Convertible mode vascular catheter system

Abstract

An angioplasty catheter comprising a catheter shaft having a proximal portion and a distal end, an angioplasty balloon attached to the shaft at the distal end, a balloon inflation lumen extending through the shaft and communicating with the interior of the balloon, a guidewire lumen extending through the shaft and through the balloon for receiving a steerable guidewire, the guidewire lumen having an outside wall, wherein the guidewire lumen has a proximal opening located at a point normally outside of the patient during use of the catheter for insertion of a guidewire into the lumen, and a side port adapted to permit passage of a guidewire into the lumen through the outside wall of the guidewire lumen, the side port located distally of the proximal opening and at a point normally inside of the patient during use, and guidewire removing means in the outside wall of the guidewire lumen extending from the proximal opening to the side port for permitting a guidewire in the guidewire lumen to be moved laterally from the guidewire lumen through the outside wall of the guidewire lumen. Also disclosed are a removable “Y” connector and methods for using the catheter and for exchanging catheters and guidewires during vascular catheterization procedures.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10 / 282,687 filed Oct. 28, 2002, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07 / 714,642 filed Jun. 13, 1991, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to vascular catheters (such as angioplasty catheters) specially adapted for rapid-exchange of both the guidewire and the catheter during use. It also relates to the method of using those catheters. [0003] Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) has emerged as the major viable present alternative to bypass surgery for revascularization of stenotic and occluded coronary arteries. Although transluminal angioplasty has application in peripheral artery disease, it is most widely used in the treatment of coronary artery disease. Unlike bypass surgery, percutaneous angioplasty does not require general anesthesia, cutting of the chest wall, extra...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

If the balloon size and diameter is smaller than the native artery, the results of balloon angioplasty are suboptimal, requiring a second dilation with a larger-sized balloon, and if balloon size is too large for the native artery, complications may occur due to arterial wall damage.

However, this catheter has a serious drawback of not being able to permit ready exchange of guidewires.

During angioplasty procedures, the guidewire tip may become damaged, may be needed of a different type of guidewire or may need to be reshaped to complement the patient's vasculature.

However, with the rapid-exchange type catheter of U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,129, guidewire exchange requires complete removal and reinsertion of both the guidewire and the angioplasty catheter; thus, defeating the original goal of expedient advantage of the rapid-exchange catheter.

Another disadvantage of the rapid-exchange catheter is backbleeding.

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