EP0416734A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Guide catheter and guidewires for effecting rapid catheter exchange
Assignee: Medtronic Vascular Inc
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Filing: 1990-07-24
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-07-24
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for effecting rapid exchange of catheters (29) over a guidewire (14). A gripping mechanism (28) is provided on one of a guide catheter (20) and a guidewire (14) to grip the other of the guide catheter (20) and guidewire (14) proximate to the distal end of the guide catheter (20). When engaged, the gripping mechanism (28) inhibits movement between the guidewire (14) and the guide catheter (20) when a first catheter is exchanged with a second catheter over the guidewire (14).
Inventors
- 👤 Donald A. Coehlo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:42
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/0102; A61M25/0169; A61M25/09; A61M2025/0183; A61M2025/09008; A61M2025/09175
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A system for effecting rapid exchange of a first catheter with a second catheter, the system comprising: a guide catheter having a distal end and a proximal end; a guidewire insertable within said guide catheter and having a distal end and a proximal end, the first and second catheters each being advanceable and removable over said guidewire through said guide catheter; and means, disposed on one of said guide catheter and said guidewire, for gripping the other of said guide catheter and guidewire proximate to said distal end of said guide catheter to inhibit movement between them when the first catheter is exchanged with the second catheter over said guidewire.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
110 words
A system for effecting rapid exchange of a first catheter with a second catheter, the system comprising: a guide catheter having a distal end and a proximal end; a guidewire insertable within said guide catheter and having a distal end and a proximal end, the first and second catheters each being advanceable and removable over said guidewire through said guide catheter; and means, disposed on one of said guide catheter and said guidewire, for gripping the other of said guide catheter and guidewire proximate to said distal end of said guide catheter to inhibit movement between them when the first catheter is exchanged with the second catheter over said guidewire.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for gripping includes an inflatable balloon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said balloon is formed of a elastic material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said balloon is disposed about the outside surface of a section of said guidewire.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said guidewire includes an inflation/deflation lumen having a proximal end and a distal end communicating with said balloon through a port in said section of said guidewire.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as claimed in claim 5 wherein a substantial portion of said guidewire proximal to said port is a hollow tube which defines said inflation/deflation lumen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
A system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said guidewire further includes valve means, communicating with said proximal end of said inflation/deflation lumen, through which fluid is introduced under pressure to inflate said balloon, said valve means maintaining said balloon in an inflated, pressurized condition during exchange of the first and second catheters.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said means for engaging includes means for selectively inflating said balloon through said valve means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as claimed in claim 4 in which said guidewire defines an annular recess in said section for receiving said balloon when it is deflated.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as claimed in claim 6 wherein a substantial portion of said guidewire distal to said port is more flexible than said tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 further including means for selectively actuating said means for engaging when the first and second catheters are to be exchanged.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as claimed in claim 2 in which said balloon extends along a portion of the inside of said guide catheter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as claimed in claim 12 wherein said guide catheter includes an inflation/deflation lumen having a proximal end and a distal end communicating with said balloon.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as claimed in claim 13 wherein said inflation/deflation lumen includes tubing extending along the outside surface of said guide catheter and entering through a port defined by said guide catheter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said system further includes an outer jacket surrounding said tubing and said guide catheter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as claimed in claim 12 wherein said guide catheter defines a longitudinal recess for receiving said balloon when it is deflated.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
A system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said elastic material is latex.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
102 words
A system for effecting rapid exchange of a first catheter with a second catheter over a guidewire and through a guide catheter having a proximal distal end, the system comprising: a guidewire insertable through the guide catheter and having a distal end and a proximal end, the first and second catheters each being advanceable and removable over said guidewire; and means, disposed on said guidewire, for gripping the guide catheter proximate to the distal end of the guide catheter to inhibit movement between said guidewire and the guide catheter when the first catheter is exchanged with the second catheter over said guidewire.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
102 words
A system for effecting rapid exchange of a first catheter with a second catheter over a guidewire and through a guide catheter having a proximal distal end, the system comprising: a guidewire insertable through the guide catheter and having a distal end and a proximal end, the first and second catheters each being advanceable and removable over said guidewire; and means, disposed on said guidewire, for gripping the guide catheter proximate to the distal end of the guide catheter to inhibit movement between said guidewire and the guide catheter when the first catheter is exchanged with the second catheter over said guidewire.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as claimed in claim 18 wherein said means for gripping includes an inflatable balloon formed of a compliant material and disposed about the outside surface of a section of said guidewire.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system as claimed in claim 19 wherein said guidewire includes an inflation/deflation lumen having a proximal end and a distal end communicating with said balloon through a port in said section of said guidewire.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as claimed in claim 20 wherein a substantial portion of said guidewire proximal to said port is a hollow tube which defines said inflation/deflation lumen.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as claimed in claim 21 wherein a substantial portion of said guidewire distal to said port is more flexible than said tube.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as claimed in claim 22 wherein said tube is a hollow metal tube and is sealed at its distal end by a metal plug.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as claimed in claim 23 wherein said distal, flexible portion is a spring coil and said metal plug is established by the proximal end of a core wire extending distally within said spring coil.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as claimed in claim 24 wherein said core wire is tapered toward said distal end of said guidewire.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
53 words
