Catheter arrangement, method of catheterization, and method of

Abstract

A catheter arrangement for opening or closing hollow spaces, cavities, passages and the like comprising a guide catheter and a dilatation catheter. A dilatation element arranged at the dilatation catheter has an at least partially cylindrical foldable wall. The catheterization technique employable with such catheter arrangement contemplates introducing the guide catheter by forces applied in translatory and rotational direction and engaging at the surface layer of the guide catheter, into the near region of the hollow space to be opened or closed, then inserting the dilatation catheter through a bore of the guide catheter, with the dilatation element having in its internal space a negative pressure in relation to the hollow space which is to be opened or closed. The dilatation catheter is then inserted through the guide catheter to such an extent that the dilatation element arrives at the loation which is to be opened or closed and at that location is dilated to a predetermined form and to the necessary diameter with a pre-selected excess pressure. There is also disclosed a method of manufacturing a dilatation element for use with the catheter arrangement.