Guide catheter
By designing a guide catheter with a built-in extension mechanism, using the slit structure and partitioning equipment, the complex operation and high cost of the guide catheter and guide extension in the prior art are solved, and safer and more economical working catheter guidance is achieved. Simplifies operational procedures and reduces damage risk.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202380044286.0
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-06-15
- Filing Date
- 2023-06-09
- Publication Date
- 2025-01-10
AI Technical Summary
In the prior art, the complex operation and high manufacturing costs of the guide catheter and the guide extension lead to a risk of damage when guiding the working catheter to a remote location, and the poor adjustment of the two separate catheters leads to high cost and operational complexity.
A guide catheter with a built-in extension mechanism is designed, through the combination of a movable inner and outer shaft, the effective length extension of the guide catheter is achieved by utilizing the slit structure and the partitioning device, and the operation is simplified by auxiliary wire and fixing equipment. Reduce the risk of damage.
This enables easier guidance of working catheters to remote locations, reduces risk of catheter damage, simplifies operational processes, and reduces manufacturing costs and improves system stability and safety.
Smart Images
Figure CN119300880A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The invention relates to a guide catheter according to the preamble of claim 1 , to a guide catheter arrangement comprising such a catheter according to the preamble of claim 13 , and to a method for extending the effective length of a guide catheter according to the preamble of claim 14 . Background Art
[0002] The guide catheter is used to guide the working catheter to the surgical or implantation site. If the working catheter is to be guided to a remotely located surgical site (such as a coronary artery or peripheral vascular system), it is necessary to use the guide catheter in combination with a guide extension to bridge the long distance between the entry opening and the coronary artery or peripheral vascular system, through which the guide catheter is guided into the patient's body, where the manipulation using the working catheter is to be performed. Therefore, according to the prior art, two catheters are necessary to reach a specific vascular area. The operation of two separate catheters makes the manipulation procedure much more complicated than the case of using only a single catheter. In addition, further complications may occur when inserting or retracting a balloon or stent with a working catheter. For example, when guiding on the connection site between the guide catheter and the guide extension without special care, the stent or balloon may be damaged or even destroyed.
[0003] The complexity of the entire manipulation process becomes more apparent considering that the operator needs to manipulate not only the guide catheter and the guide extension, but also two guidewires. Finally, the manufacturing costs of the two separate catheters (including their packaging) lead to high manufacturing costs. If the diameters of the guide catheter and the guide extension are not well adjusted to each other, both instruments may be damaged before they complete the task of guiding the working catheter inside them. Summary of the invention
[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a guiding catheter which makes it easier to guide a working catheter even to a remote location and which reduces the risk of damaging the working catheter.
[0005] This object is achieved by a guide catheter having the features of claim 1. Such a guide catheter comprises an outer shaft, which defines a first guide lumen in the interior of the outer shaft. The guide catheter also comprises an inner shaft. The inner shaft is arranged at least in sections in a movable manner in the first guide lumen. Typically, it can be moved by a translational movement relative to the outer shaft and optionally also by a rotational movement relative to the outer shaft. The inner shaft defines a second guide lumen in the interior of the inner shaft.
[0006] The guide catheter also includes a partition device arranged in the proximal region of the guide catheter. The partition device has a first port and a second port arranged at an angle to each other. In this case, both the first port and the second port provide access to the first guide lumen. Therefore, if the object is guided through the first port or through the second port, it will reach the first guide lumen.
[0007] According to one aspect of the presently claimed invention, the inner shaft extends through the second port into the first guide lumen. In this case, the inner shaft at least partially comprises a slit along the longitudinal extension direction of the inner shaft. The slit completely penetrates the wall of the inner shaft so that it can enter the second guide lumen (inside the inner shaft) from the outside of the inner shaft. Thus, the slit enables the working catheter to enter the second guide lumen from the first guide lumen (i.e., from the outside of the inner shaft).