A system as claimed in claim 20 wherein said guidewire further includes valve means, disposed within said proximal end of said inflation/deflation lumen, through which fluid is introduced under pressure to inflate said balloon, said valve means maintaining said balloon in an inflated, pressurized condition during exchange of the first and second catheters.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as claimed in claim 26 wherein said means for gripping includes means for selectively inflating said balloon through said valve means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as claimed in claim 19 wherein said balloon is disposed at least 10 cm proximal to the distal end of said guidewire.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as claimed in claim 19 wherein said balloon is disposed between 20-40 cm proximal to the distal end of said guidewire.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as claimed in claim 19 in which said guidewire defines an annular recess in said section for receiving said balloon when it is deflated.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
74 words
A system for effecting rapid exchange of a first catheter with a second catheter over a guidewire and through a guide catheter, the system comprising: a guide catheter having a distal end and a proximal end; means, disposed on said guide catheter proximate to said distal end, for gripping said guidewire to inhibit movement between said guidewire and the guide catheter when the first catheter is exchanged with the second catheter over the guidewire.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
74 words
A system for effecting rapid exchange of a first catheter with a second catheter over a guidewire and through a guide catheter, the system comprising: a guide catheter having a distal end and a proximal end; means, disposed on said guide catheter proximate to said distal end, for gripping said guidewire to inhibit movement between said guidewire and the guide catheter when the first catheter is exchanged with the second catheter over the guidewire.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as claimed in claim 31 wherein said means for gripping includes an inflatable balloon formed of a elastic material.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as claimed in claim 32 in which said balloon extends along a portion of the interior surface of said guide catheter.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as claimed in claim 33 wherein said guide catheter includes an inflation/deflation lumen having a proximal end and a distal end communicating with said balloon.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as claimed in claim 34 wherein said inflation/deflation lumen is defined by tubing extending along the outside surface of said guide catheter and entering through a port defined by said guide catheter.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as claimed in claim 35 wherein said system further includes an outer jacket surrounding said tubing and said guide catheter.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as claimed in claim 33 wherein said guide catheter defines a longitudinal recess in the interior surface for receiving said balloon when it is deflated.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
156 words
A method of exchanging a first catheter with a second catheter, the first catheter being inserted over a guidewire and extending through a guide catheter within a body lumen, comprising: withdrawing the distal end of the first catheter proximal to the distal end of the guide catheter, the first catheter remaining substantially within said guide catheter; actuating a mechanism disposed on one of the guide catheter and the guidewire to frictionally engage the other of the guide catheter and the guidewire to inhibit movement of the guide catheter and guidewire relative to each other; fully withdrawing the first catheter over the guidewire; inserting the second catheter over the guidewire and advancing it up to the mechanism; actuating the mechanism to disengage the guide catheter and the guidewire relative to each other; and fully advancing the second catheter distal to the distal end of the guide catheter to effect catheter exchange without requiring removal of the guidewire.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
156 words
A method of exchanging a first catheter with a second catheter, the first catheter being inserted over a guidewire and extending through a guide catheter within a body lumen, comprising: withdrawing the distal end of the first catheter proximal to the distal end of the guide catheter, the first catheter remaining substantially within said guide catheter; actuating a mechanism disposed on one of the guide catheter and the guidewire to frictionally engage the other of the guide catheter and the guidewire to inhibit movement of the guide catheter and guidewire relative to each other; fully withdrawing the first catheter over the guidewire; inserting the second catheter over the guidewire and advancing it up to the mechanism; actuating the mechanism to disengage the guide catheter and the guidewire relative to each other; and fully advancing the second catheter distal to the distal end of the guide catheter to effect catheter exchange without requiring removal of the guidewire.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of exchanging a first catheter with a second catheter, the first catheter being inserted over a guidewire and extending through a guide catheter with a body lumen, comprising: withdrawing the distal end of the first catheter proximal to the distal end of the guide catheter, the first catheter remaining substantially within said guide catheter; inflating a balloon disposed on the guidewire to grip the guide catheter to inhibit movement of the guide catheter and guidewire relative to each other; fully withdrawing the first catheter over the guidewire; inserting the second catheter over the guidewire and advancing it up to the balloon; deflating the balloon to disengage the guide catheter and the guidewire relative to each other; and fully advancing the second catheter distal to the distal end of the guide catheter.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of exchanging a first catheter with a second catheter, the first catheter being inserted over a guidewire and extending through a guide catheter with a body lumen, comprising: withdrawing the distal end of the first catheter proximal to the distal end of the guide catheter, the first catheter remaining substantially within said guide catheter; inflating a balloon disposed on the guidewire to grip the guide catheter to inhibit movement of the guide catheter and guidewire relative to each other; fully withdrawing the first catheter over the guidewire; inserting the second catheter over the guidewire and advancing it up to the balloon; deflating the balloon to disengage the guide catheter and the guidewire relative to each other; and fully advancing the second catheter distal to the distal end of the guide catheter.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of exchanging a first catheter with a second catheter, the first catheter being inserted over a guidewire and extending through a guide catheter with a body lumen, comprising: withdrawing the distal end of the first catheter proximal to the distal end of the guide catheter, the first catheter remaining substantially within said guide catheter; inflating a balloon disposed on the guide catheter to grip the guidewire to inhibit movement of the guide catheter and guidewire relative to each other; fully withdrawing the first catheter over the guidewire; inserting the second catheter over the guidewire and advancing it up to the balloon; deflating the balloon to disengage the guide catheter and the guidewire relative to each other; and fully advancing the second catheter distal to the distal end of the guide catheter.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of exchanging a first catheter with a second catheter, the first catheter being inserted over a guidewire and extending through a guide catheter with a body lumen, comprising: withdrawing the distal end of the first catheter proximal to the distal end of the guide catheter, the first catheter remaining substantially within said guide catheter; inflating a balloon disposed on the guide catheter to grip the guidewire to inhibit movement of the guide catheter and guidewire relative to each other; fully withdrawing the first catheter over the guidewire; inserting the second catheter over the guidewire and advancing it up to the balloon; deflating the balloon to disengage the guide catheter and the guidewire relative to each other; and fully advancing the second catheter distal to the distal end of the guide catheter.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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