Balloon actuated guide catheter

• US 6,612,999 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2001
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Becker, Neil, Brennan, Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Szmal, Brian
• Application Number:
  US10/011,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20030109810A1
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 600/585, 604/509, 604/28, 604/6.14, 604/530, 606/194, 606/41, 606/21
• US Class Current: 600/585
• 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 25/0152 with pre-shaped mechanisms, e.g. pre-shaped stylets or pre-shaped outer tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0155 with hydraulic or pneumatic means, e.g. balloons or inflatable compartments

Abstract

A guide catheter employs a flexible shaft having a pre-formed bend at a distal end. An inflatable member is disposed on the flexible shaft and encompasses at least part of the pre-formed bend. The flexible shaft contains an inflation lumen in fluid connection with the inflatable member. Inflation of the inflatable member causes a deflection of the distal end of the flexible shaft. The guide catheter includes an inflation mechanism in fluid connection with the inflation lumen for pressurizing and depressurizing the inflation member. A guide catheter according to the present invention is useful for various medical procedures, including providing access to heart vessels for cardiac lead implantation, EP mapping, and angiography/venography.

Claims

1. A guide catheter, comprising:

a flexible shaft comprising a pre-shaped distal bend and an inflation lumen;

an inflatable member disposed on an external surface of the flexible shaft in fluid connection with the inflation lumen, the inflatable member encompassing at least part of the pre-shaped distal bend of the flexible shaft, inflation and deflation of the inflatable member changing a shape of the pre-shaped distal bend; and

an inflation mechanism in fluid connection with a proximal end of the inflation lumen, the inflation mechanism selectably pressurizing and depressurizing the fluid within the inflation lumen to respectively inflate and deflate the inflatable member.

2. A guide catheter according to claim 1, wherein the flexible shaft further comprises an open lumen.

3. A guide catheter according to claim 2, wherein the open lumen is adapted to receive a payload.

4. A guide catheter according to claim 2, wherein the open lumen is adapted to receive an injection of a contrast media for mapping blood vessels.

5. A guide catheter according to claim 1, wherein the inflation lumen is disposed along an external surface of the flexible shaft.

6. A guide catheter according to claim 1, wherein the inflation lumen is disposed within the flexible shaft.

7. A guide catheter according to claim 1, wherein the inflatable member comprises an occlusion balloon.

8. A guide catheter according to claim 1, wherein the inflatable member encompasses a partial circumferential angle of a cross section of the flexible shaft, the partial circumferential angle ranging from about 90 degrees to about 180 degrees.

9. A guide catheter according to claim 1, wherein a distal end of the flexible shaft is steerable by rotation of a proximal end of the flexible shaft.

10. A guide catheter according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one electrode disposed on a distal end of the flexible shaft; and

at least one electrical conductor disposed along the flexible shaft and coupled to the at least one electrode.

11. A guide catheter, comprising:

a flexible shaft comprising a pre-shaped distal bend, an inflation lumen, and an inflatable section in fluid connection with the inflation lumen, the inflatable section disposed along at least part of the pre-shaped distal bend and changing a shape of the pre-shaped distal bend upon inflation and deflation of the inflatable section; and

an inflation mechanism in fluid connection with a proximal end of the inflation lumen, the inflation mechanism selectably pressurizing and depressurizing the fluid within the inflation lumen to respectively inflate and deflate the inflatable section.

12. A guide catheter according to claim 11, wherein the flexible shaft further comprises an open lumen.

13. A guide catheter according to claim 12, wherein the open lumen is adapted to receive a payload.

14. A guide catheter according to claim 12, wherein the open lumen is adapted to receive an injection of a contrast media for mapping blood vessels.

15. A guide catheter according to claim 11, wherein the inflation lumen is disposed along an external surface of the flexible shaft.

16. A guide catheter according to claim 11, wherein the inflation lumen is disposed within the flexible shaft.

17. A guide catheter according to claim 11, wherein a distal end of the flexible shaft is steerable by rotation of a proximal end of the flexible shaft.

18. A guide catheter according to claim 11, further comprising:

at least one electrode disposed on a distal end of the flexible shaft; and

at least one electrical conductor disposed along the flexible shaft and coupled to the at least one electrode.

19. A guide catheter according to claim 11, wherein the inflatable section encompasses a partial circumferential angle of a cross section of the flexible shaft, the partial circumferential angle ranging from about 90 degrees to about 180 degrees.

20. A method of inserting a guide catheter into a patient'"'"'s blood vessel, comprising:

providing a guide catheter comprising;

a flexible shaft comprising a pre-shaped distal bend, an inflation lumen, and an inflatable section disposed along at least part of the pre-shaped distal bend, the inflatable section changing a shape of the pre-shaped distal bend upon inflation and deflation of the inflatable section; and

a flexible shaft comprising a pre-shaped distal bend, an inflation lumen, and an inflatable section in fluid connection with the inflation lumen, the inflatable section disposed along at least part of the pre-shaped distal bend and changing a shape of the pre-shaped distal bend upon inflation and deflation of the inflatable section;

inserting a distal end of the flexible shaft through the patient'"'"'s venous system via an access vessel; and

actuating the inflation mechanism to selectably inflate and deflate the inflatable section to change the shape of the pre-shaped distal bend for finding and cannulating the blood vessel.

21. A method according to claim 20, further comprising, after finding and cannulating the blood vessel:

distally advancing the flexible shaft to seat the distal end of the flexible shaft in the blood vessel; and

inserting a payload through a proximal end of the flexible shaft for implanting the payload into the blood vessel.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the payload comprises a pacing lead.

23. A method according to claim 21, wherein the payload comprises an occlusion device.

24. A method according to claim 20, further comprising injecting a contrast media into the flexible shaft for mapping of blood vessels after finding and cannulating the blood vessel.

25. A method according to claim 20, wherein the blood vessel is the coronary sinus of the patient'"'"'s heart and the access vessel is the right atrium via the superior vena cava.