Method and system for reduced friction introduction of coaxial catheters
AssigneeLocalmed, Inc.
InventorEnrique J. Klein
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Catheter systems comprising a base catheter and a sleeve catheter are modified to have reduced sliding friction therebetween. The sleeve catheter is received over the base catheter, and an inner luminal surface of the sleeve catheter or outer surface of the base catheter is modified to have surface irregularities to reduce sliding friction. Preferably, the surface irregularities are circumferentially spaced-apart V-spaced peaks. Such peaks may be formed by fabricating tubular catheter bodies in an extrusion tool having a mold or die with correspondingly shaped V-shaped grooves therein. Alternatively, the surface irregularities may be imparted using a mold or mandrel which is placed over or in a tubular catheter body, where the desired geometry is transferred by heating the catheter.
Claims13
A method for introducing a sleeve catheter over a base catheter into a body lumen, said method comprising:
- introducing the base catheter over a guide wire to a target location within the body lumen, and
- translating the sleeve catheter coaxially over the base catheter while said base catheter is positioned within the body lumen, wherein the base catheter and the sleeve catheter are introduced coaxially through a guiding catheter;
- wherein at least a distal portion of the exterior surface of the base catheter and a distal portion of the interior surface of the sleeve catheter have irregular surfaces to reduce friction and wherein the pattern of surface irregularities on the base catheter is selected so that it will not mate with the pattern of surface irregularities on the sleeve catheter.
A method for fabricating a tubular catheter having an irregular surface, said method comprising
- extruding a polymeric resin through an extrusion tool comprising an outer die and an inner pin, wherein at least one of the die and the pin is patterned to produce a repeatable pattern of surface irregularities as the tubular catheter is extruded through said tool, wherein said surface irregularities reduce sliding friction between said tubular catheter and another catheter which is introduced over or through said tubular catheter and which engages the surface with said surface irregularities.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.