# US 9,433,521 B2 · Distal tip for a delivery catheter

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- Number: US 9,433,521 B2
- Document ID: US9433521B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/686,311
- Filed: 2012-11-27
- Published: 2014-05-29
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2012-11-27
- Assignees: Medtronic, Inc.
- Applicants: Medtronic, Inc.
- Inventors: Susheel Deshmukh; Siyan Som; Adam Shipley; Matthew Spurchise; Stephen Peter; Shishira Nagesh
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9433521B2

## CPC

- A61F 2/95: Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
- A61F 2/962: having an outer sleeve
- A61B 17/12022: {Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires (plugging an opening in the wall of an organ A61B17/0057; occluders for the cervical canal A61F6/146; vas deferens occluders A61F6/20)}
- A61B 17/12145: {having a pre-set deployed three-dimensional shape (methods of manufacturing A61B2017/00526)}
- A61B 2017/00557: {inflatable (A61B2017/22051 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2017/1205: {Introduction devices}
- A61F 2/07: Stent-grafts
- A61F 2/9522: {Means for mounting a stent or stent-graft onto or into a placement instrument}
- A61F 2002/072: {Encapsulated stents, e.g. wire or whole stent embedded in lining}
- A61F 2002/9505: {having retaining means other than an outer sleeve, e.g. male-female connector between stent and instrument}
- A61F 2250/0098: radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
- A61M 25/0069: {Tip not integral with tube}
- A61M 25/10: Balloon catheters ({A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02;} inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 {; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00})
- A61M 29/02: Dilators made of swellable material {(balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104)}
- A61M 2025/0183: {Rapid exchange or monorail catheters}
- A61M 2025/1093: {having particular tip characteristics}
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

Distal tips for use with delivery catheters are disclosed that are configured to maintain complete engagement between the distal tip and a distal opening of a sheath component of the delivery catheter so as to prevent separation therebetween and/or to prevent fish-mouthing of a distal leading edge of the sheath component during in vivo use. Distal tips so configured realize one or more of the objectives of safer tracking of the delivery catheter through the vasculature, safe crossing of the delivery catheter through structural components of the vasculature and heart, such as through native valves, and safe removal of the delivery catheter post deployment.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A delivery catheter for endoluminal delivery of a prosthesis comprising:
a tubular sheath component defining a distal opening and distally extending first and second arched portions, wherein the distal opening is defined by and between the distally extending first and second arched portions;
an elongate inner shaft at least partially disposed within the sheath component; and
a distal tip attached to the inner shaft that engages with the distal opening of the sheath component when the delivery catheter is in a delivery configuration and disengages from the distal opening when the delivery catheter is in a deployment configuration, the distal tip defining a distal segment and a proximal segment that are demarcated by a proximally facing bearing surface that forms a radially extending circumferential ridge that continuously extends around the entire circumference of the distal tip,
wherein the circumferential ridge defines distally extending first and second valley portions that receive at least a crown of a corresponding first or second arched portion of the sheath component therein when the distal tip engages with the distal opening of the sheath component in the delivery configuration.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The delivery catheter of claim 1, wherein the sheath component includes a distally facing bearing surface that is at least partially defined along a distal surface of the first and second arched segments to abut against the distal tip bearing surface within the corresponding first and second valley portions when the distal tip engages with the distal opening of the sheath component in the delivery configuration.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The delivery catheter of claim 2, wherein bearing engagement between the first and second valley portions of the distal tip and the corresponding crowns of the first and second arched segments permits the distal tip to pivot or rock back and forth on the distally facing bearing surface of the sheath component.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The delivery catheter of claim 1, wherein the distal segment of the distal tip is distally tapered and the proximal segment of the distal tip has a dome shape that is sized to be slidably receivable within the distal opening of the sheath component.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The delivery catheter of claim 1, wherein the distal segment of the distal tip has a first radiopacity and the proximal segment of the distal tip has a second radiopacity.