Catheter having variable size guide wire lumen

• US 6,517,515 B1
• Filed: 01/20/1999
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Eidenschink, Tracee E. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kennedy, Sharon
• Application Number:
  US09/233,553
• Time in Patent Office: 1,483 Days
• Field of Search: 604/101.01, 604/101.03, 604/101.04, 604/101.05, 604/102.01, 604/102.03, 604/96.01, 604/99.01, 604/99.02, 604/99.04, 606/108, 606/194
• US Class Current: 604/101.05
• 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 balloon catheter having a first balloon member and a second distal expandable member. The increased distal profile of the catheter with inflation of the second distal expandable member can deflect the distal-most end away from stent walls and edges. Another catheter has a distal region including longitudinal slits and a pre-stressed body configured to expand upon exposure to warm body fluids. Another catheter has a distal region including a first, inner tube disposed about a second, innermost tube. The inner and innermost tubes are secured at the distal-most end. The distal region includes longitudinal slits through the inner tube, thereby defining flaps between the slits. The innermost tube can be retracted relative to the inner tube disposed about the innermost tube, thereby causing the longitudinal flaps to expand outward, thereby increasing the maximum radial extent of the distal region. In yet another embodiment, a balloon catheter having a first guide wire tube is provided. A second guide wire tube is also provided, adapted to be received within the larger, first guide wire tube.

Claims

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

an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a guide wire receiving lumen and an inflation lumen extending therethrough;

an inflatable balloon disposed proximate said distal end of said elongate tubular member, wherein a distal portion of said elongate tubular member extends distally beyond said inflatable balloon to form a catheter tip which defines a first tapered leading edge for crossing vessel lumen obstructions or placed stents, wherein said inflatable balloon has an interior in fluid communication with said inflation lumen; and

a distal inflatable tip balloon disposed distal of said inflatable balloon, wherein said distal inflatable tip balloon has an interior in fluid communication with said inflatable balloon interior and said distal inflatable tip balloon is adapted and configured to shift between a first generally collapsed position and a second generally expanded position such that when in the second position a portion of an exterior surface of said distal inflatable tip balloon defines a second leading edge that aligns with said first tapered leading edge to aid in crossing a stent or vessel obstruction without said leading edge catching on a stent strut or vessel obstruction.

2. A catheter tip assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said assembly includes a distal inflation lumen in fluid communication with said inflatable balloon interior and in fluid communication with said distal inflatable tip balloon interior.

3. A catheter tip assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein said assembly includes a valve operably disposed within said distal inflation lumen.

4. A catheter tip assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein said valve is a oneway valve, wherein said one-way valve allows a substantially greater rate of flow from said inflatable balloon to said distal inflatable tip balloon than from said distal inflatable tip balloon to said inflatable balloon.

5. A catheter tip assembly as recited in claim 2, further comprising means for slowly releasing fluid from said distal inflatable tip balloon.

6. A catheter tip assembly as recited in claim 4, further comprising an elongate valve control member coupled to said one-way valve.

7. A catheter tip assembly as recited in claim 6, wherein said elongate valve control member extends through said elongate tubular member and can be pulled proximally to open said valve, wherein said valve is biased to close.

8. A catheter tip assembly as recited in claim 6, wherein said elongate valve control member extends through said elongate tubular member and can be pulled proximally to open said valve, and can be pushed distally to close said valve.

9. A method for advancing a therapeutic catheter across a stent placed within a body vessel comprising the steps of:

providing a catheter including an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a guide wire receiving lumen and an inflation lumen extending therethrough, an inflatable balloon disposed proximate said distal end of said elongate tubular member, said inflatable balloon having a maximum inflated radial extent, wherein a distal portion of said elongate tubular member extends distally beyond said inflatable to form a catheter tip which defines a leading edge for crossing a vessel obstruction or placed stent, wherein said inflatable balloon interior is in fluid communication with said inflation lumen, a distal inflatable member disposed distal of said balloon, wherein said distal inflatable member has an interior in fluid communication with said balloon interior, wherein said distal inflatable member has a maximum inflated radial extent that is less than said balloon maximum inflated radial extent, and a one-way valve in fluid communication with, and disposed between, said inflatable balloon interior and said distal inflatable member, wherein said one-way valve allows a substantially greater rate of flow from said balloon to said distal inflatable member than from said distal inflatable member to said balloon;

advancing said catheter into a body vessel;

providing inflation fluid to said inflatable balloon;

inflating said inflatable balloon and said distal inflatable member, such that said catheter distal region is radially expanded;

allowing said inflatable balloon to at least partially deflate; and

advancing said catheter distal inflatable member through said stent.