[0008] The guide catheter currently claimed for protection can replace both the guide catheter of the prior art and the guide extension of the prior art. By advancing the inner shaft in the distal direction relative to the outer shaft, an extension of the effective length of the guide catheter can be achieved. In doing so, only a single instrument, namely the guide catheter itself, needs to be manipulated. If the inner shaft is advanced on the distal end of the outer shaft, the effective length of the guide catheter increases. The guide catheter can then guide the working catheter to the desired site of action over a longer distance. If such an extension of the effective length of the guide catheter is not required, it can also be used with its standard length. In this case, the inner shaft is arranged inside the first guide lumen so that it does not protrude from the distal end of the outer shaft. In other words, the guide catheter includes a built-in extension mechanism.
[0009] It will be apparent that the presently claimed and described guide catheter may be more easily handled than prior art systems that employ a guide catheter and a separate guide extension.
[0010] In an embodiment, the slit is present in the proximal region of the inner shaft. In this case, the length of the slit is in the range of at least 5 cm, for example 5 cm to 50 cm, in particular 10 cm to 45 cm, in particular 15 cm to 40 cm, in particular 20 cm to 35 cm or in particular 25 cm to 30 cm. The length of the slit determines the possible extension of the effective length of the guide catheter, because the inner shaft can move relative to the outer shaft by a length corresponding to the length of the slit while maintaining the full operational functionality of the guide catheter. The length of the slit is particularly suitable in the range of 15 cm to 25 cm (i.e., about 20 cm) and can cover most applications of the guide catheter.
[0011] In an embodiment, the slit is present in the proximal region of the inner shaft, the proximal region starting from the proximal end of the inner shaft and including the proximal end of the inner shaft. To give an example, the slit can be positioned in a region that exceeds 15 cm to 25 cm from the proximal end of the inner shaft. The first wall segment located on the first side of the slit and the second wall segment located on the second side of the slit can then be separated to access the second guide lumen. This separation of the two wall segments will be possible in the entire proximal region where the slit is arranged, i.e., including the proximal end of the inner shaft.
[0012] In an embodiment, the inner shaft comprises or consists essentially of polyether block amide (PEBA). This thermoplastic elastomer, which is also known under the trademark Pebax, has a high flexibility so that it can be easily guided within the first guide lumen. At the same time, it has a sufficiently high stability to enable safe guidance of the working catheter within the second guide lumen.
[0013] In an embodiment, the partitioning device comprises an entry facilitating device. The entry facilitating device enables convenient access to the second guide lumen through the slit. For this purpose, the entry facilitating device is usually in direct contact with the inner shaft and enables direct contact between the catheter guided in the second guide lumen and the wall of the inner shaft in the region of the slit to be avoided. Thus, the entry facilitating device can protect the working catheter guided in the second guide lumen from undesirable mechanical impacts of the wall of the inner shaft.
[0014] In an embodiment, the entry facilitating device comprises a tip that penetrates the slit and increases the area of the opening in the wall of the inner shaft formed by the slit. In this embodiment, the entry facilitating device is used to prop open the wall of the inner shaft in the area of the slit and thereby facilitate entry of the catheter into the second guide lumen through the opening formed by the slit. In an embodiment, the entry facilitating device is a hollow body. In other embodiments, the entry facilitating device has a shroud-like shape without forming a hollow body.
[0015] In an embodiment, the access facilitation device is at least partially arranged in the first port. By this arrangement, the access facilitation device particularly facilitates the entry of a working catheter of the guide catheter introduced through the first port into the second guide lumen. The access facilitation device can be designed as a sleeve arranged inside the first port.
[0016] In an embodiment, the second port includes a fixing device for fixing the inner shaft relative to the separation device and the outer shaft. Such a fixing device makes it possible to allow, limit or prohibit relative movement between the inner shaft and the outer shaft. For example, the fixing device can be designed as a twist lock. The fixing device is configured to have an open position and a closed position, in which the relative movement between the inner shaft and the outer shaft is possible (so that the effective guide length of the guide catheter can be adapted to the current needs), and in the closed position, the relative movement between the inner shaft and the outer shaft is impossible. In the case where only some further slight movement of the inner shaft is required, the twist lock can be slightly tightened to limit the relative movement between the inner shaft and the outer shaft without completely prohibiting such movement. Once the inner shaft has been positioned so that no further movement of the inner shaft relative to the outer shaft is required or expected, the twist lock can be completely tightened so that the relative movement between the inner shaft and the outer shaft is prohibited. Then, the effective guide length of the guide catheter remains stable, and the operator of the guide catheter no longer needs his or her hands to keep the inner shaft in place. This significantly facilitates any manipulation of the working catheter guided to the intended site of action by the guide catheter.
