Scimed Life Systems, Inc.

Scimed Lift Systems, Inc.

William H Penny

Daniel O Adams

David Bryan Robinson

Gerald G Voegele

Thomas J Holman

Peter Trexler Keith

Kent David Harrison

Henry John Pepin

David J Serdar

Scott P Thome

David J Haskvitz

John M Yates

An apparatus and method for exchanging a first intravascular catheter of the over-the-wire type, such as an angioplasty balloon dilation catheter, with a second intravascular catheter of the over-the-wire type while leaving a guide wire in position in a desired vascular site. The apparatus is used in conjunction with a conventional guide catheter, a guide wire, and an interventional catheter that can be positioned intravascularly through a lumen of the guide catheter over the guide wire and past a distal end of the guide catheter to a desired vascular site. The apparatus includes an elongate shaft that can be removably positioned in the lumen of the guide catheter and has an actuation capability therein. A trapping member is located at a distal portion of the elongate shaft for releasably fixing the relative position of the guide wire with respect to the guide catheter. The fixing and releasing of the trapping member is effected by the actuation capability from outside the body of the patient so that a first interventional catheter can be exchanged for a second interventional catheter by trapping the guide wire position relative to the guide catheter while withdrawing the first interventional device and replacing it with another.

Method and apparatus for catheter exchange

The present invention relates to a guide catheter system for guiding an angioplasty balloon catheter into a patient's vascular system. The guide catheter system includes a guide catheter and a distal guide catheter extension tube. The guide catheter constitutes an elongated tube, while the guide catheter extension constitutes a distal, smaller diameter extension for the guide catheter. The guide catheter extension is adapted to extend from the guide catheter to an extent possibly sufficient to reach the stenosis in a coronary artery. A fixed wire angioplasty balloon catheter is advanced through the guide catheter and guide catheter extension to the stenosis for treatment thereof. Efficient and easy exchange of the balloon catheter is achieved because the guide catheter extension remains in place when the balloon catheter is withdrawn proximally, so that a path remains to guide another balloon catheter to the stenosis for treatment thereof.

Guide catheter system for an angioplasty balloon catheter

A pressure device for use with a balloon angioplasty catheter includes a housing, a syringe body, rubber stopper and a pressure gauge. The rubber stopper is connected to a threaded plunger leading to a handle. The threaded plunger is engaged by a half nut. The half nut may also be disengaged. A forward located thumb button controls the engagement of the half nut with the threaded plunger. The initial operation of the thumb button also irreversibly illuminates the pressure gauge.

Balloon catheter inflation device

A Y-adaptor manifold assembly includes a main tubular segment adapted to be coupled to an intravascular catheter. A first, tubular side port is joined to the main tubular segment so as to be in fluid communication with a through passage of the main tubular member. The first side port forms an infusion port for radiopaque dye. A second, tubular side port is joined to the main tubular segment so as to be in fluid communication with a through passage of the main tubular member. The second side port and main tubular segment are adapted to receive dilatation catheters. To prevent backbleeding, the second side port and main tubular segment include passive hemostatic valve mechanisms. Each valve mechanism includes a valve member and a disk valve. The valve member has a normally closed, sealed state, an open state and an in-use sealed state. The valve member has an inherent tendency to move to its normally closed, sealed state or its in-use state (wherein the valve member conforms about the dilatation catheter). Application of a compressive radial force moves the valve member to its open state.

Y-adaptor manifold with pinch valve for an intravascular catheter

An inflation device includes a syringe forming a cylindrical chamber containing a plunger carrying a stopper or piston arrangement. The chamber is designed to contain an inflation fluid and is in fluid communication with the lumen of a balloon catheter. Movement of the plunger within the chamber will increase or decrease the pressure of the fluid within the chamber and lumen, thereby inflating or deflating the balloon at the distal end of the catheter. A pressure sensor is mounted to the housing in fluid communication with the lumen and is electrically connected to a battery-operated transmitter. The transmitter broadcasts signals representing pressure within the lumen and balloon to a remote receiver. The receiver includes a microprocessor containing a clock and operable to display time and pressure data. A flexible insulator strip is interposed between the battery and the transmitter circuit to prevent operation of the transmitter until desired by the cardiologist. The housing of the inflation device may be opened to remove the batteries for separate disposal and to render the circuit inoperative to prevent reuse. A look-up table associated with the microprocessor permits display of balloon diameter during the procedure.

Balloon catheter inflation device including apparatus for monitoring and

A guide catheter in which the components of the hub include a ratchet mechanism that is operative to lock the hub components together and compress an integral flange of the catheter shaft therebetween to form a seal between the hub and catheter shaft without the use of bonding agents that will not become loosened accidently or inadvertently.

Self locking guide catheter

Angioplasty inflator

A method for cleaning the interior surface of a Bourdon Tube-type pressure gauge including the steps of inserting a guide tool in a bore of the gauge stem, aligning the guide tool with a port connecting the Bourdon Tube with the bore, inserting a flexible tube through the guide tool and the port and into the Bourdon Tube, and dispensing a fluid to flush the interior surface of the Bourdon Tube.

Pressure gauge cleaning method

A manifold for a double lumen angioplasty balloon catheter has a first chamber connecting the balloon lumen to a first port, a second chamber connecting the guide wire lumen to a second port and a guide wire entry port, an adjustable guide wire seal and a mounting system for an alternative elastic diaphragm guide wire feeding device. An override system for the adjustable guide wire seal is also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

St. Anthony, MN, United States of America

William H Penny