Dual-mode catheter

• US 6,494,846 B1
• Filed: 06/20/2000
• Issued: 12/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wayne Margolis Family Partnership Limited
• Original Assignee: Wayne Margolis Family Partnership Limited
• Inventors: Margolis, Wayne S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): WINGOOD, PAMELA LYNN
• Application Number:
  US09/597,506
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: 600/433, 600/434, 600/435, 600/595, 604/523-528
• US Class Current: 600/585
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0183 Rapid exchange or monorail catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0186 Catheters with fixed wires, i.e. so called "non-over-the-wire catheters"
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty

Abstract

The dual mode catheter of the present invention combines an over-the-wire catheter with a MONORAIL (trademark) catheter to allow simultaneous use of and switching between the MONORAIL (trademark) and over-the-wire catheters in situ, for example to manipulate stents, balloons, other medical devices, or combinations thereof. Thus combined, the present invention allows greater control of the medical devices and the catheter by a single physician while simultaneously allowing distal injection of individual components such as iodinated contrast fluids or drugs. Other advantages will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the medical arts such as reducing necessary exposure to radiation for both doctor and patient.

Claims

1. An improved non-balloon dual mode catheter capable of simultaneous insertion over at least one long guide wire and at least one short guide wire, the long guide wire longer than the short guide wire, the catheter comprising:

a substantially tubular member having a proximal control end and a distal functional end;

a long guide wire lumen disposed within the tubular member, the long guide wire lumen being substantially coextensive with the tubular member and further comprising a first exit aperture located proximate the proximal control end and a second exit aperture located proximate the distal functional end;

the long guide wire lumen adapted to receive a long guide wire therethrough and further adapted to receive fluids therethrough;

the long guide wire being moveable with respect to the long guide wire lumen during use;

a short guide wire lumen disposed within the tubular member, the short guide wire lumen adapted to receive a short guide wire therethrough, the short guide wire lumen further comprising an exit aperture disposed proximate the distal functional end; and

a short guide wire aperture, adapted to receive a short guide wire, the short guide wire aperture disposed through an outer surface of the tubular member and located intermediate the proximal control end and the distal functional end, the short guide wire aperture in communication with the short guide wire lumen whereby the short guide wire lumen is in communication with the outer surface of the tubular member through the short guide wire aperture.

2. The improved dual mode catheter of claim 1 wherein a long guide wire is inserted into the long guide wire lumen, the long guide wire is longer than the tubular member.

3. The improved dual mode catheter of claim 1 wherein a long guide wire or a short guide wire inserted into the long guide wire lumen or the short guide wire lumen respectively has a diameter of between 0.005 and 0.025 inches.

4. The improved dual mode catheter of claim 1 wherein the tubular member has a length of approximately 100 cm to 200 cm.

5. The improved dual mode catheter of claim 1 wherein the tubular member has a length of approximately 150 cm to 200 cm.

6. The improved dual mode catheter of claim 1 wherein the tubular member has a length of approximately 150 cm to 400 cm.

7. The improved dual mode catheter of claim 1 wherein the long guide wire has a length of between around 150 cm to around 400 cm.

8. The improved dual mode catheter of claim 1 wherein the short guide wire lumen exit aperture is tactily distinguishable from the long guide wire exit aperture at the distal functional end.

9. The improved dual mode catheter of claim 1 wherein the short guide wire lumen exit aperture is visually distinguishable from the long guide wire exit aperture at the distal functional end.

11. The improved dual mode catheter of claim 1 wherein the distal functional end is tapered.

10. An improved method of using a non-balloon dual mode catheter, the dual mode catheter comprising a substantially tubular member having a length of approximately 100 cm to 300 cm having a proximal control end and a distal functional end;

a long guide wire having a length of approximately 150 cm to 400 cm in length;

a short guide wire having a length of approximately 150 cm to 250 cm in length;

a long guide wire lumen disposed internal to the tubular member and substantially coextensive in length with the tubular member, the long guide wire lumen having a distal aperture at the distal functional end of the tubular member and a proximal aperture at the proximal control end of the tubular member; and

a short guide wire lumen disposed internal to the tubular member, the short guide wire lumen having a distal aperture proximate the distal functional end of the tubular and a short guide wire aperture located intermediate the proximal control end and the distal functional end of the tubular;

wherein the long guide wire lumen is adapted to receive the long guide wire therethrough; and

the short guide wire lumen is adapted to receive the short guide wire therethrough with an end of the short guide wire exiting the dual mode catheter through the short guide wire aperture, the method comprising the steps of;

positioning the short guide wire in situ;

placing the dual mode catheter over the short guide wire with an end of the short guide wire inserted through the second lumen distal aperture into the second lumen and exiting the short guide wire aperture;

advancing the dual mode catheter over the short guide wire;

inserting a long guide wire through the distal aperture of the long guide wire lumen through the long guide wire lumen and out the functional aperture of the long guide wire lumen;

navigating the dual mode catheter and short guide wire to a desired position over the long guide wire; and

navigating a desired medical device into place in situ through a guide wire catheter over the long guide wire.

13. The improved method of claim 10 further comprising the step of exchanging a long guide wire for a short guide wire to allow for injection of fluids through the long guide wire lumen.

12. An improved method of using a dual mode catheter, the dual mode catheter comprising a substantially tubular member of between around 100 cm to around 300 cm having a proximal control end and a distal functional end;

a long guide wire of around 150 cm to around 400 cm in length;

a short guide wire of around 150 cm to around 250 cm in length;

long guide wire lumen disposed internal to the tubular member and substantially coextensive in length with the tubular member, the long guide wire lumen having an distal aperture at the distal functional end of the tubular member and a proximal aperture at the proximal control end of the tubular member; and

a short guide wire lumen disposed internal to the tubular member, the short guide wire lumen having an distal aperture proximate the distal functional end of the tubular and a short guide wire aperture located intermediate the proximal control end and the distal functional end of the tubular;

wherein the long guide wire lumen is adapted to receive the long guide wire there through; and

the short guide wire lumen is adapted to receive the short guide wire there through with an end of the short guide wire exiting the dual mode catheter through the short guide wire aperture, the method comprising the steps of;

positioning the short guide wire in situ;

placing the dual mode catheter over the short guide wire with an end of the short guide wire inserted through the second lumen distal aperture into the second lumen and exiting the short guide wire aperture;

advancing the dual mode catheter over the short guide wire;

inserting a long guide wire through the distal aperture of the long guide wire lumen through the long guide wire lumen and out the functional aperture of the long guide wire lumen;

navigating the dual mode catheter and short guide wire to a desired position over the long guide wire; and

navigating a desired medical device into place in situ through a guide catheter over the long guide wire.

14. The improved method of claim 12 further comprising the step of exchanging a long guide wire for a short guide wire to allow for injection of fluids through the long guide wire lumen.

15. The improved method of claim 14 wherein the fluid is a drug.

16. The improved method of claim 14 wherein the fluid is a contrast fluid.

17. The improved method of claim 12 further comprising the step of selectively removing either the short guide wire or the long guide wire.

18. The improved method of claim 12 wherein both the short guide wire and the long guide wire are present simultaneously in the catheter.

19. The improved method of claim 12 wherein the medical device is selected from the group of medical devices consisting of catheter mounted angioplasty balloons, incisors, stents, artherectomy cutters, fluids, and angiojets.