[0017] In an embodiment, the guide catheter includes an auxiliary wire guided in the second lumen. The auxiliary wire is used to stabilize the inner shaft and allow easier relative movement between the inner shaft and the outer shaft. More specifically, the auxiliary wire stabilizes the inner shaft, particularly in an area where the inner shaft protrudes beyond the distal end of the outer shaft and is therefore not supported by the outer shaft. The auxiliary wire can be designed to be similar to a standard guide wire known in the prior art. The auxiliary wire can be made of the same material as the guide wire known in the prior art. It should be noted that even when the auxiliary wire is used, the wire will not be guided in the intermediate space between the outside of the inner shaft and the inside of the outer shaft. On the contrary, the auxiliary wire is only guided in the second guide lumen so that the auxiliary wire will not apply relative movement between the inner shaft and the outer shaft.
[0018] In an embodiment, the length of the inner shaft exceeds the length of the outer shaft, for example by at least 10%, in particular by a value in the range of 10% to 50%, in particular 15% to 45%, in particular 20% to 40%, in particular 25% to 35% or in particular 30% to 35%. To give some specific examples, in an embodiment, the length of the outer shaft is in the range of 90 cm to 120 cm, in particular in the range of 100 cm to 110 cm. The length of the inner shaft exceeds the length of the outer shaft so that the guide catheter can be extended. Therefore, the guide catheter can be used as a guide extension catheter.
[0019] In an embodiment, the inner shaft has the same diameter over its entire length. Then, any steps in the inner shaft are avoided. This facilitates the advancement and / or retraction of a working catheter including a stent or a balloon within the second guide lumen. By providing a fully assembled guide catheter with an inner shaft, the diameter of which is adapted to the diameter of the outer shaft, an inappropriate choice by the operator regarding the diameter of the inner and outer shafts is avoided. According to the prior art, sometimes an inappropriate guide extension is paired with a guide catheter, resulting in severe damage to the working catheter guided through the guide catheter and the guide extension.
[0020] In an embodiment, the outer diameter of the inner shaft corresponds to a value in the range from 1 mm to 5 mm, in particular from 1.5 mm to 4.5 mm, in particular from 2 mm to 4 mm, in particular from 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm, for example, corresponding to 5F (1.67 mm) or 6F (2 mm). In this embodiment, the diameter of the outer shaft is larger than the outer diameter of the inner shaft and corresponds to a value in the range from 1.5 mm to 5.5 mm, in particular from 2 mm to 5 mm, in particular from 2.5 mm to 4.5 mm, in particular from 3 mm to 4 mm, for example, 6F (2 mm) or 7F (2.33 mm), respectively. This slight size difference allows easy relative movement of the inner shaft with respect to the outer shaft, but still allows support of the inner shaft by the outer shaft.
[0021] In an embodiment, the angle between the first port and the second port (measured between an imaginary line extending along the longitudinal extension direction of the first port and the second port) is in the range of 10° to 50°, in particular in the range of 15° to 45°, in particular in the range of 20° to 40°, in particular in the range of 10° to 30°. An angle in such a range allows a separation between the inner shaft and the portion of the separation element extending along a guide direction in which the working catheter can be introduced into the guide catheter through the first port while avoiding undesired bending of the inner shaft, in particular when the inner shaft moves relative to the outer shaft. An angle of up to 30°, preferably up to 20°, is particularly suitable for avoiding buckling / kinking of the inner shaft.
[0022] In an embodiment, the separating device is designed as a Luer connector.
