# US 5,662,621 A · Guide catheter with shape memory retention > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,662,621 A - Document ID: US5662621A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/498,887 - Filed: 1995-07-06 - Granted: 1997-09-02 - Earliest claimed: 1995-07-06 - Assignees: SciMed Life Systems, Inc. - Inventors: Daniel M. Lafontaine - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5662621A ## CPC - A61M 25/0041: {pre-formed, e.g. specially adapted to fit with the anatomy of body channels (urethral catheters A61F2/04)} - A61M 25/005: {with embedded materials for reinforcement, e.g. wires, coils, braids} - A61M 25/0662: {Guide tubes} - A61M 2025/0064: {which become stiffer or softer when heated} - A61M 2205/0266: Shape memory materials - 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)} ## Abstract Guide catheter incorporating a braided or braidless construction having increased performance characteristics for catheterization procedures. The guide catheter may include a shaft to provide support to the guide catheter for positioning the guide catheter within the patient's vascular system, and for providing a stimulus to the guide catheter for shaping the guide catheter. The guide catheter may be formed of memory retention material responsive to the stimulus for selectively shaping the guide catheter during a catheter procedure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A catheter assembly comprising: a generally elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, with a lumen extending longitudinally between the proximal end and the distal end; means for selectively providing a stimulus to at least a portion of the shaft including a core member insertable within the lumen; and wherein at least a portion of the shaft is formed of a material responsive to the stimulus for selectively changing at least a portion of the shaft between a generally softened, ductile state and a second, curved stiff state relative to the softened, ductile state. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the shaft is formed of a shape memory material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the catheter includes at least one curve in the stiff state. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the stimulus is a thermal stimulus. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the stimulus is a chemical stimulus. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the stimulus is light. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the material responsive to the stimulus is a thermoset polymer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The catheter assembly of claim 1, further including means for changing position of a distal portion of the shaft while the catheter assembly is positioned within a patient's vascular system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the means for providing a stimulus further includes: at least one heating mechanism; and means for selectively controlling the heating mechanism. ### Claim 10 A catheter assembly comprising: a generally elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, with a lumen extending longitudinally between the proximal end and the distal end; means for selectively providing a stimulus to at least a portion of the shaft; wherein at least a portion of the shaft is formed of a material responsive to the stimulus for selectively changing at least a portion of the shaft between a generally softened, ductile state and a second curved stiff state relative to the softened, ductile state; and wherein the means for providing a stimulus further includes at least one heating mechanism and means for selectively controlling the heating mechanism, wherein the heating mechanism is a resistance heat coil. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The catheter assembly of claim 9, wherein the means for selectively controlling the heating mechanism includes a power supply coupled to at least one switch. ### Claim 12 A catheter assembly for changing the shape of a catheter during a catheter procedure comprising: a generally elongate shaft formed of shape memory material having a proximal end and a distal end, with a lumen extending longitudinally between the proximal end and the distal end; a core member insertable within the lumen for selectively providing a stimulus to at least a portion of the catheter shaft; and wherein the portion of the shaft is formed of a material responsive to the stimulus for changing at least a portion of the shaft between a first ductile state and a second more stiff, curved state relative to said first state. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The catheter assembly of claim 12, wherein the material responsive to the stimulus is a thermoset polymer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The catheter assembly of claim 12, wherein the core member further comprises: at least one heating member carried by the shaft; and control mechanism for selectively controlling the heating member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The catheter assembly of claim 12, further comprising a mechanism for selectively controlling a distal portion of the shaft while the shaft is in a ductile state. ### Claim 16 A method of positioning a tubular member within a patient's vascular system during a catheter procedure, the method comprising: providing an elongate shaft; inserting the shaft within the patient's vascular system; and advancing an elongate tubular member formed of shape memory material over the shaft wherein the shaft provides a stimulus to at least a portion of the tubular member for changing the tubular member between a softened, ductile state and a second, curved, stiff state relative to the softened, ductile state. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the stimulus is light. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of positioning a distal end of the shaft within an ostium of the patient's vascular system. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of controlling the stimulus provided by the shaft. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of removing the shaft. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the stimulus is heat. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein at least a portion of the tubular member is selectively heated by a control mechanism coupled to a heat coil carried by the shaft. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the stimulus is a chemical. ### Claim 24 A method of changing the shape of a tubular member located within a patient's vascular system comprising the steps of: providing a core having selectively controllable heating sections; inserting the core within the tubular member; and heating at least one heating section for changing the shape of at least a portion of the tubular member formed of a thermoset memory retention polymer, wherein the portion of the tubular member is responsive to the heat provided by the heating section for changing the portion of the tubular member between a first, ductile state and a second, curved, more stiff state relative to said first, ductile state. ### Claim 25 A catheter assembly for positioning and changing the shape of a catheter during a catheter procedure, the catheter assembly comprising: a generally elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, with a lumen extending longitudinally between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the shaft includes a first section and a second section formed of a thermoset polymer; a core member insertable within the lumen including first means for selectively providing a thermal stimulus to the shaft and second means for selectively providing a thermal stimulus to the shaft; and wherein the first section is responsive to the first means for providing a thermal stimulus, for changing the first section between a first ductile state and a second, curved more stiff state relative to said first state, and wherein the second section is responsive to the second means for providing a thermal stimulus for changing the second section between a first, ductile state and a second, curved, more stiff state relative to said first state. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The catheter assembly of claim 25, further comprising: wherein the shaft further includes a third section formed of a thermoset polymer; wherein the core member further includes third means for selectively providing a thermal stimulus to the shaft; and wherein the third section is responsive to the third means for selectively providing a thermal stimulus to the shaft for changing the third section between a first, ductile state and a second, curved, more stiff state relative to said first state.