Guiding catheter with controllable perfusion ports

A guiding catheter for use in providing access to a coronary artery via an aorta, said guiding catheter comprising:

• an elongated tubular member positionable in the aorta with an open distal tip positionable in a coronary ostium, said tubular member including at least one perfusion port in a sidewall thereof, whereby blood in the aorta is flowable into said perfusion port and through said tubular member and out said open distal tip to perfuse the coronary artery;
• a cylindrical member positioned about said tubular member and having a distal end secured to said tubular member, said cylindrical member including a perfusion hole through a sidewall thereof, said perfusion hole being in alignment with said perfusion port when said cylindrical member is in a first position and being misaligned with said perfusion port when said cylindrical member is a second position;
• and
• a sleeve member movably positioned about said tubular member and secured to a proximal end of said cylindrical member, whereby said sleeve member is selectably rotatable relative to said tubular member to twist said cylindrical member between said first position and said second position.

A method for use in seating a guiding catheter in a selected vascular ostium of a patient, the guiding catheter including an elongated tubular member open at a distal tip and including at least one perfusion port in a sidewall thereof, and means for selectively opening and closing the perfusion port, said method comprising the steps of:

• introducing the guiding catheter into a blood vessel;
• advancing the guiding catheter through the blood vessel toward the selected vascular ostium;
• detecting a position of the distal tip relative to the selected vascular ostium while the perfusion port is at least partially closed;
• and
• selectively perfusing a blood vessel.

A method for use in visualizing a blood vessel lumen of a patient using a guiding catheter, the guiding catheter including an elongated tubular member open at a distal tip and including at least one perfusion port in a sidewall thereof, and means for selectively opening and closing the perfusion port, said method comprising the steps of:

• seating the distal tip in a vascular ostium;
• and
• introducing contrast media into the guiding catheter and blood vessel lumen with the perfusion port at least partially closed;
• and
• selectively perfusing the selected blood vessel.

A method for use in introducing a material into living tissue using a guiding catheter, the guiding catheter including an elongated tubular member open at a distal tip and including at least one side port in a sidewall thereof, and means for selectively opening and closing the side port, said method comprising the steps of:

• positioning the distal tip within the living tissue;
• introducing a material through the tubular member and into the living tissue with the side port at least partially closed;
• and
• selectively opening the side port.

A guiding catheter, comprising:

• an elongated tubular member open at both a proximal end and a distal tip and including at least one perfusion port in a sidewall thereof;
• a closure member positioned adjacent to said perfusion port and movable between at least first and second positions to open and close said perfusion port, said first position corresponding with said perfusion port being open and said second position corresponding with said perfusion port being closed;
• an actuating member operatively connected to said closure member and extending proximally therefrom toward said proximal end of said tubular member, whereby said actuating member is selectively movable to move said closure member between said first and second positions;
• and
• biasing means for biasing said closure member toward one of said first and second positions.

A guiding catheter, comprising:

• an elongated tubular member open at both a proximal end and a distal tip and including at least one perfusion port in a sidewall thereof, said tubular member including a distal end having a generally arcuate configuration;
• a closure member positioned adjacent to said perfusion port and movable between at least first and second positions to open and close said perfusion port, said first position corresponding with said perfusion port being open and said second position corresponding with said perfusion port being closed;
• and
• an actuating member operatively connected to said closure member and extending proximally therefrom toward said proximal end of said tubular member, whereby said actuating member is selectively movable to move said closure member between said first and second positions.

A guiding catheter, comprising:

• an elongated tubular member open at both a proximal end and a distal tip and including at least one perfusion port in a sidewall thereof, said perfusion port being positioned between about 15 cm and about 100 cm from said distal tip;
• a closure member positioned adjacent to said perfusion port and movable between at least first and second positions to open and close said perfusion port, said first position corresponding with said perfusion port being open and said second position corresponding with said perfusion port being closed;
• and
• an actuating member operatively connected to said closure member and extending proximally therefrom toward said proximal end of said tubular member, whereby said actuating member is selectively movable to move said closure member between said first and second positions.