Method and apparatus for an adjustable shape guide catheter

• US 7,674,245 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2001
• Issued: 03/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Tockman, Bruce, Westlund, Randy
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi; Nicholas D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Koharski; Christopher D
• Application Number:
  US09/876,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20020188278A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,197 Days
• Field of Search: 604/96.01, 604158-162, 60416401-16402, 604/165.01, 604/165.02, 604/165.03, 604/523, 604/525, 604/530, 604/534, 604/527, 604/528, 604/532, 604/535
• US Class Current: 604/171
• 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 25/0105 Steering means as part of the catheter or advancing means; Markers for positioning systems for detection of markers A61B
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0136 Handles therefor

Abstract

A catheter assembly includes an outer catheter member having a distal flexible end. An inner catheter member is movably disposed within the outer catheter member. Optionally, a handle assembly is coupled with the outer catheter member and the inner catheter member, where the handle assembly is adapted to slide the inner catheter member relative to the outer catheter member.

Claims

1. A catheter assembly comprising:

an outer catheter member extending from a first distal end to a first proximal end, where the first distal end is flexible and comprises regions of varying stiffness, and has a pre-formed curvature;

the outer catheter member having a first lumen therein, the first lumen extending from the first distal end to the first proximal end, the outer catheter member further including an outer handle member coupled to the first proximal end;

a flexible inner catheter member movably disposed within the first lumen of the outer catheter member;

the inner catheter member extending from a second distal end to a second proximal end and including an inner handle member coupled to the second proximal end, the second distal end having a pre-formed curvature; and

the outer catheter member is more flexible than the inner catheter member,

wherein the outer and inner catheter members are configured such that relative translation and rotation of the outer and inner catheter members causes the first distal end of the outer catheter member to assume a plurality of two and three dimensional shapes.

2. The catheter assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a braid of material disposed between the outer catheter member and the inner catheter member.

3. The catheter assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the outer catheter member is defined in part by a first length from the first distal end to the first proximal end, the braid defined in part by a second length, and the second length is less than the first length.

4. The catheter assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a braid of material disposed within a wall of the outer catheter member and/or the inner catheter member.

5. The catheter assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the first distal end of the outer catheter member includes two or more segments of material, including a first segment and a second segment, the first segment comprising a different material than the second segment.

6. The catheter assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the first distal end of the outer catheter member includes two or more segments of material, including a first segment and a second segment, the first segment having a different durometer than the second segment.

7. The catheter assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein relative movement between the first and second distal ends alters a shape of the first distal end of the outer catheter.

8. The catheter assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the inner catheter member comprises a second lumen therein, the second lumen extending from the second distal end to the second proximal end.

9. The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein the inner handle member includes a hemostasis mechanism.

10. The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the second distal end is extendable beyond the first distal end.

11. A catheter assembly comprising:

an outer catheter member extending from a first distal end to a first proximal end, where the first distal end is flexible;

the outer catheter member having a first lumen therein, the first lumen extending from the first distal end to the first proximal end, the outer catheter member further including an outer handle member coupled to the first proximal end;

a flexible inner catheter member movably disposed within the first lumen of the outer catheter member;

the inner catheter member extending from a second distal end to a second proximal end, the second distal end having a pre-formed curvature;

the inner catheter member having a second lumen therein, the second lumen extending from the second distal end to the second proximal end and including an inner handle member coupled to the second proximal end; and

the first distal end of the outer catheter member includes two or more segments of material, including a first segment and a second segment, the first segment comprising a different material than the second segment,

wherein the outer and inner catheter members are configured such that relative translation and rotation of the outer and inner catheter members causes the first distal end of the outer catheter member to assume a plurality of two and three dimensional shapes.

12. The catheter assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein the outer catheter member is more flexible than the inner catheter member.

13. The catheter assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein the outer catheter member has a preformed curve proximate to the first distal end.

14. The catheter assembly as recited in claim 11, further comprising a braid of material disposed between the outer catheter member and the inner catheter member.

15. The catheter assembly as recited in claim 11, further comprising a braid of material disposed within a wall of the outer catheter member and/or the inner catheter member.

16. The catheter assembly as recited in claim 11, further comprising a handle assembly including a sprocket and teeth configured to move the inner catheter member relative to the outer catheter member.

17. The catheter assembly of claim 11 wherein the inner handle member includes a hemostasis mechanism.

18. The catheter assembly of claim 11 wherein at least a portion of the second distal end is extendable beyond the first distal end.