Dilator for opening the lumen of a tubular organ

• US 5,108,413 A
• Filed: 12/20/1990
• Issued: 04/28/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert E. Moyers
• Original Assignee: Robert E. Moyers
• Inventors: Moyers, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): MENDEZ, MANUEL A
• Application Number:
  US07/630,874
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 606/191, 606/192, 606/193, 606/194, 606/195, 606/196, 606/197, 606/198, 604/104, 604/107
• US Class Current: 606/191
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22094 for crossing total occlusions, i.e. piercing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/00 Dilators with or without means for introducing media, e.g. remedies instruments for performing visual medical inspections of cavities or tubes of the body A61B1/00

Abstract

A dilator is disclosed for use in opening the lumen of a tubular organ utilizing a expansion member made of a material having a negative Poisson ratio such as polytetrafluorethylene. The negative Poisson ratio of the expansion member enables the member, when stretched, to expand radially outwardly rather than thinning in a radial direction to perform useful work in opening the lumen in a tubular organ such as in performing coronary angioplasty.

Claims

1. A dilator for opening the lumen of a tubular organ comprising:

an elongated flexible expansion member of a material having a negative Poisson ratio;

means for guiding said expansion member through the lumen to a desired location by manipulation of said guide means exteriorly of said lumen; and

means for stretching said expansion member lengthwise whereby due to the negative Poisson ratio of said member, said member expands transversely of the length of said expansion member.

2. The dilator of claim 1 wherein said elongated flexible expansion member is expanded polytetrafluorethylene.

9. The dilator of claim 1 wherein said expansion member is a hollow rod of polytetrafluorethylene.

3. The dilator of claim wherein said elongated flexible expansion member has a distal end and a proximal end;

said guide means includes a catheter having a distal end and a proximal end with the distal end coupled to the proximal end of said expansion member and being of sufficient length that the proximal end of said catheter extends exteriorly of said lumen when said expansion member is positioned at the desired location in said lumen and a guide wire extending through said catheter having a distal end coupled to the distal end of said expansion member and having a proximal end extending from the proximal end of said catheter; and

said stretching means including means coupled to the proximal ends of said catheter and said guide wire for moving said guide wire longitudinally through said catheter whereby said expansion member is stretched upon movement of said guide wire toward the distal end of said expansion member.

4. The dilator of claim 3 wherein said stretching means includes finger and thumb grip means coupled to the proximal ends of said catheter and guide wire.

5. The dilator of claim 3 further comprising a central passage in said expansion member extending from the proximal end thereof and terminating adjacent the distal end thereof with said guide wire extending through said central passage.

6. The dilator of claim 3 further comprising tip means at the distal end of said expansion member forming threads for moving said expansion member through said lumen upon rotation of said catheter, guide wire and expansion member.

7. The dilator of claim 3 further comprising an elongated pliant wire tip extending longitudinally from the distal end of said expansion member.

8. The dilator of claim 3 wherein said expansion member is a hollow rod of polytetrafluorethylene.

10. A dilator for performing angioplasty comprising:

an elongated flexible expansion member of a material having a negative Poisson ratio having proximal and distal ends;

a tubular elongated flexible outer member having proximal and distal ends with said distal end coupled to the proximal end of said expansion member; and

an elongated flexible inner member extending through said outer member and having proximal and distal ends with the distal end coupled to said expansion member near the distal end thereof and with the proximal end projecting from the proximal end of said outer member;

said outer and inner members being of sufficient length to extend through a patient'"'"'s vascular system from an opening therein to a location in need of treatment to position said expansion member at said location;

means for moving said inner member longitudinally within said outer member in a direction toward the distal end thereof to stretch said expansion member longitudinally whereby said member expands transversely due to the negative Poisson ratio of said expansion member.

11. The dilator of claim 10 wherein said expansion member is a hollow tube of expanded polytetrafluorethylene.

12. The dilator of claim 11 wherein said inner member extends through said hollow tube to the distal end thereof where said inner member is coupled thereto.

13. The dilator of claim 10 further comprising tip means extending from the distal end of said expansion member for guiding said expansion member through the lumen of said patient'"'"'s vascular system.

14. The dilator of claim 13 wherein said tip means includes a spiral grooved tip member.

15. The dilator of claim 13 wherein said tip means includes a pliant guide wire extending from said expansion member.

16. The dilator of claim 15 wherein said pliant guide wire is made of a nickel titanium alloy.