[0023] In one aspect, the present invention relates to a guide catheter arrangement comprising a guide catheter according to the preceding description and a working catheter which is introduced into the guide catheter through a first port of the guide catheter and extends through a slit into a second guide lumen. This guide catheter arrangement exploits a specific design of the guide catheter and enables safe and reliable guidance of the working catheter through the second guide lumen, wherein the length of the guide working catheter can be adjusted by advancing the inner shaft relative to the outer shaft of the guide catheter.
[0024] In an embodiment, the working catheter comprises a stent and / or a balloon delivered to the site of action by the working catheter. As described above, such a stent and / or a balloon can be delivered particularly easily, safely and without damage by the present guide catheter arrangement.
[0025] In one aspect, the present invention relates to a method for extending the effective length of a guide catheter. In embodiments, methods for treating a human or animal by therapeutic surgery and diagnostic methods performed on a human or animal are explicitly excluded from the scope of protection. It should be noted that the method for extending the effective length of a guide catheter can also be used in purely technical applications outside of a medical context. However, in alternative embodiments, the method for extending the effective length of a guide catheter also includes a medical method for introducing a working catheter into a human or animal body.
[0026] The method for extending the effective length of a guide catheter comprises the steps explained below.
[0027] First, a guide catheter according to the explanation given above is provided.
[0028] Afterwards, the outer shaft of the guide catheter is advanced toward the intended site of action. Typically, a gap of at least several centimeters is retained between the distal end of the outer shaft and the intended site of action. Therefore, it is desirable to extend the effective guide length of the guide catheter.
[0029] The outer shaft then remains substantially immovable. In addition, the inner shaft is advanced relative to the outer shaft closer to the intended site of action. Therefore, the distal end of the inner shaft is closer to the intended site of action than the distal end of the outer shaft.
[0030] In another method step, the working catheter is advanced through the first port and through the slit into the second guide lumen. The working catheter is then further guided in the second guide lumen along the longitudinal extension direction of the inner shaft and finally passes through the distal end and leaves the second guide lumen to reach the intended site of action.
[0031] In order to carry out the method, the individually explained method steps do not have to be carried out in the order currently described. Instead, any other logically possible order can also be applied.
[0032] In an embodiment, before the working catheter is advanced through the second guide lumen, the relative position of the inner shaft relative to the outer shaft is fixed by a fixing mechanism. This helps guide the working catheter through the slit into the second guide lumen and reduces the risk of any undesirable relative movement of the inner shaft relative to the working catheter. This relative movement can be related to the force applied by the inner shaft and acting on the working catheter. This force is generally undesirable because it may make the advancement of the working catheter more difficult and may cause dislocation of the working catheter.
[0033] All embodiments of the guide catheter may be combined in any desired manner and may be transferred to the guide catheter arrangement and method, either individually or in any arbitrary combination. Likewise, all embodiments of the guide catheter arrangement may be combined in any desired manner and may be transferred to the guide catheter and method, either individually or in any arbitrary combination. Finally, all embodiments of the method may be combined in any desired manner and may be transferred to the guide catheter and guide catheter arrangement, either individually or in any arbitrary combination.
[0034] As described above, the guide catheter may be used as a guide extension catheter. Thus, a guide extension catheter is described, comprising:
[0035] an outer shaft defining a first guide lumen within an interior of the outer shaft;
[0036] an inner shaft at least partially movably disposed within the first guide lumen, wherein the inner shaft defines a second guide lumen within an interior of the inner shaft;
[0037] and a partition device disposed in a proximal region of the guide catheter, the partition device having a first port and a second port disposed at an angle to each other, wherein the first port and the second port both provide access to the first guide lumen; wherein
[0038] The inner shaft extends through the second port into the first guide lumen, wherein the inner shaft includes a slit at least segmentally along the longitudinal extension direction of the inner shaft, wherein the slit provides a passage to the second guide lumen and enables the working catheter to pass from the first guide lumen into the second guide lumen, wherein the length of the inner shaft exceeds the length of the outer shaft. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0039] Further details of various aspects of the present invention will be explained below with reference to exemplary embodiments and accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings:
[0040] Figure 1A An embodiment of a guide catheter is shown in a first operational state;
[0041] Figure 1B shows the second operating state Figure 1A Guide catheter;
[0042] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1A first details of the guide catheter; and
[0043] Figure 3 Shows Figure 1A Second detail of the guiding catheter. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0044] Figure 1AA guide catheter 1 is shown having an outer shaft 2 and an inner shaft 3. The interior of the outer shaft 2 represents a first guide lumen 20, while the interior of the inner shaft 3 represents a second guide lumen 30. The inner shaft 3 is fed into the first guide lumen 20 via a Luer connector 4. The Luer connector 4 serves as a partitioning device. It comprises a first port 41 and a second port 42. By axially advancing the inner shaft 3 in a feeding direction F, the inner shaft 3 is fed into the first guide lumen 20 via the second port 42. The feeding direction F corresponds to the longitudinal extension direction of the inner shaft 3.
[0045] The working conduit 5 is guided through the first port 41 into the Luer connector 4. Then, the working conduit 5 is guided through the opening 31 formed in the region of the slit 32 of the inner shaft 3 into the second guide lumen 30. The slit 32 is located at the underside of the inner shaft 3 and extends in the proximal region of the inner shaft 3 along the feeding direction F from the proximal end 33 of the inner shaft 3 to the region of the inner shaft 3 in the transition zone between the Luer connector 4 and the first guide lumen 20 of the outer shaft 2.
[0046] exist Figure 1A In the illustrated operating state of the guide catheter 1 , the distal tip 34 of the inner shaft 3 is arranged proximally of the distal tip 21 of the outer shaft 2. Therefore, the effective length of the guide catheter 1 is defined by the length of the outer shaft 2.
[0047] In the very distal region of the outer shaft 2 (directly proximal to the distal tip 21 of the outer shaft 2), a first X-ray marker 22 is located. This first X-ray marker 22 facilitates positioning of the guide catheter 1 under X-ray control. Likewise, in the very distal region of the inner shaft 3 (directly proximal to the distal tip 34 of the inner shaft 3), a second X-ray marker 35 is arranged.
[0048] In order to stabilize the inner shaft 3, an auxiliary wire 36 is fed at least partially through the second guide lumen 30. Both the auxiliary wire 36 and the working catheter 5 are positioned within the second guide lumen 30 at least sectionally.
[0049] If the effective catheter length of the guide catheter 1 is not sufficient to closely reach the site of action (i.e., the site where manipulation is to be performed with the working catheter 5), the inner shaft 3 is advanced into the first guide lumen 20 along the feeding direction F. This situation is shown in FIG. Figure 1B In this and all following drawings, similar elements will be indicated by the same reference numerals.
[0050] Since the slit 32 advances together with the inner shaft 3 , the opening 31 in the region of the Luer connector 4 remains open, so that the working catheter 5 can always enter the second guide lumen 30 , regardless of the specific relative position between the inner shaft 3 and the outer shaft 2 .
[0051] The inner shaft 3 can be advanced into the first guide lumen 20 by a length corresponding to the length of the portion of the inner shaft 3 disposed proximal to the second port 42 of the Luer connector 4. Of course, the inner shaft 3 can also be advanced into the first guide lumen 20 only to a lesser extent than the full length proximal to the second port 42.
[0052] exist Figure 1B In the case shown, the inner shaft 3 is basically Figure 1A In the illustrated operating state of the guide catheter 1, the entire section arranged proximal to the second port 42 is pushed into the first guide lumen 20. As a result, the distal end 34 of the inner shaft 3 protrudes from the distal end 21 of the outer shaft 2. Figure 1A More precisely, the effective length of the guide catheter extends over a distance corresponding to the length of the inner shaft 3 in the case of the operating state shown in FIG. Figure 1A The length of the portion arranged proximal to the second port 42 in the operating state is shown.
[0053] When the working catheter 5 is advanced through the second lumen 30, the working catheter 5 will Figure 1A In the illustrated operating state, the guide catheter 1 is exited through the distal end 21 of the outer shaft 2, but in Figure 1B In the illustrated operating state, the guide catheter 1 is only exited via the distal tip 34 of the inner shaft 3. Thus, a safe guidance of the working catheter 5 can be provided over a longer distance via the guide catheter 1 and the working catheter 5 can thus be positioned very close to the intended site of action.
