Guidewire positioning catheter

• US 9,642,646 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2013
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avinger Inc.
• Original Assignee: Avinger Inc.
• Inventors: Patel, Himanshu N., Simpson, John B.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCEVOY, THOMAS M
• Application Number:
  US13/929,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20130289392A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,412 Days
• Field of Search: 606 80, 606159, 606167-173, 606180
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320758 with a rotating cutting instrument, e.g. motor driven A61B17/320725, A61B17/32075 and A61B17/320783 take precedence; for removing intra-ocular material A61F9/00763; endoscopic rotatable cutting instruments A61B17/32002
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00309 Cut-outs or slits
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22038 with a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320775 Morcellators, impeller or propeller like means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/066 Superposing sensor position on an image of the patient, e.g. obtained by ultrasound or x-ray imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/01 Introducing, guiding, advancing, emplacing or holding catheters A61M25/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0138 having flexible regions as a result of weakened outer material, e.g. slots, slits, cuts, joints or coils
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0147 with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0155 with hydraulic or pneumatic means, e.g. balloons or inflatable compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0172 Exchanging a guidewire while keeping the catheter in place

Abstract

A catheter for positioning a guidewire across an occluded portion of a vessel includes an elongate catheter body, an integrated rotatable distal tip, a proximal handle region, and a catheter lumen extending through the elongate catheter body. The elongate body has a distal region configured to be bent to a set angle. The integrated rotatable distal tip includes one or more channeled flutes extending around the distal tip that are configured to be rotated in a first direction to dissect tissue and a second direction for bluntly contacting tissue. A proximal handle region includes a control for rotating the distal tip in either the first or second directions. The catheter lumen is configured to pass a guidewire.

Claims

1. A catheter device for positioning a guidewire across an occluded portion of a vessel, the device comprising:

an elongate catheter body having a distal region comprising a metal band extending longitudinally along a wall of the elongate catheter body, wherein the distal region has a pre-biased configuration and is configured to be bent to a fixed angle along the metal band;

an integrated rotatable distal tip comprising one or more channeled flutes extending around the distal tip, the rotatable distal tip configured to be rotated in a first direction to dissect tissue and a second direction for bluntly contacting tissue, wherein the rotatable distal tip comprises a slip collar that engages a slip ring fixedly coupled to a distal end of the elongate catheter body to hold an axial position of the integrated distal tip fixed relative to the distal end of the elongate catheter body while allowing rotation relative to the elongate catheter body;

a proximal handle region including a control for rotating the distal tip in either the first or second directions; and

a catheter lumen extending through the elongate catheter body, the catheter lumen configured to pass a guidewire.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more channeled flutes of the rotatable tip comprises a helical blade edge.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising forward cutting blades on the rotatable distal tip.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a driveshaft positioned between the catheter lumen and an outer diameter of the catheter body, the driveshaft extending from the rotatable tip to the proximal handle and configured to rotate the distal tip upon activation of the control.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein an outermost diameter of the distal tip is approximately the same as an outer diameter of the elongate catheter body.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the proximal handle region includes a control for automatically rotating the distal tip in the first and second directions.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the proximal handle region is further configured to control rotation of the distal region of the elongate body to orient the fixed angle in a desired direction.

8. The device of claim 1, further including a marker configured to indicate an orientation of the set angle.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the marker is a fluoroscopy marker.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the handle further includes a luer connector thereon configured to provide access to the catheter lumen for fluid flush and entry of the guidewire.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the luer connector includes a threaded or lockable region.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the luer connector includes a flanged opening.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the metal band comprises a shape memory metal.