US5458584A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Intravascular catheter having an enclosed proximal end and a reduced profile distal region
Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed Inc
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Filing: 1994-01-18
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Granted: 1995-10-17
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Expires: 2014-01-18
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides improvement usable with an intravascular catheter having a single common distal lumen with a reduced profile connected to two or more proximal lumens. The catheter will be loadable over a guidewire into a region of interest within a patient's vascular system. According to one aspect of the present invention, means are provided to ensure that the guidewire enters into a desired one of the proximal lumens. In a preferred embodiment, a special tool is provided to achieve this. According to a second aspect of the present invention, the catheter is provided with a proximal housing and an axially expandable member to shield the rotating parts at the proximal end of the catheter and to allow for convenient movement of a work element within the catheter body.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Ginn
- 👤 Yue-Teh Jang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:22
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/06; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B8/12; A61B8/44; A61B8/4444; A61B8/445; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/09; A61M25/09041; A61B17/32; A61B17/3205; A61B17/3207; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/24; A61B18/245; A61B17/22004; A61B2017/22005; A61B2017/22007; A61B2017/22009; A61B2017/22038; A61B2017/22039; A61B2017/22072; A61B2017/22074; A61B2017/22082; A61B90/00; A61B90/36; A61B90/37; A61B2090/378; A61M2025/0183
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A vascular catheter system comprising: a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the catheter body includes a proximal region having at least two lumens and a distal region having a common lumen connected to and in communication with both of the lumens of the proximal region and having a cross-sectional area which is less than the combined cross-sectional areas of the two lumens of the proximal region, and wherein one of the two lumens in the proximal region is a guidewire lumen; a guidewire for insertion into said guidewire lumen; and means for guiding a guidewire into the guidewire lumen as the guidewire is introduced through the distal end of the common lumen and advanced toward the proximal end of the catheter body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
A vascular catheter system comprising: a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the catheter body includes a proximal region having at least two lumens and a distal region having a common lumen connected to and in communication with both of the lumens of the proximal region and having a cross-sectional area which is less than the combined cross-sectional areas of the two lumens of the proximal region, and wherein one of the two lumens in the proximal region is a guidewire lumen; a guidewire for insertion into said guidewire lumen; and means for guiding a guidewire into the guidewire lumen as the guidewire is introduced through the distal end of the common lumen and advanced toward the proximal end of the catheter body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The catheter system of claim 1, wherein the common lumen is transparent and the guiding means comprises a marker on the catheter body aligned with the distal end of one of the proximal lumens.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The catheter system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the proximal region near the distal region is transparent, allowing visual selection of the selected one of the proximal lumens.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The catheter system of claim 1, wherein the guiding means comprises a locating tool introducible into one of the lumens of the proximal region for guiding the guidewire from the common lumen into the selected lumen of the proximal region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter system of claim 1, wherein the locating tool has a flared end for receiving a proximal end of the guidewire.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The catheter system of claim 1, wherein the guiding means comprises alignment of the common lumen with one of the lumens of the proximal region, whereby the guidewire will tend to enter said one of the lumens of the proximal region when advanced from the common lumen into the proximal region.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
The catheter system of claim 1, wherein the guiding means comprises a bend in the catheter body at the junction of the proximal and distal regions wherein radially inward and radially outward proximal lumens are defined in the proximal region and the guidewire will tend to enter the radially outward lumen when advanced from the distal region into the proximal region.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The catheter system of claim 1, wherein the guiding means comprises a gate disposed at the junction of the proximal and distal regions to direct the guidewire into a selected lumen in the proximal region.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
79 words
The catheter system of claim 1, further comprising: a drive shaft having a distal end and a proximal end and being reciprocatably disposed in one of the lumens in the proximal region of the catheter body; and a work element secured to the distal end of the drive shaft, whereby the work element may be extended into the single lumen in the distal region or retracted into the lumen in the proximal region by selectively reciprocating the drive shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
The catheter system of claim 9, wherein the guiding means comprises a distal tip on the work element, the distal tip shaped to deflect the guidewire away from the work element and into a lumen of the proximal region other than that occupied by the work element when the guidewire is fed from the distal region of the catheter body into the proximal region.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for introducing a guidewire through a catheter having a distal end, a proximal end, a proximal region having at least two lumens and a distal region having a common lumen connected to and in communication with the lumens of the proximal region, the method comprising the steps of: inserting the guidewire into and through the common lumen of the distal end of the catheter; and guiding the guidewire into a selected lumen of the proximal region.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for introducing a guidewire through a catheter having a distal end, a proximal end, a proximal region having at least two lumens and a distal region having a common lumen connected to and in communication with the lumens of the proximal region, the method comprising the steps of: inserting the guidewire into and through the common lumen of the distal end of the catheter; and guiding the guidewire into a selected lumen of the proximal region.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as in claim 11, wherein the guiding step comprises viewing the guidewire through a transparent distal region of the catheter and directing the guidewire from the common lumen into one of the proximal lumens designated by the presence or absence of a visible marker aligned with said lumen.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as in claim 11, wherein the guiding step comprises capturing the distal end of the guidewire with a locating tool introduced into the common lumen from one of the proximal lumens and drawing the guidewire with the tool into said one of the lumens.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 11, wherein the guiding step comprises pushing the guidewire straight in the proximal direction into one of said proximal lumens, wherein said one lumen is coaxially aligned with the common lumen.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method as in claim 11, wherein the guiding step comprises pushing the guidewire proximally along a radially outward curved path defined by a bend in the catheter at the transition between the proximal and distal regions, wherein the radially outward curved path is aligned with one of said proximal lumens.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 11, wherein the guiding step comprises pushing the guidewire proximally through the common lumen and diverting the distal end of the guidewire in one of the proximal lumens.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 16, wherein diverting comprises placing a gate in front of the other lumen or lumens.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 16, wherein diverting comprises placing a work element having a deflecting top into the other lumen or lumens.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
104 words
A vascular catheter comprising: a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the catheter body includes a proximal region having at least two lumens and a distal region having a common lumen connected to and in communication with both of the lumens of the proximal region and having a cross-sectional area which is less than the combined cross-sectional areas of the two proximal lumens, wherein one of the two proximal lumens is a guidewire lumen, and wherein the proximal region is at least partly transparent so that a guidewire is visible as it is introduced proximally toward the proximal lumens.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
104 words
A vascular catheter comprising: a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the catheter body includes a proximal region having at least two lumens and a distal region having a common lumen connected to and in communication with both of the lumens of the proximal region and having a cross-sectional area which is less than the combined cross-sectional areas of the two proximal lumens, wherein one of the two proximal lumens is a guidewire lumen, and wherein the proximal region is at least partly transparent so that a guidewire is visible as it is introduced proximally toward the proximal lumens.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
57 words
A vascular catheter as in claim 19, further comprising means on the catheter body for visibly marking the distal end of at least one of the proximal lumens so that a user can distinguish between or among the lumens as a guidewire is being inserted through the common lumen into a desired one of said proximal lumens.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
41 words
A vascular catheter as in claim 20, wherein the marking means comprises a color pigment introduced onto or into the catheter body at or near the junction between the distal and proximal regions and aligned with one of said proximal lumens.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
A vascular catheter as in claim 20, wherein the marking means comprises a colored insert disposed in the catheter body at or near the junction between the distal and proximal regions and aligned with one of said proximal lumens.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-10-16 | 1999-04-17 | 1999-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-10-16 | 2003-04-17 | 2003-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-10-16 | 2007-04-17 | 2007-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |