A navigation catheter

Abstract

The present invention provides a navigation catheter, which relates to the technical field of medical devices and includes a catheter body. The catheter body is provided with an axial lumen. The outer wall of the catheter body is provided with a support body, and the support body is arranged in a ring shape on the outer wall of the catheter body. A first channel is provided on the surface or inside of the support body, and the first channel is used to connect both ends of the support body. The present invention uses the support body to keep the aspiration catheter or the intermediate catheter outside the navigation catheter coaxial with the navigation catheter, so that the outer aspiration catheter or intermediate catheter with a larger diameter is closer to the central part of the blood vessel and away from the blood vessel wall, thereby avoiding the catheter tip from getting stuck at the arterial opening. At the same time, this solution allows the use of a navigation catheter with a thinner diameter, which can not only solve the problem of getting stuck due to the "windowsill effect" during the pushing process, but also enables the navigation catheter to retain good compliance, ensuring that the navigation catheter can reach the lesion location.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of medical devices, and particularly relates to a navigation catheter. Background Art

[0002] During interventional surgery, when using a large-caliber aspiration catheter or an intermediate catheter, due to the large gap between the catheters, the distal end of the catheter gets stuck at the arterial opening, making it difficult to pass through, which is generally called the "windowsill effect", as Figure 1 shown. This phenomenon generally occurs at the origin of branches such as the ophthalmic artery and the posterior communicating artery assisted by a microcatheter.

[0003] To solve the problem that the catheter is difficult to be delivered in place caused by the "windowsill effect", generally, a micro-guide wire and a microcatheter with a larger diameter are used to help with smooth navigation, so that the aspiration catheter or the intermediate catheter can smoothly pass through the arterial opening and reduce vascular or inner wall damage. However, using a micro-guide wire and a microcatheter with a larger diameter will reduce their compliance, making it difficult to pass through blood vessels with a larger curvature and a smaller diameter during pushing. Moreover, when the lesion is in a blood vessel with a smaller diameter at the distal end, the micro-guide wire and the microcatheter with a larger diameter are harder and more difficult to bend, and there is a problem that they cannot reach the lesion site. It is necessary to make the aspiration catheter or the intermediate catheter "run naked" to the lesion site without the guidance of a micro-guide wire or a microcatheter, which obviously increases the surgical difficulty and the uncertainty factors during the operation.

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide an improved technical solution for the deficiencies of the above-mentioned existing technologies. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a navigation catheter for navigating an aspiration catheter or an intermediate catheter, which can avoid the "windowsill effect", has a smaller diameter, and good compliance, so as to solve the problems existing in the above-mentioned existing technologies.

[0006] To achieve the above purpose, the present invention provides the following technical solutions:

[0007] A navigation catheter includes a catheter body. The catheter body is provided with an axial lumen. The outer wall of the catheter body is provided with a support body. The support body is arranged annularly on the outer wall of the catheter body. The surface or inside of the support body is provided with a first channel for communicating both ends of the support body.

[0008] Preferably, the cross-section of the support body perpendicular to the axial direction of the catheter body is circular.

[0009] Preferably, the support body is in a conical shape, an ellipsoidal shape or a spherical shape.

[0010] Preferably, the cross-section of the support body perpendicular to the axial direction of the catheter body is elliptical or polygonal.

[0011] Preferably, a plurality of the first channels are arranged in parallel along the axial direction of the catheter body.

[0012] Preferably, the first channel is arranged on the surface of the support body.

[0013] Preferably, the first channel is arranged inside the support body.

[0014] Preferably, a lubricating coating is provided on a part or the whole of the surface of the support body.

[0015] Preferably, the lubricating coating covers the position where the cross-sectional diameter of the support body perpendicular to the axial direction of the catheter body is the largest.

[0016] Preferably, a lubricating coating is provided on the whole outer surfaces of the catheter body and the support body.

[0017] Advantageous effects:

[0018] (1) By providing a support body on the outer wall of the catheter body in the present invention, when using the navigation catheter to guide the aspiration catheter or the intermediate catheter, the support body can be used to keep the aspiration catheter or the intermediate catheter outside the navigation catheter coaxial with the navigation catheter. When passing through positions such as the arterial opening where the "window sill" effect is likely to occur, the larger-diameter aspiration catheter or intermediate catheter outside can be closer to the central part of the blood vessel and away from the blood vessel wall, thereby avoiding the catheter tip from getting stuck at the arterial opening.

