Rapid exchange catheters having a sealed guidewire lumen and methods of making the same
AssigneeBoston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
InventorMark Mallaby
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and devices for preventing fluid flow through the relatively short guidewire lumen of a rapid exchange catheter. The guidewire lumen for a rapid exchange catheter is provided with a narrowed or sealed section allowing for passage of a guidewire therethrough while preventing fluid flow while a guidewire is disposed therethrough. The narrowed or sealed section extends for a relatively short length of the guidewire lumen to avoid creating excessive friction between the guidewire and the guidewire lumen. In several embodiments the narrowed or sealed section is placed proximal of the distal end of the guidewire lumen.
Claims12
A method of fabricating a rapid exchange catheter having a proximal portion and a distal portion with a proximal guidewire port therebetween, the distal portion including a guidewire member defining a majority of a guidewire lumen having a proximal end at the proximal guidewire port and a distal end at a distal end of the catheter, the method comprising:
- providing a fluid flow stop for preventing fluid flow through the guidewire lumen, the fluid flow stop disposed between the proximal and distal ends of the guidewire lumen, wherein the step of providing the fluid flow stop includes forming a seal member within the guidewire lumen from a material that forms the guidewire lumen;
- wherein the step of forming the seal member includes creating a necked portion of the guidewire lumen by applying heat to the guidewire member;
- wherein the rapid exchange catheter includes an outer member and the guidewire member, the guidewire member extending distally from the proximal guidewire port inside the outer member, the rapid exchange catheter also including a balloon having a proximal waist secured to the outer member and a distal waist secured to the guidewire member, wherein the step of creating the necked portion of the guidewire lumen is performed as part of a process for securing the distal balloon waist to the guidewire member.
A method of fabricating a rapid exchange catheter having a proximal portion and a distal portion with a proximal guidewire port therebetween, the distal portion including a guidewire member defining a majority of a guidewire lumen having a proximal end at the proximal guidewire port and a distal end at a distal end of the catheter, the method comprising:
- forming a fluid flow stop from a material defining the guidewire lumen, the fluid flow stop preventing fluid flow through the guidewire lumen at a location spaced apart from the distal end of the guidewire lumen;
- wherein the step of forming the fluid flow stop includes creating a necked portion of the guidewire lumen by applying heat to the guidewire member;
- wherein the rapid exchange catheter includes an outer member and the guidewire member, the guidewire member extending distally from the proximal guidewire port inside the outer member, the rapid exchange catheter also including a balloon having a proximal waist secured to the outer member and a distal waist secured to the guidewire member, wherein the step of creating the necked portion of the guidewire lumen is performed as part of a process for securing the distal balloon waist to the guidewire member.
A method of fabricating a rapid exchange catheter having a proximal portion and a distal portion with a proximal guidewire port therebetween, the rapid exchange catheter including an outer member and a guidewire member, the guidewire member defining a majority of a guidewire lumen having a proximal end at the proximal guidewire port and a distal end at a distal end of the catheter, the catheter also including a balloon having a proximal waist secured to the outer member and a distal waist secured to the guidewire member, the method comprising forming a fluid flow stop preventing fluid flow through the guidewire lumen, wherein the step of forming the fluid flow stop includes creating a necked portion of the guidewire lumen by applying heat to the guidewire member as part of a process for securing the distal balloon waist to the guidewire member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.