Guide wire insertion and re-insertion tools and methods of use

Abstract

An insertion tool and method for easily inserting a guide wire into a guide wire lumen of a catheter, particularly a rapid exchange catheter, for use in an endoscope. The insertion tool includes a main body having a main lumen and a funnel-shaped extension having a funnel lumen that merges with the main lumen. The funnel lumen has a first large opening and a second smaller opening aligned with the guide wire lumen of the catheter such that, when the catheter is disposed in the main lumen, the guide wire may be easily inserted into the large opening of the funnel-shaped extension and into the guide wire lumen of the catheter. The insertion tool may include a tongue or key disposed in the main lumen that is sized to fit in a slot of the catheter to thereby maintain alignment between the funnel lumen and the slot of the catheter. The insertion tool may alternatively include a non-round surface disposed in the main lumen that engages a non-round surface on the exterior of the catheter to thereby maintain alignment between the funnel lumen and the slot of the catheter. The insertion tool may further include a longitudinal slot in the funnel-shaped extension and/or main body to allow removal of the guide wire from the insertion tool while the guide wire remains in the guide wire lumen of the catheter.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.