Catheter exchange method and apparatus

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said body is made of a soft, flexible material adapted to conform to said flexible member as it is moved within said slot.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said base and said body are flexible and adapted to be selectively deformed with respect to at least two orthogonal planes.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said body is made of a soft, flexible material adapted to conform to said catheter tube as it is moved within said slot.

Claim 8

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said base and said body are flexible and adapted to be selectively deformed with respect to at least two orthogonal planes.

Claim 9

An apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising attaching means adapted to attach said base to a guide catheter inserted into the body of a patient.

Claim 10

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said generally elongated base has a distal end and a proximal end, whereby a front extending base portion extends from said distal end and has guide catheter clamp means for selectively attaching a guide catheter to said base.

Claim 11

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said body comprises a unitary, closed-cell chamber containing gas or liquid under pressure.

Claim 12

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said body comprises a unitary, closed-cell chamber containing gel.

Claim 13

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said body comprises two elongated strips, each strip comprising a unitary, closed-cell chamber containing gas or liquid under pressure, whereby said strips are placed against each other such that the area between them forms said slot.

Claim 14

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said body comprises two elongated strips, each strip comprising a unitary, closed-cell chamber containing gel, whereby said strips are placed against each other such that the area between them forms said slot.

Claim 15

A catheter insertion and removal system for use with a guidewire having a proximal end and a distal end in which said distal end is inserted into the body of a patient and said proximal end remains extending out of said body of said patient, said system comprising a first catheter tube having a passage therethrough and a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end, said passage being adapted to receive said guidewire therethrough; a guide catheter tube having a passage therethrough and a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end, said distal end of said guide catheter being inserted into said body of said patient and said proximal end extending out of said body of said patient, wherein said guidewire extends through said guide catheter passage, and said guide catheter passage is adapted to receive said first catheter tube therein; an elongated track having a proximal end and a distal end, and further having base and a body, said body being made of a resilient material and having a slot formed therein adapted to receive said first catheter tube and said portion of said guidewire that extends out of the body of said patient; and guidewire attaching means for selectively attaching said guidewire to said proximal end of said track when said guidewire is positioned in said slot of said track and said distal end of said track is positioned adjacent to said body of said patient, whereby said catheter tube can be slidingly inserted into or removed from said body of said patient along said guidewire and within said guide catheter without causing buckling of said guidewire or longitudinal movement of said guidewire relative to said body of said patient.

Claim 16

A catheter insertion and removal system for use with a guidewire having a proximal end and a distal end in which said distal end is inserted into the body of a patient and said proximal end remains extending out of said body of said patient, said system comprising a first catheter tube having a passage therethrough and a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end, said passage being adapted to receive said guidewire therethrough; a guide catheter tube having a passage therethrough and a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end, said distal end of said guide catheter being inserted into said body of said patient and said proximal end extending out of said body of said patient, wherein said guidewire extends through said guide catheter passage, and said guide catheter passage is adapted to receive said first catheter tube therein; an elongated track having a proximal end and a distal end, and further having base and a body, said body being made of a resilient material and having a slot formed therein adapted to receive said first catheter tube and said portion of said guidewire that extends out of the body of said patient; and guidewire attaching means for selectively attaching said guidewire to said proximal end of said track when said guidewire is positioned in said slot of said track and said distal end of said track is positioned adjacent to said body of said patient, whereby said catheter tube can be slidingly inserted into or removed from said body of said patient along said guidewire and within said guide catheter without causing buckling of said guidewire or longitudinal movement of said guidewire relative to said body of said patient.

Claim 17

A system according to claim 13, wherein said body of said track is made of a soft, flexible material adapted to conform to said first catheter tube as it is moved within said slot.

Claim 18

A system according to claim 13, wherein said base and said body of said track are flexible and adapted to be selectively deformed with respect to at least two orthogonal planes.

Claim 19

A system according to claim 13, further comprising guide catheter attaching means adapted to attach said guide catheter to said track while said guide catheter is inserted into the body of said patient.

Claim 20

A system according to claim 16, wherein said guide catheter attaching means comprise a clamp mounted on a generally elongated front extension of said track base that extends from the distal end of said track body.

Claim 21

A system according to claim 13, wherein said guidewire attaching means comprise a clamp mounted on a generally elongated rear extension of said track base that extends from the proximal end of said track body.

Claim 22

A system according to claim 13, wherein said proximal end of said guidewire that remains extending out of said body of said patient comprises a selectively attachable guidewire extension adapted to attach coaxially to said guidewire at a location out of said body of said patient.

Claim 23

A catheter insertion and removal system for use with a guidewire having a proximal end and a distal end in which said distal end is inserted into the body of a patient and said proximal end remains extending out of said body of said patient, said system comprising a selectively attachable guidewire extension having a proximal end which is adapted to attach coaxially to said guidewire, and a distal end; a first catheter tube having a passage therethrough and a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end, said passage being adapted to receive said guidewire and said guidewire extension therethrough; a guide catheter tube having a passage therethrough and a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end, said distal end of said guide catheter being inserted into said body of said patient and said proximal end extending out of said body of said patient, wherein said guidewire extends through said guide catheter passage, and said guide catheter passage is adapted to receive said first catheter tube therein; an elongated track having a proximal end and a distal end, and further having base and a body, said body being made of a resilient material and having a slot formed therein adapted to receive said first catheter tube and said guidewire extension, and guidewire attaching means for selectively attaching said guidewire extension to said proximal end of said track when said guidewire is positioned in said slot of said track; whereby said guidewire extension is pre-loaded in said first catheter tube and said first catheter tube is positioned in said slot with said guidewire extension attached to said track by said guidewire attaching means such that when insertion or removal of said first catheter tube into or out of said patient is desired, said guidewire extension is attached to said guidewire thereby enabling said first catheter tube to be slidingly inserted into or removed from said body of said patient along said guidewire and within said guide catheter without causing buckling of said guidewire or longitudinal movement of said guidewire relative to said body of said patient.

Claim 24

A catheter insertion and removal system for use with a guidewire having a proximal end and a distal end in which said distal end is inserted into the body of a patient and said proximal end remains extending out of said body of said patient, said system comprising a selectively attachable guidewire extension having a proximal end which is adapted to attach coaxially to said guidewire, and a distal end; a first catheter tube having a passage therethrough and a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end, said passage being adapted to receive said guidewire and said guidewire extension therethrough; a guide catheter tube having a passage therethrough and a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end, said distal end of said guide catheter being inserted into said body of said patient and said proximal end extending out of said body of said patient, wherein said guidewire extends through said guide catheter passage, and said guide catheter passage is adapted to receive said first catheter tube therein; an elongated track having a proximal end and a distal end, and further having base and a body, said body being made of a resilient material and having a slot formed therein adapted to receive said first catheter tube and said guidewire extension, and guidewire attaching means for selectively attaching said guidewire extension to said proximal end of said track when said guidewire is positioned in said slot of said track; whereby said guidewire extension is pre-loaded in said first catheter tube and said first catheter tube is positioned in said slot with said guidewire extension attached to said track by said guidewire attaching means such that when insertion or removal of said first catheter tube into or out of said patient is desired, said guidewire extension is attached to said guidewire thereby enabling said first catheter tube to be slidingly inserted into or removed from said body of said patient along said guidewire and within said guide catheter without causing buckling of said guidewire or longitudinal movement of said guidewire relative to said body of said patient.