Catheter tip designs and methods for improved stent crossing

• US 6,113,579 A
• Filed: 03/04/1998
• Issued: 09/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Eidenschink, Tracee E. J., Mickley, Timothy J., Euteneuer, Charles L., Larson, Christopher R., Mertens, Steven P.
• Primary Examiner(s): KENNEDY, SHARON E
• Application Number:
  US09/034,421
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 604/160, 604/161, 604/164, 604/96, 604/280, 604/281-283, 604/285, 604/27, 604/49, 604/50, 604/52, 604/53, 604/57, 604/59-61, 604/93, 604/101, 604/264, 604/272, 604/905 , 604/921, 600/433, 600/435, 623/1
• US Class Current: 604/264
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0081 Soft tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1093 having particular tip characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0074 Dynamic characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. openable, closable, expandable or deformable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/008 Strength or flexibility characteristics of the catheter tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/04 in the body, e.g. expansible A61M25/10, A61M16/0488 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10 Balloon catheters A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02; inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 ; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00

Abstract

A catheter is disclosed which includes an over-the-wire type balloon catheter with a guide wire wherein the catheter includes a polyethylene inner tube and an outer tube having a relatively stiff proximal outer section, a midshaft section of lesser stiffness, and a tapering distal outer section of the least stiffness. An inflatable balloon is connected to the distal ends of the inner tube and the outer tube. The guide wire may be removed from and inserted into the guide wire lumen at either end of the catheter.

Claims

1. A catheter tip assembly for crossing both vessel lumen obstructions and placed stents, said tip assembly comprising:

an elongated tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end with a guide wire receiving lumen extending therethrough;

means for performing a therapeutic procedure proximate the distal end of said elongate tubular member wherein a distal portion of said elongate tubular member extends distally beyond said means for performing a therapeutic procedure to form a catheter tip which defines a leading edge for tracking a guide wire extending therethrough; and

,

means for reconfiguring said catheter tip from a first configuration for crossing said vessel lumen obstruction to a second configuration for crossing a placed stent, said means for reconfiguring including a line of weakened strength around at least part of the catheter tip.

2. The tip assembly of claim 1, wherein said means for reconfiguring said catheter tip comprises a severable distal-most tip portion, wherein said severable distal-most tip portion is configured for crossing said vessel lumen obstruction and the remaining tip portion proximal of said severable distal-most tip portion is configured for crossing said placed stent.

3. The tip assembly of claim 2, wherein said tip is perforated at said severable distal-most tip portion.

4. The tip assembly of claim 2, wherein said severable distal-most tip portion has an outside surface that tapers distally to form a generally conical tip for crossing said vessel lumen obstruction.

5. The tip assembly of claim 4, wherein said remaining tip portion has a generally blunt distal-most portion for aiding said catheter in crossing said stent.

6. The tip assembly of claim 4, wherein said remaining tip portion has a generally bulbous distal-most portion for aiding said catheter in crossing said stent.

7. The catheter tip assembly of claim 1, wherein the guide wire receiving lumen has a smaller inner dimension in a severable distal tip portion than in a remaining tip portion proximal of the severable distal tip portion.

8. The catheter tip assembly of claim 1, wherein the line of differing strength is positioned between the severable distal tip portion and the remaining tip portion proximal of the severable distal tip portion.

9. The catheter tip assembly of claim 1, wherein the elongate tubular member has a smaller outer dimension in a severable distal tip portion than in a remaining tip portion proximal of the severable distal tip portion.

10. The catheter tip assembly of claim 9, wherein the line of differing strength is positioned between the severable distal tip portion and the remaining tip portion proximal of the severable distal tip portion.