood vessel.

5. A method, as defined by claim 4, wherein said guiding sheath comprises at least one bend, adapted to rest at said vascular orifice so as to stabilize said guiding catheter within said blood vessel.