Danforth Biomedical, Inc.

Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.

Nitin P Matani

Michael J Horzewski

Jeff L Kraus

Joseph R Shields

Mark A Maguire

Jeffrey L Kraus

Lambert J Diettrich

A proximal adaptor for an over-the-wire angioplasty catheter is disclosed which contains a retractable catheter slitting element and a releasable guidewire seizing element, both of which are controllable by a manually operated element or elements accessible from the exterior of the adaptor.

Catheter adaptor with slitting blade and improved manual control and

Multilumen catheters are provided with an axially decreasing stiffness by the incorporation of a hollow tube formed of a relatively stiff material into the catheter construction. The tube may either encircle the catheter as an external shell or reside inside one of the lumens as a liner. The stiffness variation may be attained by extending the hollow tube only part of the distance from the proximal to the distal ends of the catheter or by varying the construction of the hollow tube.

Reinforced multilumen catheter for axially varying stiffness

The inner tubular element of an annular over-the-wire dilatation balloon catheter defines the guidewire lumen extending through the catheter shaft and the balloon and is bonded to the balloon at the distal opening of the balloon. In accordance with the invention, the inner tubular element is constructed in two segments. The proximal segment is constructed of a polymer such as polyethylene which has a lubricious surface, while the distal segment is constructed of a polymer such as nylon, polyurethane, or a nylon/polyurethane blend, which lacks lubricity but forms a secure bond with the balloon at the distal opening. The bond by which the proximal and distal segments are joined is thus removed from the distal balloon opening, and accordingly less susceptible to failure upon pressurization of the balloon.

Lubricious yet bondable catheter channel sleeve for over-the-wire

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

Dual lumen dilatation catheter and method of manufacture in which the catheter shaft is formed in a plurality of sections of different stiffness to provide optimum strength and flexibility at different points along the length of the catheter.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Nitin P Matani