Cordis Corporation

Mark N Inderbitzen

Kirk L Johnson

Stephen J Querns

Susana M Martinez

Robert Burgermeister

Luis A Davila

Robert P Letendre

Stephen R Healy

Pedro L Diaz

Mark L Pomeranz

A guidewire navigable through body vessels of a human subject for delivery of a catheter or the like is provided. The guidewire includes an expandable segment movable between a collapsed state and an expanded state. If the catheter encounters resistance in a vessel and cannot be advanced further, the medical professional can move the expandable segment to the expanded state in which the expandable segment engages an inner surface of the catheter. The expandable segment locks onto the catheter, which allows the guidewire and catheter to be advanced through the vessel together as a single unit. An inflatable balloon catheter movable along the guidewire requires only a single tube and is sealed by the expandable segment of the guidewire for subsequent inflation.

Guidewire with distal expansion feature and method for enhancing the deliverability and crossability of medical devices

A self-expanding stent delivery system for medical treatment of a patient has a rapid exchange configuration. The system includes a stent, a proximal and distal shaft section, a cartridge for holding the stent compressed until deployment, a stabilizer for holding the stent in position as an outer sheath is retracted, and a flexible tapered introducer tip. The stent is mounted about the distal shaft section and compressed to an initial diameter within the cartridge. The introducer tip is affixed to the distal end of the catheter system. A guidewire may be back-loaded into a distal port at the catheter system distal end. The guidewire extends through a guidewire tube through the location of the stent, and escapes through a proximal guidewire port, which is located at a point intermediate the catheter system proximal and distal ends.

Rapid exchange self-expanding stent delivery catheter system

A removable vascular filter system for blocking micro- and macro-emboli while allowing the continued perfusion of blood comprises a filter membrane positioned on a guidewire, wherein a free end of the membrane sits tightly against the guidewire when the filter membrane is in a collapsed state and wherein the filter has a means for deploying the filter membrane to assume a position substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the guidewire. The filter membrane is comprised of a fine mesh material which has a pore size capable of blocking emboli while allowing continued blood flow, a preferred embodiment of which comprises regularly spaced, laser-formed holes, and in which the membrane has a scalloped proximal profile.

Vascular filter system

A dilation catheter suitable for use in medical procedures is provided which includes a balloon disposed on an elongated flexible tube. The tube is capable of passing fluid between the balloon and the tube for varying the balloon between a collapsed and expanded condition. The catheter includes a brace fitted over the balloon for restricting expansion of a selected portion of the balloon for forming a perfusion channel that allows fluid to be perfused past the balloon when it is expanded in a body vessel. A medical procedure for dilation under perfusion conditions is also provided.

Perfusion balloon brace and method of use

Apparatus and method is disclosed for facilitating balloon catheter exchange in angioplasty procedures. A guide catheter allows the balloon catheter to be inserted into the subject to a region near a treatment region within the vascular system. A fluid source is provided for selectively inflating the balloon. A passageway in the catheter body that extends through the catheter balloon opens into the blood vessel via a sideport. A guidewire passageway extends through a distal most part of the catheter body to allow a guidewire to be inserted into the sideport and routed out the catheter body through a distal opening.

Method and apparatus for dilatation catheterization

A catheter having an elongated tubular body with a distal end, a proximal end and at least one lumen extending therebetween. The body is made from three layers of extruded plastic which adhere to each other. The body has an inner and outer layer made from a polymer, and a middle layer also made from a polymer. The middle layer is more flexible and has a lower melt temperature than the inner and outer layers. The catheter further includes an integral fuseless distal tip. The distal tip is made from the middle layer and no more than one of the inner and outer layers. The distal tip is softer than portions of the body proximal thereto. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of making a fuseless soft tip tubular catheter, of the type described above. The method involves extruding the catheter so as to form the tubular body having the inner, outer and middle layers. Thereafter, at least the distal end of the catheter is heated so as to form a distal tip. The distal tip is made from the middle layer and no more than one of the inner and outer layers. The distal tip is softer than portions of said body proximal thereto.