[0054] In order to keep the inner shaft 3 in a stable and immovable position relative to the outer shaft 3, the Luer connector 4 includes a twist lock 43. When the twist lock 43 is opened, the inner shaft 3 can be moved relative to the outer shaft 2 as required. When the twist lock 43 is locked, such relative movement between the inner shaft 3 and the outer shaft 2 is no longer possible. Therefore, once the inner shaft 3 has reached its intended position, the inner shaft 3 can be fixed relative to the outer shaft 2 by locking the twist lock 43. Then, it is no longer necessary to manually fix the inner shaft 3. Instead, only one hand of the operator is required to safely hold the guide catheter 1, so that the other hand of the operator can be used to advance the working catheter 5 to the intended site of action.
[0055] Since the inner shaft 3 is equipped with the second X-ray marker 35, the position of the inner shaft 3 relative to the body tissue structure can be safely monitored during the introduction of the guide catheter 1 into the patient's body. The length of the inner shaft 3 protruding from the outer shaft 2 can be easily inferred by evaluating the relative positions of the first X-ray marker 22 and the second X-ray marker 35.
[0056] Once the working catheter 5 has been guided to the intended site of action and after the manipulation to be performed with the working catheter 5 has been completed, the working catheter 5 can be retracted through the guide catheter 1 and removed from the patient's body. During this procedure, the twist lock 43 can be released again to also retract the inner shaft 3 relative to the outer shaft 2. Finally, the entire guide catheter 1 can be removed from the patient's body.
[0057] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1A and 1B Detailed view on the Luer connector 4 of the guide catheter shown in . In order to facilitate the formation of the opening 31 in the region of the slit 32 of the inner shaft 3, through which the working catheter 5 is guided into the second guide lumen 30, the Luer connector 4 includes an entry sleeve 44 inserted into the first port 41. The entry sleeve 44 includes a tip 45 protruding into the second guide lumen 30. The tip 45 of the entry sleeve 44 separates the two wall sections of the inner shaft 3 located on both sides of the slit 32. Therefore, if the inner shaft 3 is advanced into the first guide lumen 20 along the feeding direction F, the tip 45 spreads the wall sections located on both sides of the slit 32 and thus forms the opening 31, through which the working catheter 5 is guided into the second guide lumen 30.
[0058] The entry sleeve 44 also protects the working duct 5 from direct mechanical contact with the wall of the inner shaft 3 in the region of the slit, since when the inner shaft 3 is moved in the feed direction F, the wall of the inner shaft 3 slides on the outer surface of the entry sleeve 44 .
[0059] The inner shaft 3 has a constant first diameter 37 of 5 French (1.67 mm). The outer shaft 2 has a constant second diameter 23 of 6 French (2 mm). Due to this diameter difference, the inner shaft 3 can be easily moved within the first guide lumen 20 while avoiding any undesirable gap between the inner surface of the outer shaft 2 and the outer surface of the inner shaft 3.
[0060] The angle α between the first port 41 and the second port 42 is equal to about 40°. This angle α is selected so that the inner shaft 3 can be well guided through the Luer connector 4 and the outer shaft 2 without bending.
[0061] Figure 3 A detail of the portion 38 of the inner shaft 3 that protrudes from the second port 42 to the outside of the guide catheter 1 is shown. Here, the slit 32 on the underside of the inner shaft 3 can be well seen. The inner shaft 3 is positioned so that the slit 32 faces the entry sleeve 44 (see Figure 2 ), so that the opening 31 is formed by the interaction between the tip 45 of the entry sleeve 44 and the slit 32 (see also in this respect Figure 2 ).
[0062] As mentioned above, the inner shaft 3 is stabilized by the auxiliary wire 36 guided in the second guide lumen 30. The auxiliary wire 36 helps to advance the inner shaft 3 along the feeding direction F in a bend-free manner.