[0019] (2) By using the support body to keep the aspiration catheter or the intermediate catheter outside the catheter coaxial with the navigation catheter in the present invention, a microcatheter with a smaller diameter can be used as the navigation catheter, so that the navigation catheter can obtain better compliance. When the lesion is located in a blood vessel with a relatively large curvature or a smaller diameter, it can still ensure that the navigation catheter reaches the lesion position, avoiding the need to push the aspiration catheter or the intermediate catheter to the lesion without the guidance of the navigation catheter, thereby reducing the surgical difficulty.

[0020] (3) A first channel is arranged axially in the support body, communicating the two ends of the support body. During the pushing process, the blood at both ends of the support body can flow freely. When the catheter is pushed to the lesion site, since there is no blood flow at the lesion site, the blood no longer enters the gap between the catheter and the navigation catheter from the distal end. At this time, no blood flows out from the proximal end of the catheter. By the change in the blood flow rate at the proximal end of the catheter, it can be judged whether the catheter is pushed to the lesion position.

[0021] (4) A lubricating coating is provided on the surface of the support body, which can reduce the friction between the support body and the inner wall of the aspiration catheter or the intermediate catheter, and reduce the pushing resistance while providing effective support. Description of the drawings

[0022] The accompanying drawings of the specification, which form a part of this application, are used to provide a further understanding of the present invention. The schematic embodiments of the present invention and their descriptions are used to explain the present invention and do not constitute an improper limitation of the present invention. Among them:

[0023] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the window sill effect.

[0024] Figure 2 It is a perspective view of a navigation catheter provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 3 It is a schematic structural diagram of a navigation catheter provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of a navigation catheter provided by an embodiment of the present invention in a suction catheter.

[0027] Figure 5 It is a right view of a navigation catheter provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 6 It is a right view of a navigation catheter provided by another embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 7 It is a right view of a navigation catheter provided by another embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of a navigation catheter with a lubricating coating provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] In the figure: 100, catheter body; 200, support body; 201, first channel; 202, lubricating coating; 300, suction catheter. Detailed implementation manners

[0032] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be described clearly and completely. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art belong to the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0033] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that for the orientation description, such as up, down, front, back, left, right, etc., the orientation or positional relationship indicated is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. It is only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention.

[0034] In the description of the present invention, the meaning of "several" is one or more, the meaning of "a plurality" is more than two, and understandings such as "greater than", "less than", "exceeding", etc. do not include the present number, and understandings such as "above", "below", "within", etc. include the present number. If there is a description of "first" and "second", it is only for the purpose of distinguishing technical features, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the quantity of the indicated technical features or implicitly indicating the sequence relationship of the indicated technical features.

[0035] In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are only used for descriptive purposes, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the quantity of the indicated technical features. Thus, the features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more features.

[0036] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that unless otherwise clearly specified and defined, the term "connection" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it may be a fixed connection or a movable connection, or a detachable connection or a non-detachable connection, or an integral connection; it may be a mechanical connection, an electrical connection or a connection that can communicate with each other; it may be directly connected, or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and may be the communication inside two components, indirect communication or the interaction relationship between two components.

[0037] In the description of the present invention, the "proximal end" is the end close to the operator, and the "distal end" is the end far from the operator.

[0038] The present invention will be described in detail below in conjunction with embodiments. It should be noted that, without conflict, the embodiments in the present invention and the features in the embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0039] Aiming at the problem that the current aspiration catheter 300 or intermediate catheter is prone to the "window sill effect" during pushing, the present invention provides a navigation catheter for guiding the aspiration catheter 300 or intermediate catheter, as Figures 2 to 4 shown. The navigation catheter includes a catheter body 100. The catheter body 100 is provided with an axial lumen for a micro-guide wire to pass through. The outer wall of the catheter body 100 is provided with a support 200. The support 200 is arranged in a ring on the outer wall of the catheter body 100 and is used to support the inner wall of the navigation catheter or intermediate catheter during guiding, so that the aspiration catheter 300 or intermediate catheter is kept coaxial with the navigation catheter as much as possible.

