Extension device, assembly thereof, heater for use therewith and method

• US 5,651,373 A
• Filed: 03/06/1995
• Issued: 07/29/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Volcano Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Cardiometrics, Inc. (JOMED NV)
• Inventors: Mah, Kathleen M.
• Primary Examiner(s): RIMELL, SAMUEL G
• Application Number:
  US08/399,940
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 128/772, 604/905, 403/265, 403/268, 403/269, 403/292, 403/293, 228/132, 228/133, 228/904
• US Class Current: 600/585
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0905 extendable, e.g. mechanisms for extension
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/905 Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable

Abstract

Flexible elongate extension device for use with a flexible elongate member having proximal and distal extremities, comprising a flexible elongate extension member having proximal and distal extremities. A sleeve is secured to the distal extremity. The sleeve is sized to receive the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate member. A thermoplastic adhesive is disposed in the sleeve and has a lumen therein sized so it is adapted to receive the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate member.

Claims

1. A flexible elongate extension device for use in making repetitive connections with a flexible elongate member having proximal and distal extremities comprising a flexible elongate extension member having proximal and distal extremities, a sleeve having first and second portions carried by the distal extremity of the flexible elongate extension member so that the first portion only receives the distal extremity of the flexible elongate extension member, the second portion of said sleeve having a bore sized to receive the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate member so that when the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate member is disposed in the bore, the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate member is in axial alignment with the distal extremity of the flexible elongate extension member and a thermoplastic adhesive disposed in said bore of the second portion of the sleeve which can be repeatedly heated and cooled to make repetitive connections between the sleeve and the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate member.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein said adhesive is cured and has a lumen therein sized to receive the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate member.

3. A device as in claim 1 wherein said sleeve is formed of a metal and wherein the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate member is formed of metal and wherein said thermoplastic adhesive provides adhesion between metal of the sleeve and the metal of the flexible elongate member.

4. A device as in claim 2 wherein said thermoplastic adhesive is 111-14.

5. A device as in claim 2 wherein said sleeve has an outside diameter ranging from 0.010 to 0.038 inches.

6. A device as in claim 2 wherein said lumen in said thermoplastic adhesive ranges in size from 0.004 inches to 0.028 inches.

7. A device as in claim 1 wherein said sleeve is formed integral with the distal extremity of the extension member.

8. A flexible elongate assembly for making multiple catheter exchanges comprising a flexible elongate member having proximal and distal extremities, a flexible elongate extension member having proximal and distal extremities, a sleeve having a bore sized to receive the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate member and only the distal extremity of the flexible elongate extension member end-to-end without overlapping, first means forming a connection between the distal extremity of the flexible elongate extension member and the sleeve and second means forming a connection between the sleeve and the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate member whereby when the flexible elongate extension member is coupled to the flexible elongate member the flexible elongate extension member forms an extension of the flexible elongate member, at least one of said first and second means including a thermoplastic adhesive capable of being repeatedly heated and cooled for making repetitive connections between the flexible elongate member and the flexible elongate extension member.

9. An assembly as in claim 8 wherein said adhesive is provided with a lumen extending therethrough.

10. An assembly as in claim 8 wherein said sleeve has a diameter ranging from 0.010 inches to 0.038 inches.

11. An assembly as in claim 10 wherein said sleeve is formed of a metal and wherein said proximal extremity of the flexible elongate member and the distal extremity of the flexible elongate extension member are formed of metal and wherein said thermoplastic adhesive forms a metal to metal bond.

12. An assembly as in claim 8 wherein said adhesive is 111-14.

13. A combination of a flexible elongate member having proximal and distal extremities, a flexible elongate extension member having proximal and distal extremities, a coupling having a bore sized to receive the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate member and only the distal extremity of the flexible elongate extension member, the coupling carrying a thermoplastic adhesive and a heater for repeatedly coupling and decoupling the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate member to the distal extremity of the flexible elongate extension member, the heater comprising a unitary base member having a groove therein adapted to receive the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate member and the distal extremity of the flexible elongate extension member, electrical heating means underlying at least a portion of the groove, a cover secured to said base member and movable into a position overlying the electrical heating means and means for supplying energy to the electrical heating means to cause softening of the thermoplastic adhesive carried by the coupling for permitting repeated attachment of the flexible elongate member to the coupling and repeated detachment of the flexible elongate member from the coupling.

14. A heater as in claim 13 together with switch means for energizing and deenergizing the electrical heating means.

15. A heater as in claim 14 wherein said switch is mounted in said base member so that upon moving said cover member to a closed position with respect to the base member the switch means is operated to cause energization of the electrical heating means.

16. A heater as in claim 14 together with timer means for interrupting the heating of the electrical heating means.

17. A heater as in claim 13 together with a visual indicating means for indicating when power is being supplied to the electrical heating means.

18. A heater as in claim 13 together with visual means for indicating when sufficient energy has been supplied to the electrical heating means.

19. In a method for repeatedly joining the proximal extremity of a flexible elongate metal member to the distal extremity of a flexible elongate metal extension member using a coupling having a bore therein having first and second ends and carried thereby and sized to only receive the flexible elongate metal extension member in the first end, the coupling having a thermoplastic adhesive therein and being adapted to receive the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate member in the second end comprising inserting the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate member into the thermoplastic adhesive in the coupling so that the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate member is in an end-to-end relationship with the distal extremity of the flexible elongate member and in axial alignment therewith, heating the coupling and the thermoplastic adhesive therein, permitting the thermoplastic adhesive to cool to form a bond between the flexible elongate member and the flexible elongate extension member so that the flexible elongate extension member serves as an extension to the flexible elongate member and if necessary reheating the coupling and the thermoplastic adhesive therein to permit separation of the flexible elongate member from the flexible elongate extension member and thereafter repeating the aforementioned steps to couple the flexible elongate member to the flexible elongate extension member.

20. A method as in claim 19 together with the step of heating the coupling and the thermoplastic adhesive therein, and separating the flexible elongate extension member from the flexible elongate member.

21. A method as in claim 19 wherein the heating ranges from 55°

-100°

C.

22. A method as in claim 19 wherein the heating occurs for a period of approximately 5-20 seconds.

23. A method as in claim 22 together with the step of cooling the thermoplastic adhesive for a reasonable period of time after it has been heated.

24. A method for joining the proximal extremity of a guide wire to the distal extremity of an extension wire utilizing a coupling having a thermoplastic adhesive therein and being adapted to receive the proximal extremity of the guide wire and the distal extremity of the extension wire to make it possible to change catheters after a catheter has been placed on the guide wire, comprising placing a balloon catheter on the guidewire inserting the proximal extremity of the guide wire into the thermoplastic adhesive in the coupling, heating the thermoplastic adhesive, permitting the thermoplastic adhesive to cool to form a bond between the proximal extremity of the guide wire and the coupling, removing the balloon catheter from the guide wire while leaving the guide wire in place, introducing another catheter over the extension wire and the guide wire while the guide wire is still in place, heating the thermoplastic adhesive in the coupling and separating the guide wire from the extension wire and if necessary reconnecting the guide wire to the extension wire by inserting the guide wire into the coupling, heating the thermoplastic adhesive and permitting the thermoplastic adhesive to cool.