Methods and apparatus for treating vascular occlusions

An intravascular catheter comprising:

• a catheter shaft having a distal end and a longitudinal lumen;
• a nosecone positioned at the distal end of the catheter shaft having a first port in communication with the longitudinal lumen formed with a first transverse cross-sectional area, and a second port in communication with the longitudinal lumen formed with a second transverse cross-sectional area relatively smaller than the first transverse cross-sectional area;
• a cannula having a passageway that is slidably positioned within at least a portion of the longitudinal lumen of the catheter shaft, and is configured for passage through the first port but not through the second port of the nosecone;
• and
• a guidewire that is slidably disposed within at least part of the cannula passageway and is configured for passage through the second port, wherein the intravascular catheter is configured for use in coronary vasculature.

An intravascular catheter capable of redirecting a guidewire, comprising:

• a catheter shaft formed with a distal end, and having a first lumen and a second lumen each extending along the catheter shaft respectively to a first distal opening and a second distal opening;
• an actuator wire slidably positioned within the first lumen of the catheter shaft, wherein the actuator wire is formed with a preformed distal end to provide an actuated position that is biased towards the second distal opening when advanced relatively distal through the first distal opening;
• and
• a guidewire slidably positioned within the second lumen of the catheter shaft that may be deflected when advanced relatively distal through the second distal opening and when the actuator wire is placed in its actuated position, wherein the intravascular catheter is configured for use in coronary vasculature.

An intravascular catheter capable of redirecting a guidewire, comprising:

• a catheter shaft formed with a distal portion and a longitudinal axis, and wherein the catheter shaft has a first lumen and a second lumen each extending within the distal portion of the catheter shaft;
• a nosecone formed at the distal portion of the catheter shaft, wherein the nosecone includes a distal orifice and an interior region, and wherein the interior region of the nosecone is formed with a tapered surface and is in communication with the first and second lumens;
• an actuator wire formed with a distal tip that is slidably positioned within the first lumen of the catheter shaft, wherein the distal tip of the actuator wire is redirected substantially away from the longitudinal axis of the catheter shaft when advanced relatively distal along the tapered surface of the nosecone and through the nosecone orifice;
• and
• a guidewire slidably positioned within the second lumen of the catheter shaft that may be deflected away from the longitudinal axis of the catheter shaft by contacting the redirected actuator wire when the guidewire is advanced relatively distal through the distal orifice, wherein the intravascular catheter is configured for use in coronary vasculature.

An intravascular catheter for selectively deflecting a guidewire comprising:

• a catheter body formed with a distal end and a longitudinal lumen formed along at least a portion of the catheter body;
• a support tube having a distal tube end, a proximal tube end, a tube port formed at the distal end, and a conduit formed within the support tube in communication with the tube port, wherein the distal tube end is formed with a cut-out portion, and wherein the support tube is slidably and rotatably positioned within the longitudinal lumen of the catheter body;
• and
• a cannula having a distal cannula end, a cannula port formed at the distal cannula end, and at least one passageway extending through at least a distal end portion of the cannula that is in communication with the cannula port, wherein the distal portion of the cannula has a pre-formed shape resilient curve, and wherein the cannula is slidably positioned within the conduit of the support tube, wherein the distal end portion of the cannula is relatively aligned with respect to a longitudinal axis of the support tube when the cannula is positioned within the support tube when the distal cannula end extends beyond the distal end of the catheter body, wherein the intravascular catheter is configured for use in coronary vasculature.

An intravascular catheter for selectively deflecting a guidewire comprising:

• a catheter body formed with a distal end, a catheter port formed at the distal end of the catheter body, a longitudinal axis, and a longitudinal lumen extending within at least a distal portion of the catheter body in communication with the catheter port;
• a cannula having a distal cannula end, a cannula port formed at the distal cannula end, and at least one passageway formed within at least a distal portion of the cannula in communication with the cannula port, wherein the cannula is slidably positioned within the longitudinal lumen of the catheter body;
• and
• a support tube connected to the distal cannula end, wherein the support tube is formed with a distal tube end section, a proximal tube end section, and a backbone connecting the distal and the proximal tube end sections, wherein the support tube is preformed with a predetermined shape to deflect the distal cannula end away from the longitudinal axis of the catheter body when the distal cannula end is extended past the distal end of the catheter body, wherein the intravascular catheter is configured for use in coronary vasculature.