# US 10,245,410 B2 · Rapid exchange catheter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,245,410 B2 - Document ID: US10245410B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/829,575 - Filed: 2010-07-02 - Published: 2011-06-30 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2009-07-02 - Assignees: Cook Medical Technologies LLC - Applicants: Steen Aggerholm - Inventors: Steen Aggerholm - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245410B2 ## CPC - A61M 25/0023: {by the form of the lumen, e.g. cross-section, variable diameter} - A61F 2/958: Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts - A61M 25/0015: {Making lateral openings in a catheter tube, e.g. holes, slits, ports, piercings of guidewire ports; Methods for processing the holes, e.g. smoothing the edges} - A61M 25/0054: {with regions for increasing flexibility} - A61M 25/10: Balloon catheters ({A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02;} inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 {; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00}) - A61M 2025/0183: {Rapid exchange or monorail catheters} - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract A rapid exchange catheter includes a stiff proximal tube and a relatively flexible tapered distal tube, a guide wire tube being provided in the distal tube, with an aperture for access to the guide wire lumen being provided at the junction between the distal tube and the proximal tube, the tubes being bonded together at their junction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rapid exchange catheter assembly comprising an outer proximal tube, an outer distal tube, an aperture located at the junction between the distal tube and the proximal tube, and a guide wire tube extending from the aperture and within the distal tube, wherein the distal tube, the proximal tube and the guide wire tube are bonded together at the junction, wherein the aperture is disposed within a distal end portion of the proximal tube, wherein the aperture is disposed proximal of and immediately adjacent to a proximal end of the distal tube, wherein the proximal end of the distal tube has an outer diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the distal end portion of the proximal tube, wherein a central longitudinal axis of the distal tube is offset from a central longitudinal axis of the proximal tube at the junction so as to form an offset and stepped outer configuration, and wherein an outer surface of the distal tube along a side opposite the aperture is flush with an outer surface of the proximal tube at the junction, and wherein the proximal tube includes a hypotube comprising a tubular portion and a skived portion, the tubular portion having a constant diameter and extending to a proximal end of the assembly, the skived portion extending distally of the tubular portion, the skived portion of the hypotube extending across the junction between the distal tube and the proximal tube, and wherein an outer surface of the distal end of the proximal tube opposite the aperture is flush with an outer surface of the proximal end of the distal tube at the junction, and wherein an outer surface of the distal end of the proximal tube adjacent to the aperture is disposed inwardly of an outer surface of the proximal end of the distal tube at the juncture. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer diameter of the distal tube at a location immediately adjacent to a distal end of the aperture is greater than the outer diameter of the proximal tube at a location immediately adjacent to a proximal end of the aperture. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distal tube includes a taper such that its proximal end has a greater diameter than its distal end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of a distal end of the distal tube is equal to the outer diameter of the distal end portion of the proximal tube. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the distal end of the distal tube has an outer diameter equal to 80% to 95% of the outer diameter of the proximal end of the distal tube. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the distal end of the distal tube has an outer diameter equal to 80% to 90% of the outer diameter of the proximal end of the distal tube. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the distal end of the distal tube has an outer diameter equal to 87% of the outer diameter of the proximal end of the distal tube. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer diameter of the proximal end of the distal tube is 3.1 Fr (1.03 mm). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer diameter of the distal end of the proximal tube is 2.7 Fr (0.9 mm). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer diameter of the distal end of the distal tube is 2.7 Fr (0.9 mm). ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the proximal tube includes an inflation lumen and the distal tube includes an inflation lumen in communication with said inflation lumen of the proximal tube. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A catheter assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the proximal tube includes a middle tube, the middle tube extending from a distal end of the hypotube. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A catheter assembly according to claim 12, wherein the hypotube is stiffer than the middle tube and the distal tube.