Replaceable dilatation catheter

• US 5,290,232 A
• Filed: 02/17/1993
• Issued: 03/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cordis Corporation (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cordis Corporation (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Johnson, Kirk L., Inderbitzen, Mark N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis, William W.
• Application Number:
  US08/018,420
• Time in Patent Office: 377 Days
• Field of Search: 604/95-101, 604/160, 604/165, 606/191, 606/192, 606/194, 606/195, 128/772
• US Class Current: 606/194
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0183 Rapid exchange or monorail catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/107 having a longitudinal slit in the balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty

Abstract

A balloon dilatation catheter comprises a flexible, tubular catheter shaft which carries a dilatation balloon adjacent the distal end. The catheter shaft defines an inflation lumen communicating with the balloon and a guidewire lumen extending at least most of the length of the catheter and extending through the catheter distal end. A longitudinal slit is defined in the catheter shaft between the guidewire lumen and the catheter exterior. This slit longitudinally extends along the majority of the catheter length from a position proximal of the balloon to a position that is at least adjacent the catheter proximal end.

Claims

1. A method of emplacing a catheter into a patient where the route of advancement of said catheter into the patient is defined by a guidewire having a segment protruding from the patient, said guidewire segment being shorter than the catheter, which method comprises:

advancing gripping tool means through the proximal end of a lumen of said catheter while causing a laterally projecting handle of said gripping tool means to project laterally outwardly through a longitudinally extending slit defined in said catheter;

bringing the proximal end of said guidewire and said gripping tool into engagement whereby said guidewire proximal end is gripped by the tool; and

grasping the laterally outwardly projecting handle of said tool while advancing said catheter around and along said guidewire into the patient toward said implanted catheter site, to prevent advancement of said guidewire, said tool sliding relatively proximally along the slit of said catheter as the catheter is advanced.

2. The method of claim 1 in which said catheter defines a proximal hub defining a conduit communicating with said catheter lumen, and a longitudinal slot extending the length of said hub between the conduit and the exterior, said slot being in communication with said longitudinal slit of the catheter, and including the step of passing the laterally projecting handle through said longitudinal slot prior to engaging said longitudinally extending slit.

3. The method of withdrawing a catheter from a patient in which the catheter defines a lumen through which a guidewire extends, said guidewire having a segment protruding from the patient, said guidewire segment being shorter than the total catheter length, which method comprises:

attaching gripping tool means to the proximal end of the guidewire;

grasping a laterally outwardly projecting handle of said gripping tool means while withdrawing said catheter along said guidewire, and while causing the gripping tool means to slide within the lumen of said catheter and causing said laterally projecting handle of said gripping tool means to project laterally outwardly through a longitudinally extending slit defined in said catheter to prevent withdrawal of said guidewire along with the catheter, said tool sliding relatively distally along the slit of said catheter as the catheter is withdrawn.

4. The method of claim 3 in which said catheter defines a proximal hub defining a conduit communicating with said catheter lumen, and a longitudinal slot extending the length of said hub between the conduit and the exterior, said slot being in communication with the longitudinal slit of the catheter, and including the step of passing the laterally projecting handle through said longitudinal slot to engage said slit.

5. A method of removing a catheter implanted in a patient with a guidewire occupying a lumen of said catheter, the proximal ends of both said catheter and guidewire projecting outwardly from said patient, which method comprises:

bending at least one of proximal portions of said guidewire and said catheter in a lateral direction to draw a portion of said guidewire outwardly through a longitudinal slit defined in said catheter; and

withdrawing said catheter from the patient while holding said guidewire adjacent to said longitudinal slit, to hold said guidewire stationary and to cause said catheter and slit to move proximally relative to said guidewire, whereby said catheter may be removed from the patient while the guidewire remains stationary.

6. The method of claim 5 in which said catheter defines a proximal hub defining a conduit communicating with said catheter lumen, and a longitudinal slot extending the length of said hub between the conduit and the exterior, said slot being in communication with said longitudinal slit of the catheter, and including the step of passing a laterally projecting guidewire portion through said longitudinal slot prior to passing said portion through said longitudinal slit.