Reinforced balloon dilatation catheter with slitted exchange sleeve and method

• US 5,626,600 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 05/06/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Horzewski, Michael J., Yock, Paul G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEWIS, WILLIAM W
• Application Number:
  US08/482,093
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 606/191, 606/192, 606/194, 606/195, 604/95-102
• US Class Current: 606/194
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0063 having means, e.g. stylets, mandrils, rods or wires to reinforce or adjust temporarily the stiffness, column strength or pushability of catheters which are already inserted into the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0183 Rapid exchange or monorail catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1063 having only one lumen used for guide wire and inflation, e.g. to minimise the diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/107 having a longitudinal slit in the balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0054 with regions for increasing flexibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0108 using radio-opaque or ultrasound markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty

Abstract

Balloon dilatation catheter adapted to be utilized in connection with a guiding catheter and a guide wire. The catheter comprises a flexible elongate tubular member having proximal and distal extremities and having a lumen extending therethrough. An inflatable balloon is mounted on the distal extremity of the tubular member. The interior of the inflatable balloon is in communication with the lumen. A sleeve extends through the balloon and extends rearwardly from the balloon and alongside the lumen. The sleeve has a guidewire lumen extending therethrough. The guidewire lumen is adapted to receive a guide wire extending therethrough and extending rearwardly of the flexible elongate element into a region adjacent the proximal extremity of the proximal elongate element. The sleeve has a slit extending longitudinally of the same from the proximal extremity of the sleeve to a region adjacent the balloon permitting the guide wire to be removed therethrough.

Claims

1. A rapid exchange type intravascular catheter adapted to be utilized with a guidewire, comprising:

an elongated catheter shaft which has a proximal end, a distal end, a long relatively stiff proximal shaft section, a short relatively flexible distal shaft section;

a distal guidewire port in the distal end of the catheter shaft;

a proximal guidewire port in the catheter shaft which is at a location a short distance proximal to the distal end of the catheter shaft and a substantial distance distal to the proximal end of the catheter shaft; and

an inner lumen which is configured to receive a guidewire therein and which extends within the catheter shaft and is in fluid communication with the proximal guidewire port and the distal guidewire port; and

a slit in a wall of the catheter shaft in fluid communication with the inner lumen which opens to the proximal guidewire port.

2. The intravascular catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein a guidewire is disposed within the inner lumen and extends out the proximal guidewire port and the distal guidewire port.

3. A rapid exchange type balloon dilatation catheter adapted to be utilized with a guidewire comprising:

an elongated catheter shaft which has a proximal end, a distal end, a relatively long proximal shaft section and a relatively short distal shaft section;

an inflation lumen which extends within the proximal and distal shaft sections to an inflation port at a location spaced from the distal end of the catheter shaft;

an inflatable balloon on the distal shaft section having an interior in fluid communication with the inflation lumen through the inflation port;

a distal port in the distal end of the catheter shaft;

a proximal port in the catheter shaft which is at a location proximal to the inflatable balloon and a substantial distance distal to the proximal end of the catheter shaft;

a guidewire receiving lumen which extends to the distal guidewire port and is in fluid communication therewith; and

a slit in a wall of the catheter shaft which is in fluid communication with the guidewire lumen and which opens to the proximal port.

4. A balloon dilatation catheter adapted to be utilized with a guidewire comprising:

a flexible elongated catheter shaft which has a proximal end and a distal end, an elongated proximal shaft section, a relatively short distal shaft section, a distal guidewire opening in the distal end of the catheter shaft and a proximal guidewire opening spaced proximally a short distance from the distal end of the catheter shaft and a substantial distance from the proximal end;

a first lumen which extends within the catheter shaft through the proximal shaft section and the distal shaft section to the distal end of the catheter shaft and which is in fluid communication with the proximal and distal guidewire openings;

a second lumen which extends through the proximal shaft section and the distal shaft section to an inflation port at a location in the distal shaft section spaced proximally from the distal end of the catheter shaft; and

an inflatable balloon on the distal shaft section proximal to the distal end thereof and distal to the proximal guidewire opening having an interior in fluid communication with the second lumen through the inflation port in the distal shaft section.

5. The balloon dilatation catheter of claim 4 including an adapter on the proximal end of the catheter shaft having means to direct inflation fluid to the second lumen.

6. The dilatation catheter of claim 5 including a longitudinal slit in the catheter shaft communicating with the first lumen and the proximal guidewire opening.

7. The intravascular catheter of claim 6 including means on the proximal end of the catheter to facilitate operation of the means to perform the intravascular procedure.

8. A rapid exchange type intravascular catheter adapted to be utilized with a guidewire, comprising:

an elongated catheter shaft which has a proximal end, a distal end, an elongated proximal shaft section and a relatively short distal shaft section, a distal guidewire opening in the distal end of the catheter shaft and a proximal guidewire opening spaced a short distance proximally from the distal end of the catheter shaft and a substantial distance from the proximal end of the catheter shaft;

a lumen which is configured to receive a guidewire therein, which extends through the proximal and distal shaft sections to the distal end of the catheter shaft and which is in fluid communication with the proximal and distal guidewire openings; and

means to perform an intravascular procedure on the distal shaft section proximal to the distal end of the catheter shaft and distal to the proximal guidewire port.