[0040] The main reason for the "window sill effect" is that the diameter of large-diameter catheters such as the aspiration catheter 300 is too different from that of the microcatheter or microguide wire. At the vascular bend, this will cause it difficult for the aspiration catheter 300 or the intermediate catheter to maintain coaxiality with the navigation catheter. The distal end of the outer aspiration catheter 300 will deviate towards the vessel wall and cause the distal end to get stuck at the arterial opening. Through the above settings of the present invention, when the distal end of the aspiration catheter 300 or the intermediate catheter passes through positions prone to the "window sill effect" such as the arterial opening, the support body 200 is used to keep the inner and outer catheters coaxial, which can prevent the distal end of the outer aspiration catheter 300 from deviating towards the vessel wall, thereby solving the problem that the distal end of the aspiration catheter 300 gets stuck at the arterial opening.

[0041] In addition, by setting the support body 200, the catheter body 100 is allowed to adopt a microcatheter with a smaller diameter, without the need to select a large-diameter microcatheter to ensure the coaxiality of the inner and outer catheters. The microcatheter with a smaller diameter has better compliance and passing ability, and can ensure that the distal end of the catheter body 100 can reach the lesion location and maintain the guidance of the aspiration catheter 300 or the intermediate catheter throughout the process.

[0042] In the present invention, the inner cavity of the catheter body 100 is preferably a microcatheter with a diameter of 0.021 inches. Currently, common thrombectomy stents on the market can pass through the microcatheter of this size, and the thrombectomy stent can be released through this microcatheter. In addition, the outer diameter of the catheter body 100 can be of equal diameter, so that the catheter body 100 has the same supportability and pushability at the proximal and distal ends. In some embodiments, a structure with a gradually changing outer diameter can also be adopted. A relatively larger outer diameter is used at the proximal end of the catheter body 100, while a smaller outer diameter is used at the distal end of the catheter body 100, so that the proximal end of the catheter body 100 has slightly stronger supportability to ensure good push performance, and the structure with a smaller outer diameter at the distal end can ensure passing ability and navigability. In addition, the catheter body 100 can also be designed in sections, with an equal-diameter structure with a larger outer diameter at the proximal end, and a structure with an unchanged inner diameter and a gradually decreasing outer diameter at the part where good passing ability and navigability are required at the distal end, so as to balance the supportability at the proximal end and the passing ability at the distal end.

[0043] In the present invention, the support body 200 is arranged relatively close to the distal end of the catheter body 100. This distance is preferably 20 mm, which can well meet the thrombectomy needs of blood vessels with many branches such as the ophthalmic artery.

[0044] During the pushing process of the existing aspiration catheter 300, blood in the blood vessel enters from the distal end of the inner cavity of the aspiration catheter 300 and flows out from the proximal end. When the distal end of the aspiration catheter 300 approaches the lesion site, due to the blockage of the inner cavity of the blood vessel at the lesion, there is no blood flow at the lesion, resulting in a gradual decrease in the proximal end of the aspiration catheter 300 until the distal end of the aspiration catheter 300 reaches the lesion site. At this time, there is no blood flow at the proximal end of the aspiration catheter 300, so it is possible to judge whether the aspiration catheter 300 is pushed to the lesion site by the change in blood flow at the proximal end of the aspiration catheter 300.

[0045] However, since the support body 200 fills the gap between the navigation catheter and the outer aspiration catheter 300, this will prevent the blood that enters between the navigation catheter and the aspiration catheter 300 from passing through the support body 200. During the pushing process, no blood flows out from the proximal end of the aspiration catheter 300. In this case, it is impossible to judge whether the aspiration catheter 300 is pushed in place by the change in blood flow at the proximal end of the aspiration catheter 300.

[0046] To solve this problem, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, as Figures 5 to 7 shown, a first channel 201 is provided on the surface or inside of the support body 200, and the first channel 201 is used to connect the two ends of the support body 200. By providing the first channel 201, the blood at both ends of the support body 200 can flow freely. During the pushing process, the blood at the distal end of the aspiration catheter 300 can reach the proximal end of the aspiration catheter 300 through the first channel 201. When the aspiration catheter 300 approaches the lesion site, it is also possible to judge whether the aspiration catheter 300 is pushed in place by the change in blood flow.

