US 7,682,365 B2 · Catheter device for support of a guidewire in crossing a lesion

Abstract

A catheter device selectively provides additional support to a guidewire for aiding the guidewire in crossing a narrowing in a body lumen. The catheter device includes an elongate outer tubular member having a tapered distal end. An elongate guidewire gripping member is slidably disposed within the outer tubular member. The guidewire gripping member has a lumen for slidably receiving the guidewire and a distal end having a plurality of longitudinal fingers. When the guidewire gripping member is advanced distally against the tapered distal end of the outer tubular member, a the fingers of the guidewire gripping member are forced to engage with the guidewire to thereby prevent movement of the guidewire relative to the catheter device. The catheter device may include a steering mechanism for steering the combined catheter device and guidewire component to an optimum starting point for crossing the lesion.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A catheter device for selectively aiding a guidewire in crossing a lesion in a body vessel, the catheter device comprising:

an elongate flexible outer tubular member that is capable of being navigated through a patient's vasculature to the lesion in the body vessel, the outer tubular member having a lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end thereof, the distal end of the outer tubular member having a tapered portion wherein at least an inner diameter of the outer tubular member tapers toward the distal end;
and
a guidewire gripping member slidably disposed within the lumen of the outer tubular member, the guidewire gripping member having a guidewire lumen for slidably receiving a guidewire and a distal end with a plurality of longitudinal slots defining fingers therein,
wherein a diameter of the distal end of the guidewire gripping member is reduced when the guidewire gripping member is advanced distally within the tapered portion of the outer tubular member such that the fingers of the guidewire gripping member grip the guidewire to thereby prevent movement of the guidewire relative to the catheter device.

1 more element

A method of crossing a lesion in a body vessel, the method comprising:

advancing a guidewire through a patient's vasculature to position a distal end proximate to the lesion;
receiving a catheter device having an elongate flexible outer shaft with a tapered distal portion and a guidewire gripping member slidably disposed within the outer shaft, wherein the guidewire gripping member includes a guidewire lumen and a distal end having longitudinal slots defining fingers therein;
tracking the catheter device over the indwelling guidewire until the tapered distal portion of the outer shaft is positioned proximate to the distal end of the guidewire;
distally advancing the guidewire gripping member relative to the outer shaft of the catheter device such that the fingers on the distal end of the guidewire gripping member converge within the tapered distal portion of the outer shaft into gripping engagement with the guidewire to secure the catheter device to the guidewire;
and
pushing the combined catheter device and guidewire such that the tapered distal portion of the outer shaft that surrounds the guidewire gripping member passes through the lesion.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Catheter device for support of a guidewire in crossing a lesion

Life of this patent

Catheter device for support of a guidewire in crossing a lesion

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21