Rapid removal over-the-wire catheter
AssigneeDanforth Biomedical, Inc.
InventorsJeffrey L. Kraus, Joseph R. Shields, Nitin P. Matani
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is an "over-the-wire" catheter having a proximal adapter system which may be used to open a longitudinally closed guidewire lumen, thereby facilitating rapid removal of the catheter without a guidewire extension mechanism.
Claims16
An over-the wire catheter system adapted for rapid removal, comprising:
- (a) catheter tubing having a plurality of lumens that extend from near the distal end of the catheter tubing to near the proximal end of the catheter tubing, the lumens being longitudinally closed from near their distal ends to near their proximal ends, at least one of said plurality of lumens being a guidewire lumen;
- (b) a guidewire inserted in the guidewire lumen;
- and
- (c) opening means for opening the guidewire lumen situated near the proximal end of the guidewire lumen, thereby permitting the catheter tubing to be separated from the guidewire while retaining the guidewire in place.
A proximal adapter for use with an over-the-wire catheter having a guidewire and catheter tubing with a longitudinally closed guidewire lumen in which the guidewire may be positioned, comprising:
- (a) a first passageway for positioning the catheter tubing and the guidewire in the proximal adapter;
- (b) opening means disposed in the proximal adapter for opening the guidewire lumen as the catheter tubing is moved in a proximal direction with respect t the proximal adapter and the guidewire;
- (c) a second passageway for the guidewire and a third passageway for the catheter tubing, said second and third passageways branching from the first passageway on the proximal side of the opening means, thereby facilitating separation of the guidewire and the catheter tubing after the guidewire lumen has been opened by the opening means;
- and
- (d) a fourth passageway for the guidewire and a fifth passageway for the catheter tubing, said fourth and fifth passageways branching from the proximal end of the third passageway, whereby a second guidewire lumen in the catheter tubing may be separated from the guidewire upon reinsertion of the catheter tubing over the guidewire utilizing the second guidewire lumen after the first guidewire lumen has been opened.
A method for removing an over-the-wire catheter while retaining a guidewire in position, comprising:
- (a) loading the guidewire into catheter tubing having a guidewire lumen, said lumen being one of a plurality of lumens that extend from near the distal end of the catheter tubing to near the proximal end of the catheter tubing, the lumens being longitudinally closed from near their distal ends to near their proximal ends;
- (b) positioning the catheter in a patient's vasculature;
- (c) separating the catheter tubing from the guidewire by moving the catheter tubing in a proximal direction while retaining the guidewire in place, causing the catheter tubing to move across opening means situated near the proximal end of the guidewire lumen, thereby opening the guidewire lumen and permitting the catheter tubing to be separated from the guidewire;
- and
- (d) removing the catheter tubing from the guidewire while retaining the guidewire in position for further use of said guidewire.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.