Magnetic guidewire coupling for vascular dilatation apparatus
First Claim
1. A Catheterization apparatus comprising:
- a flexible tubular guiding catheter sized for insertion into the vascular system of a patient, said guiding catheter defining distal and proximal ends;
a guidewire adapted for longitudinal positioning within said guiding catheter while extending simultaneously from both ends of said guiding catheter, said guidewire being slidably moveable within said guiding catheter;
a balloon catheter including a balloon coupled near its distal end, said balloon catheter defining a hollow longitudinal passage through which said guidewire can be threaded, said balloon catheter also defining a longitudinally extending conduit means for facilitating transmission of inflation fluid to said balloon;
means for inhibiting longitudinal movements of said guide wire with respect to said guiding catheter as the balloon catheter is moved;
said means for inhibiting comprisesa first magnetic element fixed to said guidewire;
a second magnetic element fixed with respect to said guiding catheter;
said first and second magnetic elements together comprising permanently magnetic and ferromagnetic materials.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method are disclosed for facilitating balloon catheter exchange in the vascular system of a patient. The apparatus and method concern means for holding a guidewire longitudinally fixed with respect to a guiding catheter while a balloon catheter is moved over the guidewire. Specifically, the guidewire is held longitudinally fixed with respect to the guiding catheter by way of magnetic coupling. A first magnetic element constitutes a portion of the guide wire or is attached to the guide wire to move with it. A second magnetic element is located proximate the balloon catheter but is not fixed to the balloon catheter. When the guidewire is moved within the guiding catheter to a location at which the first magnetic element reaches its point of closest approach to the second magnetic element, magnetic force holds the guidewire against movement relative to the guiding catheter even while a balloon catheter is being moved over the guidewire.
264 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A Catheterization apparatus comprising:
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a flexible tubular guiding catheter sized for insertion into the vascular system of a patient, said guiding catheter defining distal and proximal ends; a guidewire adapted for longitudinal positioning within said guiding catheter while extending simultaneously from both ends of said guiding catheter, said guidewire being slidably moveable within said guiding catheter; a balloon catheter including a balloon coupled near its distal end, said balloon catheter defining a hollow longitudinal passage through which said guidewire can be threaded, said balloon catheter also defining a longitudinally extending conduit means for facilitating transmission of inflation fluid to said balloon; means for inhibiting longitudinal movements of said guide wire with respect to said guiding catheter as the balloon catheter is moved; said means for inhibiting comprises a first magnetic element fixed to said guidewire; a second magnetic element fixed with respect to said guiding catheter; said first and second magnetic elements together comprising permanently magnetic and ferromagnetic materials. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A Catheterization apparatus comprising:
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a flexible tubular guiding catheter sized for insertion into the vascular system of a patient, said guiding catheter defining distal and proximal ends; a guidewire adapted for longitudinal positioning within said guiding catheter while extending simultaneously from both ends of said guiding catheter, said guidewire being slidably moveable within said guiding catheter; a balloon catheter including a balloon coupled near its distal end, said balloon catheter defining a hollow longitudinal passage through which said guidewire can be threaded, said balloon catheter also defining a longitudinally extending conduit means for facilitating transmission of inflation fluid to said balloon; means for inhibiting longitudinal movement of said guide wire with respect to said guiding catheter as the balloon catheter is moved; said guiding catheter and said guidewire being of sufficient length such that a portion of each of said guiding catheter and said guidewire extend outwardly from said patient; and said means for inhibiting longitudinal movement being located near the proximal end of said guidewire and said guiding catheter, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. Apparatus for facilitating balloon catheter exchange in the vascular system of a patient, which comprises:
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a flexible guidewire member for introduction into the vascular system of the patient, said flexible guidewire having first magnetic attraction means along a length of said guidewire member that is adapted to remain outside of the patient'"'"'s body; a balloon catheter adapted for advancement over said guidewire member; second magnetic attraction means for positioning outside the patient'"'"'s body in close proximity to said first magnetic attraction means to retain said guidewire member in position via magnetic force, whereby said balloon catheter may be withdrawn over said guidewire member while said guidewire member is retained in position in the vascular system of the patient, via magnetic force. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for facilitating balloon catheter exchange in the vascular system of a patient, which comprises the steps of:
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introducing into the vascular system of a patient a flexible guidewire member having first magnetic attraction means along a length of said guidewire member that remains outside the patient'"'"'s body; advancing a balloon catheter over said guidewire member; positioning second magnetic attraction means outside the patient'"'"'s body in close proximity to said first magnetic attraction means to retain said guidewire member in position via magnetic force; and withdrawing said balloon catheter over said guidewire member while said guidewire member is retained in position, via magnetic force. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A method for facilitating balloon catheter exchange, which comprises the steps of:
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introducing into the vascular system of a patient a guiding catheter; providing a flexible guidewire member having first magnetic attraction means along a length of said guidewire member that remains outside the patient'"'"'s body; introducing into said guiding catheter a portion of said guidewire member; advancing a balloon catheter along said guidewire member; positioning second magnetic attraction means outside the patient'"'"'s body in close proximity to said first magnetic attraction means to retain said guidewire member in position via magnetic force; and withdrawing said balloon catheter over said guidewire member while said guidewire member is retained in position, via magnetic force. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification