Re-Entry Catheters and Related Methods
AssigneeInvatec S.r.l.
InventorsLuca Copeta, Carlo Guala, Massimo Morero, Claudio Silvestro
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Catheter devices and methods useable for directing a guidewire from a subintimal position within the wall of an artery into the true lumen of that artery or other applications wherein it is desired to direct a guidewire or other elongate device from one location to another location within a subject's body.
Claims30
A guidewire directing device comprising:
- an elongate shaft having a distal portion with a distal end and a lumen that extends to a distal outlet opening;
- an expandable member on the distal portion of the shaft;
- and
- at least one navigation apparatus having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of said at least one navigation apparatus being attached to the device shaft and the distal end of said at least one navigation apparatus being free of the device shaft;
- said device being transitionable between;
- a) a first configuration wherein the expandable member is non-expanded and the distal portion of the device shaft is substantially straight;
- and
- b) a second configuration wherein the expandable member is expanded, thereby causing the expandable member to displace to one side of the navigation apparatus and resulting in lateral curvature of the distal portion of the device shaft to that side of the navigation apparatus.
A method for directing a guidewire or other elongate device from a first location within the body of a human or animal subject to a second location within the body of the human or animal subject wherein tissue located between the first and second locations presents less resistance than tissue located adjacent to a side of the first location that is opposite the second location, said method comprising the steps of:
- obtaining or providing a reentry device which comprises i) an elongate shaft having a distal portion with a distal end and a lumen that extends to a distal outlet opening;
- ii) an expandable member on the distal portion of the shaft;
- and iii) at least one navigation apparatus having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of said at least one navigation member being attached to the device shaft and the distal end of said at least one navigation member being free of the device shaft;
- advancing the reentry device with the expandable member in a non-expanded configuration, over the guidewire or other elongate member to a position where the guidewire or other elongate member is within the lumen of the reentry device and the reentry device is positioned at the first location;
- expanding the expandable member thereby causing the expandable member to displace to the side of the navigation apparatus which presents the least resistance, which is in the direction of the second location, thereby resulting in curvature of the distal portion of the shaft toward the second location;
- and
- while the distal portion of the shaft is curved toward the second location, advancing the guidewire or other elongate member out of the distal outlet opening and to the second location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.