Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.

Danforth Biomedical, Inc.

Jeffrey L Kraus

Linda T Guthrie

Craig E Mar

Charles S Taylor

Robert M Abrams

Michael J Horzewski

Gary Henry Miller

Nitin P Matani

Joseph R Shields

Kirsten L Messner

Beverly A Huss

Sandra L Elliott

The present invention is a catheter having a guidewire lumen slidable sleeve. The lumen and sleeve have aligned apertures, which may be closed by moving the slidable sleeve. When the apertures are aligned, a guidewire may be loaded from the distal end of the catheter through the lumen. The guidewire is forced out of the lumen by a ramp in the lumen. The ramp is at the end of a removable core member, which provides enhanced shaft rigidity. The catheter may be converted from a 'monorail' to an 'over-the-wire' configuration by moving the slidable sleeve to close the aperture and advancing a replacement guidewire through the guidewire lumen past the now sealed aperture. A non-circular cross-section is used for the lumen, removable core member, and slidable sleeve, thereby maintaining orientation of the lumen and slidable sleeve apertures should the catheter undergo rotational flexing during use.

Convertible catheter

The present invention is an 'over-the-wire' catheter having a proximal adapter system which may be used to open a longitudinally closed guidewire lumen, thereby facilitating rapid removal of the catheter without a guidewire extension mechanism.

Rapid removal over-the-wire catheter

A steerable balloon dilatation catheter which is particularly suitable for peripheral arteries having an elongated tubular member with a flexible, inelastic balloon on the distal end. The tubular member has a relatively stiff proximal portion formed of stainless steel and a relatively flexible distal portion formed of a polyester. A fixed guiding member is disposed within the catheter bonded to the proximal portion of the tubular member, to a short relatively rigid cylindrical member bonded to the distal portion of the tubular member and the distal end of the balloon.

Dilatation catheter suitable for peripheral arteries

An extendable guidewire system for introducing a dilatation catheter into the arterial system of a patient. The guidewire system has guidewire and extension sections with a connection therebetween which permits the two sections to be joined together and separated simply by twisting the two sections to effect a threaded connection. One of the sections can be used for positioning the catheter within the cardiovascular system, and the other section an be employed to extend the wire to change catheters.

Extendable guidewire for vascular procedures

A guidewire assembly particularly suitable for valvuloplasty procedures have an outer tubular member a first shapable core member fixed within the outer member and a second stiffer core member which is axially movable within the out tubular member. The first core member preferably has a double curvature shape with the most distal curvature having a much smaller radius or curvature than the second curvature. When the movable core member is moved proximally, the fixed core member assumes its shaped form and thereby changes the shape of the guidewire. The double curvature shape prevents the traumatic engagement of the distal tip of the guidewire with the lining in the heart chamber and also provides supports to the guidewire when disposed through the heart valve.

Guidewire assembly with steerable adjustable tip

An extendable guidewire system for introducing a dilatation catheter into the cardiovascular system. The guidewire has guidewire and extension sections with a connection therebetween which permits the two sections to be joined together and separated simply by pushing the two sections together and pulling them apart. One of the sections can be used for positioning the catheter within the cardiovascular system, and the other section can be employed to extend the wire to change catheters.

Growing community of inventors

San Jose, CA, United States of America

Jeffrey L Kraus