Catheter/guide wire steering apparatus and method
AssigneeSarcos Corp.
InventorsStephen C. Jacobsen, John Lippert
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A catheter/guide wire steering mechanism includes a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and sidewalls which define at least the first lumen. An opening is formed in a sidewall of the catheter, near the distal end thereof in communication with the first lumen. A plug is disposed in the catheter at the distal end thereof and includes a curved surface for deflecting and directing out the opening, the leading end of a guide wire (or other catheter) inserted into the lumen at the proximal end of the catheter. This enables guiding the guide wire laterally from the catheter either into a passageway branching from the main passageway into which the catheter is inserted, or to perforate a sidewall of the main passageway.
Claims22
Catheter/guide wire steering apparatus for directing the catheter/guide wire to a desired location comprising:
- a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and sidewalls which define at least a first lumen,
- an opening in a sidewall of the catheter, near the distal end thereof, in communication with the lumen,
- means disposed in the catheter at the distal end thereof for deflecting and directing out the opening, the leading end of a guide wire or catheter, to thereby enable guiding the guide wire laterally from the catheter;
- and
- balloon means disposed on the distal end of the catheter, the balloon means being disposed so as to cause the distal end of the catheter to bend toward the desired location.
Catheter/guide wire steering apparatus for directing the catheter/guide wire to a desired location comprising:
- a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and sidewalls which define at least a first lumen,
- an opening in a sidewall of the catheter, near the distal end thereof, in communication with the lumen,
- means disposed in the catheter at the distal end thereof for deflecting and directing out the opening, the leading end of a guide wire or catheter, to thereby enable guiding the guide wire laterally from the catheter;
- and
- balloon means disposed on the distal end of the catheter, the balloon means being disposed so that a greater portion of the balloon is disposed distally of the opening to thereby cause the distal end of the catheter to bend toward the desired location when the balloon is inflated.
A method of steering a catheter/guide wire in a vasculature passageway comprising the step of
- providing a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, sidewalls which define at least a first lumen, and an opening in a sidewall near the distal end thereof, in communication with the lumen,
- providing a deflecting means in the catheter at a distal end thereof to deflect and direct out the opening the leading end of a guide wire or catheter inserted into the lumen at the proximal end of the catheter,
- providing a balloon which is positioned so as to bend the distal end of the catheter when the balloon is inflated, and
- inserting a catheter or guide wire into the lumen at the proximal end of the catheter to deflect the leading end of the catheter or guide wire out the opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.