Telescoping catheter and method of use

Abstract

A catheter wherein the 'effective over-the-wire' length is adjustable. The catheter includes an elongated inflation shaft having a longitudinal inflation lumen, an extension shaft disposed distal to the inflation shaft and through which the inflation lumen is continued, a balloon element disposed at the distal end of the extension shaft and in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, a guidewire shaft having a longitudinal guidewire lumen which extends from the distal end of the balloon member, through the balloon member and the extension shaft, to the proximal end of the extension shaft, and a telescoping portion. The telescoping portion comprising first and second telescoping tubes which are slidably mounted on the inflation shaft and the extension shaft. The first and second telescoping tubes are sized so that the first telescoping tube can be retracted into the second telescoping tube. The extension shaft is sized so that it can be retracted into the first telescoping tube. The effective 'over-the-wire length' of the telescoping balloon catheter can be reduced by retracting the first telescoping tube and the extension tube into the second telescoping tube. In another embodiment, the telescoping portion comprises three telescoping tubes, which results in a greater reduction of the effective 'over-the-wire length.'