Magnetic guidewire coupling for catheter exchange

• US 5,487,729 A
• Filed: 03/25/1994
• Issued: 01/30/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cordis Corporation (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cordis Corporation (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hernandez, Ernesto, Avellanet, Ernesto
• Primary Examiner(s): MCDERMOTT, CORRINE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US08/217,930
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 128/772, 128/656-658, 604/49, 604/96, 604/165, 604/264, 604/280, 604/283
• US Class Current: 604/103.04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22049 Means for locking the guide wire in the catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09125 Device for locking a guide wire in a fixed position with respect to the catheter or the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09175 having specific characteristics at the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0127 Magnetic means; Magnetic markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0169 Exchanging a catheter while keeping the guidewire in place
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires

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.

Claims

1. Apparatus for facilitating catheter exchange in the vascular system of a patient, which comprises:

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;

said first magnetic attraction means comprising ferromagnetic material;

a 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 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.

2. Apparatus for facilitating catheter exchange in the vascular system of a patient, which comprises:

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;

said first magnetic attraction means comprising permanent magnetic material;

a 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 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.

3. Apparatus for facilitating catheter exchange in the vascular system of a patient, which comprises:

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;

said first magnetic attraction means comprising a plurality of spaced ferromagnetic segments;

a 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 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.

4. Apparatus for facilitating catheter exchange in the vascular system of a patient, which comprises:

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;

said first magnetic attraction means comprising a plurality of spaced permanent magnet segments;

a 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 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.

5. Apparatus for facilitating catheter exchange in the vascular system of a patient, which comprises:

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 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,

said second magnetic attraction means comprising a permanent magnet;

whereby said 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.