Catheter with adjustable guidewire exit position

• US 9,126,013 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2013
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Teleflex Medical Incorporated (Teleflex Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Teleflex Medical Incorporated (Teleflex Incorporated)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Gwen
• Primary Examiner(s): GILBERT, ANDREW M
• Application Number:
  US13/871,662
• Publication Number:
  US 20140171913A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 604/506, 604/510, 604/102.01, 604/103.03, 604/103.04, 604/528
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0035 characterized by a variable lumen cross-section by means of a resilient flexible septum or outer wall
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0037 characterized by lumina being arranged side-by-side
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0183 Rapid exchange or monorail catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0188 having slitted or breakaway lumens
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0026 Multi-lumen catheters with stationary elements catheter assemblies comprising a catheter in combination with a guide tube, sheath or sleeve A61M2025/0681; catheters comprising telescoping coaxial elements A61M2025/0175
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0043 characterised by structural features
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/01 Introducing, guiding, advancing, emplacing or holding catheters A61M25/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0169 Exchanging a catheter while keeping the guidewire in place
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0172 Exchanging a guidewire while keeping the catheter in place

Abstract

Novel catheter systems including those having guidewire lumens that can convert from an Over-the-Wire mode to a Rapid Exchange mode are useful and effective when crafted such that this conversion happens without adjusting the position of the guidewire in a body lumen.

Claims

1. A catheter system, comprising:

a catheter comprising a guidewire lumen configured to convert from an Over-the-Wire mode to a Rapid Exchange mode, and a slit at least partially along the guidewire lumen;

a guidewire configured to be inserted within the guidewire lumen of the catheter; and

an ejector wire configured to push the guidewire out of the slit at least partially along the guidewire lumen without adjusting a lateral position of the guidewire in a body lumen,

wherein the ejector wire and the guidewire lumen have similar noncircular cross-sectional profiles.

2. The catheter system of claim 1, wherein the catheter further comprises a therapy device at a distal end of the catheter.

3. The catheter system of claim 2, wherein the therapy device is a balloon or a stent.

4. The catheter system of claim 1, wherein the catheter further comprises a balloon inflation lumen, an aspiration lumen, or a pull/push wire lumen.

5. The catheter system of claim 1, wherein the catheter further comprises at least two guidewire exit points along the guidewire lumen, wherein one of the at least two guidewire exit points is proximal of the other of the at least two guidewire exit points.

6. The catheter system of claim 5, wherein the one of the at least two guidewire exit points is a distal guidewire exit point at a distal end of the guidewire lumen, and the other of the at least two guidewire exit points is a proximal guidewire exit point at a proximal end of the guidewire lumen.

7. The catheter system of claim 6, wherein the slit is between the proximal guidewire exit point and the distal guidewire exit point.

8. The catheter system of claim 1, wherein the ejector wire has an axial length that is greater than an axial length of the slit at least partially along the guidewire lumen.

9. The catheter system of claim 1, wherein the ejector wire and the guidewire lumen have semicircle cross-sectional profiles.

10. The catheter system of claim 9, wherein the guidewire has a circular cross-sectional profile.

11. A method for pushing a guidewire out of a guidewire lumen, the method comprising:

receiving a catheter system comprising;

a catheter comprising a guidewire lumen, the guidewire lumen defining a proximal guidewire exit point and a distal guidewire exit point, and a slit between the proximal guidewire exit point and the distal guidewire exit point of the guidewire lumen,

a guidewire configured to be inserted within the guidewire lumen of the catheter, and

an ejector wire configured to push the guidewire out of the slit along the guidewire lumen, wherein the ejector wire and the guidewire lumen have similar noncircular cross-sectional profiles;

causing at least some of the guidewire to be received within the guidewire lumen of the catheter;

inserting the ejector wire into the proximal guidewire exit point to cause the guidewire to release through the slit of the guidewire lumen without adjusting a lateral position of the guidewire in a body lumen; and

withdrawing the ejector wire from the guidewire lumen.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the catheter of the catheter system further comprises a therapeutic lumen comprising a balloon on its distal end.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein inserting the ejector wire into the proximal guidewire exit point comprises advancing the ejector wire until the ejector wire reaches the distal guidewire exit point of the guidewire lumen.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the ejector wire of the catheter system and the guidewire lumen of the catheter have semicircle cross-sectional profiles.

15. A catheter system, comprising:

a catheter comprising a guidewire lumen, the at least one guidewire lumen defining a proximal guidewire exit point and a distal guidewire exit point, and a slit along an entirety of the guidewire lumen between the proximal guidewire exit point and the distal guidewire exit point;

a guidewire configured to be inserted within the guidewire lumen of the catheter; and

an ejector wire configured to push the guidewire out of the slit without adjusting a lateral position of the guidewire in a body lumen,

wherein the ejector wire and the guidewire lumen have similar noncircular cross-sectional profiles.

16. The catheter of claim 15, wherein the catheter further comprises a therapeutic lumen adjacent the guidewire lumen.

17. The catheter system of claim 15, wherein the ejector wire has an axial length that is greater than an axial length of the slit along the entirety of the guidewire lumen between the proximal guidewire exit point and the distal guidewire exit point.

18. The catheter system of claim 15, wherein the ejector wire and the guidewire lumen have semicircle cross-sectional profiles.

19. The catheter system of claim 18, wherein the guidewire has a circular cross-sectional profile.