Guiding introducer system for use in medical procedures in the left ventricle

• US 6,156,018 A
• Filed: 09/25/1998
• Issued: 12/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Daig Corporation (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Hassett, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): COHEN, LEE S
• Application Number:
  US09/160,406
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 600/374, 600/585, 606/41, 607/122, 604/280, 604/281
• US Class Current: 604/523
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0681 Systems with catheter and outer tubing, e.g. sheath, sleeve or guide tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0041 pre-formed, e.g. specially adapted to fit with the anatomy of body channels urethral catheters A61F2/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/01 Introducing, guiding, advancing, emplacing or holding catheters A61M25/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0133 Tip steering devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0152 with pre-shaped mechanisms, e.g. pre-shaped stylets or pre-shaped outer tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0662 Guide tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/057 Anchoring means; Means for fixing the head inside the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2001/0578 having means for removal or extraction
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/50 Address allocation

Abstract

A guiding introducer system for use in the treatment of arrhythmia associated with the left ventricle from the ventricular side comprising an inner guiding introducer and an outer guiding introducer wherein the inner guiding introducer is comprised of a first and second section and the outer guiding introducer is comprised of a first and second sections. The guiding introducer system is for use in sensing, pacing, and ablating procedures in the left ventricle.

Claims

1. A guiding introducer system for use in medical procedures within the left ventricle comprising a precurved inner guiding introducer and a precurved outer guiding introducer, wherein said guiding introducers are used in combination and wherein the outer guiding introducer is formed in a predetermined, precurved shape which precurved shape assists in placement of system in the left ventricle, wherein a dilator containing distal and proximal ends is used in conjunction with the inner and outer guiding introducers, wherein said dilator curves at its distal end in a curve with an arc of about 20 to about 70 degrees.

2. A guiding introducer system for use in medical procedures within the left ventricle comprising a precurved inner guiding introducer and a precurved outer guiding introducer, wherein said guiding introducers are used in combination and wherein the outer guiding introducer is formed in a predetermined, precurved shape which precurved shape assists in placement of the system in the left ventricle, wherein the outer guiding introducer comprises a first and second section each with proximal and distal ends, wherein the first section is a generally elongated straight section, wherein merged with the distal end of the first section is the second section, wherein the second section contains a compound curved section containing a first curved portion and a second curved portion, wherein the first curved portion has a radius of about 0.5 to about 1.5 inches and an arc of about 10 to about 50 degrees and the second curved portion has a radius of about 0.5 to about 1.5 inches and an arc of about 135 to about 225 degrees.

3. A guiding introducer system for use in medical procedures within the left ventricle comprising a precurved inner guiding introducer and a precurved outer guiding introducer, wherein said guiding introducers are used in combination and wherein the outer guiding introducer is formed in a predetermined, precurved shape, wherein said inner guiding introducer comprises a first and a second section, wherein the first section is a generally elongated straight section, wherein merged with a distal end of said first section is the second section which contains a curved section with a radius of about 0.5 to about 1.5 in. to form an arc of approximately 45 to 135 degrees ending in a distal end of the second section of the inner guiding introducer.

4. The guiding introducer system of claim 3 wherein a plurality of vents is provided near the distal end of the second section of the inner guiding introducer.

5. The guiding introducer system of claim 3 wherein tip markers are secured to the inner guiding introducer.

6. A guiding introducer system for use in medical procedures within the left ventricle comprising a precurved inner guiding introducer and a precurved outer guiding introducer, wherein said guiding introducers are used in combination and wherein the outer guiding introducer is formed in a predetermined, precurved shape wherein the outer guiding introducer comprises a first and second sections each with proximal and distal ends, wherein the first section is a generally elongated straight section, wherein merged with the distal end of said first section is the second section which contains a curved portion, curving in a radius of about 0.5 to about 1.5 in. to form an arc of about 145 to about 260 degrees, ending in the distal end of the second section of the outer guiding introducer.

7. The guiding introducer system of claim 6 wherein a plurality of vents is provided near the distal end of the second section of the outer guiding introducer.

8. The guiding introducer system of claim 6 wherein tip markers are secured to the outer guiding introducer.

9. A method for performing medical procedures associated with a left ventricle of a human heart comprising

(a) introducing into the left side of the heart a guiding introducer system comprising a precurved inner guiding introducer and a precurved outer guiding introducer, wherein each of the inner and outer guiding introducers contains e lumen passing therethrough, a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the inner guiding introducer is extended into and through the lumen of the outer guiding introducer and wherein the outer guiding introducer is formed in a predetermined shape;

(b) introducing into the lumen of the inner guiding introducer a medical device useful to perform the medical procedures, wherein said medical device contains a distal tip; and

(c) extending said distal tip of the medical device through the lumen of the inner guiding introducer and beyond the distal end of the inner and outer guiding introducers to assist the medical device to perform the medical procedure within the left ventricle of the human heart.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the inner guiding introducer comprises a first and second sections, each with proximal and distal ends, wherein the first section is a generally elongated straight section, wherein merged with the distal end of said first section is the second section, wherein the second section contains a curved section with a radius of about 0.5 to about 1.5 in. to form an arc of approximately 45 degrees to about 135 degrees ending in the distal end of the second section of the inner guiding introducer.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the outer guiding introducer comprises a first and second sections each with proximal and distal ends, wherein the first section is a generally elongated straight section, wherein merged with the distal end of said first section is the second section containing a curved section with a radius of about 0.5 to about 1.5 in. to form an arc of about 145 to about 260 degrees, ending in the distal end of the second end of the outer guiding introducer.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the outer guiding introducer comprises a first and second section each with proximal and distal ends, wherein the first section is a generally elongated straight section, wherein merged with the distal end of the first section is the second section wherein the second section of the outer guiding introducer contains a compound curved section containing a first curved portion and a second curved portion wherein the first curved portion has a radius of about 0.5 to about 1.5 inches and an arc of about 10 to about 50 degrees and the second curved portion has a radius of about 0.5 to about 1.5 inches and an arc of about 135 to about 225 degrees.