[0047] In the present invention, the cross-section of the support body 200 perpendicular to the axial direction of the catheter body 100 can be circular, elliptical or polygonal, etc. The overall shape of the support body 200 can be conical, ellipsoidal or spherical, etc. different shapes, so that the size of the cross-section of the support body 200 perpendicular to the axial direction of the catheter body 100 changes gradually, so as to reduce the contact area between the support body 200 and the outer aspiration catheter 300 or the intermediate catheter as much as possible, thereby reducing the frictional resistance. At the same time, these shapes can also reduce the resistance of the support body 200 to the blood passing through the first channel 201, so as to reduce the influence of the support body 200 on the blood flow in the blood vessel.

[0048] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cross-section of the support body 200 perpendicular to the axial direction of the catheter body 100 is elliptical. In some embodiments, polygons such as squares, rectangles, and stars can also be used. When the cross-section of the support body 200 perpendicular to the axial direction of the catheter body 100 is a polygon such as a square, rectangle, or star, the gap between the support body 200 and the aspiration catheter 300 can be used as the first channel 201, or a first channel 201 can be additionally opened inside the support body 200 on this basis.

[0049] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of first channels 201 are arranged in parallel along the axial direction of the catheter body 100, such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.

[0050] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as Figure 8 shown, a lubricating coating 202 is provided on a partial surface or the entire surface of the support body 200, such as a polytetrafluoroethylene coating or a hydrophilic coating, to reduce the frictional force between the support body 200 and the inner wall of the aspiration catheter 300, thereby reducing the pushing resistance.

[0051] The lubricating coating 202 covers at least the portion of the support body 200 that contacts the outer side of the aspiration catheter 300, that is, the position where the cross-sectional diameter of the support body 200 perpendicular to the axial direction of the catheter body 100 is the largest. Generally, the cross-sectional diameter of the middle part of the support body 200 is the largest, and the lubricating coating 202 can cover the middle part and the adjacent area of the support body 200.

[0052] Furthermore, the lubricating coating 202 covers the entire outer surface of the support body 200 to ensure good lubricity throughout the process of passing through the blood vessel or the aspiration catheter 300.

[0053] In addition, the catheter body 100 may also generate friction with the blood vessel wall or the inner wall of the aspiration catheter 300 during the pushing process. Therefore, a lubricating coating 202 can also be provided on the entire outer wall of the catheter body 100 to improve the passability of the catheter body 100 and further reduce friction.

[0054] In the present invention, the catheter body 100 and the support body 200 are made of commonly used materials in the art, such as polyurethane, polycarbonate, etc. The catheter body 100 and the support body 200 can be integrally formed using the same material, or can be separately manufactured and then fixedly connected through an adhesive.

[0055] The following will detail a navigation catheter of the present invention through specific embodiments.

[0056] Embodiment 1

[0057] This embodiment provides a navigation catheter for guiding an aspiration catheter 300 or an intermediate catheter. As Figures 2 to 4 shown, the navigation catheter includes a catheter body 100. The catheter body 100 is provided with an axial lumen for a micro-guide wire to pass through. An ellipsoidal support body 200 is provided on the outer wall of the distal end of the catheter body 100. The support body 200 is arranged in a ring shape on the outer wall of the catheter body 100 and is used to support the inner wall of the navigation catheter or the intermediate catheter during guiding, so that the aspiration catheter 300 or the intermediate catheter can be kept coaxial with the navigation catheter as much as possible.

[0058] As Figure 5As shown, there are four first channels 201 inside the support body 200. The first channels 201 are used to connect the two ends of the support body 200. By providing the first channels 201, the blood at both ends of the support body 200 can flow freely, and the position of the aspiration catheter 300 can be determined by the change in blood flow at the proximal end of the aspiration catheter 300.

[0059] In this embodiment, both the catheter body 100 and the support body 200 are made of polycarbonate and are integrally formed.

[0060] When using this navigation catheter to guide the aspiration catheter 300, first guide the navigation catheter into place through a micro-guide wire, so that the distal end of the navigation catheter reaches the lesion site, and the support body 200 is located at the vascular branch or arterial opening where the "window sill effect" is likely to occur. Then, push the aspiration catheter 300 along the navigation catheter. When the aspiration catheter 300 reaches the "window sill" area, due to the presence of the support body 200, it can ensure that the aspiration catheter 300 and the navigation catheter remain coaxial, thus making it difficult to deviate, and finally enabling the aspiration catheter 300 to smoothly pass through the "window sill" area.

[0061] Embodiment 2

[0062] This embodiment provides a navigation catheter for guiding the aspiration catheter 300 or an intermediate catheter. As Figure 6 shown, the difference from Embodiment 1 is that the first channels 201 are located on the surface of the support body 200, enabling the blood at the distal end of the support body 200 to reach the proximal end of the support body 200 along the first channels 201 on the surface.

[0063] Embodiment 3

[0064] This embodiment provides a navigation catheter for guiding the aspiration catheter 300 or an intermediate catheter. As Figure 6 shown, the difference from Embodiment 1 is that the support body 200 is rectangular, and the gap between the support body 200 and the external aspiration catheter 300 forms the first channels 201.

[0065] Embodiment 4

[0066] This embodiment provides a navigation catheter for guiding the aspiration catheter 300 or an intermediate catheter. As Figure 8 shown, the difference from Embodiment 1 is that a polytetrafluoroethylene lubricating coating 202 is provided in the middle of the support body 200 to reduce the friction between the support body 200 and the inner wall of the aspiration catheter 300, and then reduce the pushing resistance.

[0067] Embodiment 5

[0068] This embodiment provides a navigation catheter for guiding a suction catheter 300 or an intermediate catheter, which is further improved on the basis of Embodiment 4. Specifically, the difference from Embodiment 4 is that the lubricating coating 202 covers the entire outer surface of the catheter body 100 and the support body 200 to further reduce the friction between the catheter body 100 and the support body 200 and the blood vessel wall or the suction catheter 300 during pushing, thereby reducing the pushing resistance.

[0069] In summary:

[0070] By providing a support body on the outer wall of the catheter body in the present invention, when using this navigation catheter to guide a suction catheter or an intermediate catheter, the suction catheter or the intermediate catheter outside the navigation catheter can be kept coaxial with the navigation catheter by using the support body. When passing through a position where the "window sill" effect is likely to occur, such as at the arterial opening, the larger-diameter suction catheter or intermediate catheter outside can be closer to the central part of the blood vessel and away from the blood vessel wall, thereby avoiding the catheter tip from getting stuck at the arterial opening. This not only solves the problem that the suction catheter is easily stuck due to the "window sill effect", but also improves the compliance of the navigation catheter and avoids the need to push the suction catheter into place without the guidance of the navigation catheter. In addition, by providing a first channel in the support body, blood flow can pass through the support body to reach the proximal end of the suction catheter, reducing the obstructive effect of the support body on blood flow. During the pushing process, it is possible to judge whether the pushing is in place by observing the blood flow change at the proximal end of the suction catheter.

[0071] The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. For those skilled in the art, the present invention can have various modifications and changes. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A navigation catheter, characterized in that: It includes a catheter body, the catheter body is provided with an axial lumen, the outer wall of the catheter body is provided with a support body, the support body is arranged in a ring shape on the outer wall of the catheter body, the surface of the support body is provided with a first channel, the first channel is used to connect the two ends of the support body, the first channel is used to connect the two ends of the support body to allow blood to flow into the suction catheter or the intermediate catheter; the cross-section of the support body perpendicular to the axial direction of the catheter body is circular; the support body is conical, ellipsoidal or spherical.

2. A navigation catheter according to claim 1, characterized in that: A plurality of the first channels are arranged in parallel along the axial direction of the catheter body.

3. A navigation catheter according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first channel is arranged on the surface of the support body.

4. The navigation catheter according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first channel is arranged inside the support body.

5. A navigation catheter according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that: A lubricating coating is provided partially or entirely on the surface of the support body.

6. The navigation catheter according to claim 5, characterized in that: The lubricating coating covers the portion of the support body where the cross-sectional diameter is the largest and is perpendicular to the axial direction of the catheter body.

7. The navigation catheter according to claim 5, characterized in that: The outer surfaces of the catheter body and the support body are entirely provided with a lubricating coating.

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