[0063] The twist lock 43 can be opened and closed as needed to allow, limit or prohibit relative movement between the inner shaft 3 and the outer shaft 2.
Claims
1. A guide catheter (1), comprising: an outer shaft (2), wherein a first guide lumen (20) is defined inside the outer shaft (2); an inner shaft (3) at least partially movably arranged in the first guide lumen (20), wherein the inner shaft (3) defines a second guide lumen (30) in the interior of the inner shaft (3); and a partition device (4) arranged in the proximal region of the guide catheter (1), the partition device (4) having a first port (41) and a second port (42) arranged at an angle to each other, wherein the first port (41) and the second port (42) both provide access to the first guide lumen (20); wherein The inner shaft (3) extends through the second port (42) into the first guide lumen (20), wherein the inner shaft (3) includes a slit (32) at least in sections along the longitudinal extension direction (F) of the inner shaft (3), wherein the slit (32) provides a passage to the second guide lumen (30) and enables a working catheter (5) to enter the second guide lumen (30) from the first guide lumen (20), characterized in that the length of the inner shaft (3) exceeds the length of the outer shaft (2).
2. The guide catheter according to claim 1, characterized in that The slit (32) is present in the proximal region (38) of the inner shaft (3) and has a length lying in the range of 5 cm to 50 cm.
3. The guide catheter according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The slit (32) is present in a proximal region (38) of the inner shaft (3), the proximal region (38) including the proximal end (33) of the inner shaft (3).
4. A guiding catheter according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The partitioning device (4) comprises an access facilitating device (44) capable of facilitating access to the second guide lumen (30) through the slit (32).
5. The guide catheter according to claim 4, characterized in that: The entry facilitating device (44) comprises a tip (45) which penetrates the slit (32) and increases the area of the opening (31) in the wall of the inner shaft (3) formed by the slit (32).
6. The guide catheter according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that: The entry facilitating device (44) is arranged at least partially inside the first port (41).
7. A guiding catheter according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The second port (42) comprises a fixing device (43) for fixing the inner shaft (3) relative to the separating device (4).
8. A guide catheter according to claim 7, wherein the fixing device is configured to have an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position, the inner shaft and the outer shaft can move relative to each other, and in the closed position, the inner shaft and the outer shaft cannot move relative to each other.
9. A guiding catheter according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The guide catheter (1) comprises an auxiliary wire (36) which is guided in the second lumen (30) and serves to stabilize the inner shaft (3).
10. A guide catheter according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The length of the inner shaft (3) exceeds the length of the outer shaft (2) by at least 10%.
11. A guide catheter according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The inner shaft (3) has the same diameter (37) over its entire length.
12. A guide catheter according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that At least one of an X-ray marker (35) and / or a sensor is arranged in the distal region of the inner shaft (3).
13. A guide catheter according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The angle between the first port (41) and the second port (42) is in the range of 10° to 50°, preferably in the range of 10° to 30°, more preferably in the range of 10° to 20°.
14. A guide catheter arrangement comprising a guide catheter (1) according to any one of the preceding claims and a working catheter (5), the working catheter (5) being introduced into the guide catheter (1) through the first port (41) and extending through the slit (32) into the second guide lumen (30).
15. Use of a guide catheter (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13 as a guide extension catheter.
16. A method for extending the effective length of a guide catheter (1), comprising the following steps: a) providing a guide catheter (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12; b) advancing the outer shaft (2) of the guide catheter (1) toward the intended site of action; c) keeping the outer shaft (2) substantially immovable; d) advancing the inner shaft (3) further relative to the outer shaft (2) to the intended action site, and thereby the distal end (34) of the inner shaft (3) is closer to the intended action site than the distal end (21) of the outer shaft (2); e) advancing the working catheter (5) through the first port (41) and into the second guide lumen (30) through the slit (32), and further exiting the second guide lumen (30) through the distal end (34) to reach the intended site of action.
17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that Prior to advancing the working catheter (5) through the second guide lumen (30), the relative position of the inner shaft (3) with respect to the outer shaft (2) is fixed.