Method of making a fuseless soft tip catheter

A dilation catheter for use in medical procedures is provided including a dilation balloon disposed on the distal end of a flexible tubular shaft. The balloon has perfusion characteristics and may be varied between a collapsed condition and an expanded condition by the introduction of fluid into the balloon. The balloon includes a compliant portion which extends radially outwardly when the balloon is in its expanded condition for engaging a body vessel wall and a non-compliant longitudinal section which traverses the length of the balloon and does not extend radially outwardly when the balloon is in its expanded condition, forming a perfusion channel.

Perfusion catheter and striped extrusion method of manufacture

An intravascular balloon catheter comprises a catheter body having a proximal end a distal end, and a balloon carried adjacent the distal end. The catheter body defines an inflation lumen which extends along essentially the length of the body proximal to the balloon and which communicates with the interior of the balloon. The catheter body also defines a second lumen having an open, distal end and extending at least most of the length of the body. A first tube, aligned with the second lumen, extends through the balloon and is open at both ends. A portion of the catheter body which defines the second lumen is longitudinally slidable relative to the balloon and the first tube between an advanced position and a retracted position. In the advanced position the second lumen and tube are together to allow advancement of a guidewire through both the second lumen and the first tube. In the retracted position, the second lumen is spaced from the first tube, so that the first tube is open to receive blood flow therethrough from its open proximal end.

Perfusion catheter with moving tube

A dilation catheter suitable for use in medical procedures is provided. The catheter includes a balloon disposed on an elongated tube. The tube is capable of passing fluid between the balloon and the tube for varying the balloon between an inflated expanded condition and a deflated collapsed condition. The balloon includes a longitudinally extending spiral wall which forms a longitudinally extending spiral channel spaced inwardly from the exterior surface of the balloon when the balloon is in its expanded condition to allow fluid to be perfused past the balloon.

Spiral shaped perfusion balloon and method of use and manufacture

Apparatus for facilitating balloon catheter exchange in a vascular dilatation procedure using a balloon guidewire emplaced within the vascular system of a patient, and a balloon catheter defining an inflation lumen and a guidewire lumen and being attached at its proximal end to a hub. The apparatus includes a relatively short guidewire extension attached at its proximal end to a handle portion. The handle portion defines structure cooperative with the hub for facilitating sliding movement of the handle portion along the hub while the guidewire extension is at least partially inserted into the guidewire lumen. The handle portion is free to slide over the entire length of the hub and to slide off the hub in both proximal and distal directions. A guide element maintains the handle portion engaged for sliding movement along the balloon catheter. The guidewire lumen is slitted and the handle portion carries a separator for opening the slit in the region of the location of the handle portion. The guide element is separable from the handle portion and separates from the handle portion and docks at the distal end of the hub when the handle portion is slid past the hub's distal end in a proximal direction.

Tool and method facilitating rapid PCTA catheter exchange

An intravascular balloon catheter comprises a catheter body having a proximal end a distal end, and a balloon carried adjacent the distal end. The catheter body defines an inflation tube which extends along essentially the length of the body proximal to the balloon and which communicates with the interior of the balloon. The catheter body also defines a lumen having an open, distal end and extending at least most of the length of the body. A first tube, aligned with the lumen, extends through the balloon and is open at both ends. A portion of the catheter which defines the lumen is longitudinally slidable relative to the balloon and the first tube between an advanced position and a retracted position. In the advanced position the lumen and first tube are together to allow advancement of a guidewire through both the lumen and the first tube. In the retracted position, the lumen is spaced from the first tube, so that the first tube is open to receive blood flow therethrough.

Perfusion catheter with moving body

A balloon dilatation catheter comprises a flexible, tubular catheter shaft which carries a dilatation balloon adjacent the distal end. The catheter shaft defines an inflation lumen communicating with the balloon and a guidewire lumen extending at least most of the length of the catheter and extending through the catheter distal end. A longitudinal slit is defined in the catheter shaft between the guidewire lumen and the catheter exterior. This slit longitudinally extends along the majority of the catheter length from a position proximal of the balloon to a position that is at least adjacent the catheter proximal end.

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Miramar, FL, United States of America

Mark N Inderbitzen