Balloon catheter and locking guidewire system
First Claim
1. A dilatation catheter and guidewire comprising:
- an elongate flexible catheter shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, a guidewire lumen and an inflation lumen;
a dilatation balloon mounted on the distal end of the shaft with the inflation lumen being in communication with the interior of the balloon;
a guidewire extending through the guidewire lumen, the guidewire comprising a shaft adapted to extend fully through the guidewire lumen and a flexible distal segment affixed to the distal end of the guidewire shaft, the flexible distal segment extending distally beyond the distal end of the catheter shaft;
means for attaching an extension wire to the proximal end of the guidewire; and
means for releasably locking a proximal portion of the guidewire to the proximal portion of the catheter;
the guidewire lumen being larger in diameter than the outer diameter of any portion of the guidewire shaft proximal to the flexible distal segment; and
the locking means, when locked, allowing the guidewire to be rotated relative to the catheter while preventing relative axial movement between the guidewire and the catheter, and when unlocked, allowing the guidewire to be rotated and advanced independently of the catheter.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A low profile, steerable balloon dilatation catheter for dilating obstructions in blood vessels is provided which also enables catheter exchanges to be performed without losing guidewire position. The system includes a guidewire and catheter that can be locked together to be operated in a manner as that of an integral wire catheter, or alternatively, they can be unlocked to allow the guidewire to be operated independently in a manner similar to that of an over-the wire catheter system. In the latter mode of operation, the length of the guidewire, at its proximal end, can be extended and the catheter can be withdrawn from the patient without causing a loss of guidewire position. With the guidewire position so maintained, a succeeding catheter can be advanced over the guidewire to the vascular location being treated.
129 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A dilatation catheter and guidewire comprising:
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an elongate flexible catheter shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, a guidewire lumen and an inflation lumen; a dilatation balloon mounted on the distal end of the shaft with the inflation lumen being in communication with the interior of the balloon; a guidewire extending through the guidewire lumen, the guidewire comprising a shaft adapted to extend fully through the guidewire lumen and a flexible distal segment affixed to the distal end of the guidewire shaft, the flexible distal segment extending distally beyond the distal end of the catheter shaft; means for attaching an extension wire to the proximal end of the guidewire; and means for releasably locking a proximal portion of the guidewire to the proximal portion of the catheter; the guidewire lumen being larger in diameter than the outer diameter of any portion of the guidewire shaft proximal to the flexible distal segment; and the locking means, when locked, allowing the guidewire to be rotated relative to the catheter while preventing relative axial movement between the guidewire and the catheter, and when unlocked, allowing the guidewire to be rotated and advanced independently of the catheter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 21, 22)
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14. A low profile dilatation catheter and guidewire comprising:
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an elongate flexible catheter shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, a guidewire lumen and an inflation lumen; a dilatation balloon mounted on the distal end of the shaft with the inflation lumen being in communication with the interior of the balloon; a guidewire extending through the guidewire lumen, the guidewire comprising a shaft having a maximum cross-sectional diameter of approximately 0.012 inches adapted to extend fully through the guidewire lumen and a flexible distal segment having a cross-sectional diameter of approximately 0.016 inches to approximately 0.017 inches affixed to the distal end of the guidewire shaft and extending distally beyond the distal end of the catheter shaft; means for attaching an extension wire to the proximal end of the guidewire, and means for releasably locking a proximal portion of the guidewire to the proximal portion of the catheter; the guidewire lumen having a minimum cross-sectional diameter of approximately 0.014 inches to approximately 0.016 inches; and the locking means, when locked, allowing the guidewire to be rotated relative to the catheter while preventing relative axial movement between the guidewire and the catheter, and when unlocked, allowing the guidewire to be rotated and advanced independently of the catheter. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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23. A dilatation catheter and guidewire comprising:
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an elongate flexible catheter shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, a guidewire lumen and an inflation lumen; a dilatation balloon mounted on the distal end of the shaft with the inflation lumen being in communication with the interior of the balloon; a guidewire extending through the guidewire lumen, the guidewire comprising a shaft adapted to extend fully through the guidewire lumen and a flexible distal segment affixed to the distal end of the guidewire shaft, the flexible distal segment extending distally beyond the distal end of the catheter shaft; a connector element at the proximal end of the guidewire adapted to be connected to an extension wire; and a guidewire locking member at the proximal end of the catheter adapted to releasably lock a proximal portion of a guidewire to the catheter; the guidewire lumen being larger in diameter than the outer diameter of any portion of the guidewire shaft proximal to the flexible distal segment; and the locking member being rotatably mounted with respect to the catheter to enable the guidewire to be rotated relative to the catheter while preventing relative axial movement between the guidewire and the catheter, the locking member being further constructed so that when unlocked, the guidewire can be rotated and advanced independently of the catheter. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification