Guide extension catheter

Abstract

To provide a guide extension catheter which has both flexibility and supporting strength, and achieves comprehensive and significant improvements in the passability, pushability, effective cavity channel retention capability, and reliability.SOLUTION: A guide extension catheter comprises: a guide tube, which comprises a proximal port and a distal port and comprises an inner layer, an intermediate layer, and an outer layer; a guide shaft on the side of the proximal port configured to guide the guide tube into a target position; and a transitional connection segment configured to connect the guide tube and the guide shaft. The transitional connection segment is of a tubular structure axially extending from the proximal port and comprising an inclined opening, and comprises an inner-layer extension segment, an outer-layer extension segment, and a rib component. The rib component is sized and shaped to adapt to the transitional connection segment. The rib component and the intermediate layer are coaxial with but not connected to each other, and are spaced apart by a first spacing of 0.1 mm to 10 mm. The rib component and the guide shaft are spaced apart by a third spacing of 0.1 mm to 2 mm. The intermediate layer, the rib component, the inner layer and the inner-layer extension segment are wrapped by the outer layer and the outer-layer extension segment and are then hot-melt welded together.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] TECHNICAL FIELD This application relates to the medical product field, and in particular to guide extension catheters. [Background technology]

[0002] Guide extension catheters are used in combination with guiding catheters or sheaths in vascular interventions to enter the coronary arteries and assist in the placement of interventional devices. The designs of the transitional connection segments in conventional guide extension catheter technology are roughly divided into two types: transitions with plastic skirts and transitions with metal skirts.

[0003] The structural features of the plastic skirt transition are that the metal reinforcing layer of the guide tube is directly connected to the metal guide shaft to ensure tensile strength, and the plastic layer of the guide tube extends to the arc-shaped or stepped plastic bevel opening (or skirt) formed when the guide shaft is cut in the transition area, and this plastic bevel cut is also the entrance to the inner cavity of the guide tube, and the arc-shaped or stepped shape of this plastic bevel cut completes the transition.

[0004] The advantage is that the transitional connection segment is mainly made of plastic, which gives it good flexibility, but the disadvantage is that the plastic skirt transitional segment has poor mechanical transmission and mechanical transient properties due to the low rigidity of plastic, resulting in large stress concentrations and easy deformation, which can lead to loss of the lumen entrance and irreversible deformation, and low tensile strength. In actual use, the guide extension catheter cannot be positioned at the specified position due to insufficient transmission of pushing force, and deformation of the transitional connection segment can cause loss of the lumen entrance, which can easily lead to malfunction or breakage of the guide extension catheter.

[0005] The structural feature of the transition using a metal skirt is that a metal ring is connected (generally welded or riveted) to the end of the guide shaft, and the metal ring is further inlaid and connected to the plastic layer of the guide tube to ensure tensile strength. The metal ring generally extends from the end of the plastic layer of the guide tube to an arc-shaped or stepped metal skirt formed by cutting the guide shaft in the transition area, and the metal skirt is also the entrance to the inner cavity of the guide tube, and the arc-shaped or stepped metal skirt completes the transition.

[0006] Its advantages are that the metal structure has good support for the entrance of the lumen, making it less likely to collapse, and it has good mechanical transmission and tensile strength. However, its disadvantages are that the transitional connecting segment is too stiff, has poor bending and passing performance, and poor mechanical transition, which causes a large stress concentration at the joint between the end of the metal ring and the guide tube, causing the tube body to bend at the joint and resulting in the loss of the lumen. In actual use, the poor bending and passing performance means that the guide extension catheter cannot reach the designated position and function, or the resistance during the advancement is too great, causing damage to the patient's blood vessels. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present application provides, in one form, a guide extension catheter, The present invention also includes a guide tube including a proximal port and a distal port, and including an inner layer, an intermediate layer, and an outer layer; a guide shaft disposed on the proximal port side for guiding the guide tube to enter a target position; and a transitional connection segment for connecting the guide tube and the guide shaft, the transitional connection segment being a tubular structure including an oblique opening formed and extending in the axial direction from the proximal port, wherein the transitional connection segment includes an inner layer extension segment, an outer layer extension segment, and a rib component, and the size and shape of the rib component are determined by the transitional connection segment. The inner layer extension segment is configured to fit the size and shape of the guide shaft, the inner layer extension segment is part of the inner layer, and the outer layer extension segment is part of the outer layer, wherein the rib component is coaxial with but not connected to the middle layer, and a first gap of 0.1 mm to 10 mm is left in the middle, and the rib component is not connected to the guide shaft at a certain distance, and is separated by a third gap of 0.1 mm to 2 mm, wherein the outer layer and outer layer extension segment are wrapped around the middle layer, rib component, inner layer, and inner layer extension segment, and then integrated by thermal welding.

[0008] In another aspect of the present application, there is provided a guide extension catheter, The present invention relates to a guide tube including a proximal port and a distal port, and including an inner layer, an intermediate layer, and an outer layer, the inner and outer layers being made of plastic; a guide shaft disposed on the proximal port side for guiding the guide tube to enter a target position; and a transitional connection segment for connecting the guide tube and the guide shaft, the transitional connection segment being a tubular structure including an oblique opening formed and extending in the axial direction from the proximal port, wherein the transitional connection segment includes an inner layer extension segment, an outer layer extension segment, and a rib component, the rib component including a C-shaped circumferential rib and a C-shaped oblique rib, the contour of the oblique rib corresponds to the shape of the oblique opening, and the circumferential rib and the oblique rib form a connection segment that overlaps at the position of the proximal port. The diagonal ribs are formed into an integral structure with the circumferential ribs and the diagonal ribs, and the diagonal ribs include left and right ribs, the shapes and positions of the left and right ribs correspond to the shapes and positions of the diagonal openings, and multiple groups of auxiliary circumferential ribs are distributed within the length of the left and right ribs to support the circumferential rigidity of the transitional connecting segment, where the rib parts are coaxial with but not connected to the intermediate layer, and a first interval of 0.1 mm to 10 mm is left in the middle, and the rib parts are not connected to the guide shaft at a certain distance and are separated by a third interval of 0.1 mm to 2 mm, and the outer layer and outer layer extension segments are wrapped around the intermediate layer, rib parts, inner layer and inner layer extension segments, and then integrated by thermal welding.

[0009] At least some embodiments have the following advantages: the transitional connection segment of the guide extension catheter includes a rib component that is not connected to any adjacent metal components, thereby providing the transitional connection segment with ultra-flexibility, strong luminal support, excellent mechanical transmission and transient properties, and ultra-strong memory recovery capabilities, thereby significantly improving the core performance of such guide extension catheters compared to the prior art, including crossability, pushability, effective luminal retention, and reliability. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] A further understanding of the capabilities and advantages of the present application can be gained by reference to the remaining portions of this specification and the drawings, in which like components have the same symbols. In some cases, a sub-symbol is placed after a symbol and a hyphen to indicate one of multiple similar components. When a symbol is mentioned but an existing sub-symbol is not specified, all of these similar components are meant.

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a usage scene of a guide extension catheter according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 2] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a guide extension catheter according to one embodiment of the present application. [Figure 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the guide extension catheter of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 along direction 3-3. [Figure 4A] FIG. 4 is a partial front schematic view of the structure shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 4B] FIG. 4 is a partial plan view schematic diagram of the structure shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 4C] FIG. 4 is a partial side schematic view of the structure shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 5A] FIG. 2 is a front view of the structure of a rib component according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 5B] FIG. 5B is a plan view of the structure of the rib component of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5A of the present application. [Figure 5C] FIG. 5B is a left side view of the structure of the rib component of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5A of the present application. [Figure 6A] FIG. 10 is a front view of a structure of a rib component according to another embodiment of the present application. [Figure 6B] FIG. 6B is a side view of the structure of the rib component of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6A of the present application. [Figure 7A] FIG. 10 is a front view of a structure of a rib component according to yet another embodiment of the present application. [Figure 7B] FIG. 7B is a side view of the structure of the rib component of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7A of the present application. [Figure 8A] FIG. 10 is a front view of a structure of a rib component according to yet another embodiment of the present application. [Figure 8B] FIG. 8B is a side view of the structure of the rib component of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8A of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The embodiments will now be described in more detail with reference to the following examples, which are provided by way of illustration only and are not intended to be limiting.

[0013] There are several variations in this application that can be anticipated by those skilled in the art and can achieve the use effects of this application.

[0014] Any spatial or positional limitations in this application, such as inside, outside, above, below, left, right, top, bottom, front, and back, are limited by reference to the location where the guide extension catheter will be placed in use.

[0015] In this application, the term "comprising" means including, but not limited to, the following elements, i.e., it does not exclude other elements.

[0016] In this application, when the guide extension catheter is in use, at both ends of the guide extension catheter itself or any part of the guide extension catheter, the end relatively closer to the operator's hand is referred to as the "proximal end," and correspondingly, the end relatively farther from the operator's hand is referred to as the "distal end."

[0017] In this application, the term "axial direction" refers to the direction in which the central axis of the guide extension catheter or an extension of the central axis lies.

[0018] In this application, the term "circumferential" means the direction in which the peripheral wall of the guide extension catheter lies.

[0019] In this application, the term "oblique" means a direction that forms an acute intersection with the central axis of the guide tube.

[0020] In this application, the term "connected" means achieving a rigid physical connection between two particular parts, and includes, but is not limited to, physical connection methods such as welding, brazing, riveting, etc. "Unconnected" means that two particular parts are not directly rigidly connected physically.

[0021] In this application, the terms "about" and "approximately" refer to a range interval of accuracy that a person skilled in the art would understand to still ensure the technical effect of the discussed feature, and the terms generally indicate a deviation of 10%, preferably 5%, from the indicated numerical value.

[0022] The transitional connection segment of the guide extension catheter, located between the guide tube and the guide shaft, is the key point of the entire guide extension catheter, and the quality of its connection performance and transitional performance determines whether the guide extension catheter can fulfill its role in actual use.

[0023] When a guide extension catheter is inserted into the body and pushed, it will generally encounter a detour in the passage or a narrowing of the blood vessel. In this case, the large cross-section of the guide tube makes it the first to be obstructed, but the cross-section of the guide shaft is small, so the ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the two is generally large (e.g., 80:1). At the same time, the difference in the structural rigidity between the two is large. As a result, when the guide extension catheter actually moves forward, a large stress concentration generally occurs in the transitional connection segment, making it prone to deformation and bending at the transitional part.

[0024] This destroys the coaxiality of the mechanical transmission of the guide extension catheter, and the pushing force applied from the operating end of the guide shaft outside the body is no longer effectively transmitted to the guide tube body via the transient connection segment, thereby preventing the guide extension catheter from advancing any further and from reaching and functioning at the designated position.

[0025] If the transitional connection segment is deformed during operation, it will also directly cause deformation of the entrance of the lumen of the guide tube, and the deformation occurring at the entrance of the lumen is likely to cause the effective lumen of the guide extension catheter to disappear, and thus the originally compatible interventional treatment instrument will be blocked at the entrance of the guide tube and will not be able to enter the lumen, making the guide extension catheter ineffective.

[0026] When the guide extension catheter is pulled back, the guide tube may get caught due to deformation or collapse of the passage, causing the guide tube's resistance to retraction to be higher than usual. At this time, the overall tensile strength of the guide extension catheter is relied upon, but the transitional connection segment is generally a weak part due to the above-mentioned structural reasons, and is likely to be the first to break when pulled, which may further cause the product to rupture and endanger the patient's life.

[0027] This application provides a guide extension catheter with a free rib element, whose transitional connecting segment includes a free rib element that is not connected to any metal element, thereby providing the transitional connecting segment with ultra-flexibility, strong luminal support, excellent mechanical transmission and transient properties, and ultra-strong memory recovery ability. This significantly improves the overall performance of several core performance aspects of the guide extension catheter, such as its passability, pushability, effective luminal retention, and reliability. Furthermore, this allows the guide extension catheter to function fully and reliably during surgical procedures, shortening surgical time and improving the success rate. Specific technical solutions are as follows:

[0028] In one aspect, a guide extension catheter is provided, The present invention also includes a guide tube including a proximal port and a distal port, and including an inner layer, an intermediate layer, and an outer layer; a guide shaft disposed on the proximal port side for guiding the guide tube to enter a target position; and a transitional connection segment for connecting the guide tube and the guide shaft, the transitional connection segment being a tubular structure including an oblique opening formed and extending in the axial direction from the proximal port, wherein the transitional connection segment includes an inner layer extension segment, an outer layer extension segment, and a rib component, and the size and shape of the rib component are determined by the transitional connection segment. The inner layer extension segment is configured to fit the size and shape of the guide tube, the inner layer extension segment is part of the inner layer, and the outer layer extension segment is part of the outer layer, wherein the rib component is coaxial with but not connected to the middle layer, leaving a first gap of 0.1 mm to 10 mm between them, and the rib component is not connected to the guide shaft at a certain distance and is separated by a third gap of 0.1 mm to 2 mm, wherein the outer layer and outer layer extension segment are integrated by thermal welding after wrapping the middle layer, rib component, inner layer, and inner layer extension segment. The rib component provides rigid support to the transitional connection segment, and since the rib component is not connected to the middle layer of the guide tube, it increases the flexibility of the transitional connection segment, thereby achieving a balance between rigidity and flexibility for the guide extension catheter as a whole.

[0029] In at least one embodiment, the rib component includes a circumferential rib and a diagonal rib, the contour of the diagonal rib corresponds to the shape of the diagonal opening, the circumferential rib and the diagonal rib form overlapping connecting segments at the proximal port, and the circumferential rib and the diagonal rib form an integral overall structure.

[0030] In at least one embodiment, the circumferential rib is C-shaped and includes two arcuate ribs extending circumferentially from opposite ends of the overlapping connecting segment.

[0031] In at least one embodiment, the circumferential rib is a circumferentially closed ring passing through the overlapping connecting segments.

[0032] In at least one embodiment, the diagonal rib is C-shaped and includes a left rib and a right rib, the shapes and positions of the left rib and the right rib correspond to the shapes and positions of the diagonal openings, and multiple groups of auxiliary circumferential ribs are distributed within the length range of the left rib and the right rib, which are used to support the circumferential rigidity of the transitional connection segment.

[0033] In at least one embodiment, the tails of the secondary circumferential ribs are not joined to one another and are spaced apart by a distance.

[0034] In at least one embodiment, the circumferential rib or secondary circumferential rib is an S-curve along the circumferential direction.

[0035] In at least one embodiment, the circumferential rib or secondary circumferential rib includes a base segment and a reinforcing segment, the reinforcing segment having a width or surface area greater than the base segment.

[0036] In at least one embodiment, the reinforcing segments include branches or holes.

[0037] In at least one embodiment, the rib component is made of a nitinol alloy, a cobalt alloy, a titanium alloy, a platinum-iridium alloy, a stainless steel, or a carbon fiber material. In at least one embodiment, the nitinol alloy, a cobalt alloy, a titanium alloy, a platinum-iridium alloy, a stainless steel, or a carbon fiber forming the rib component is a round thread or a square rod.

[0038] In at least one embodiment, the outer layer material is nylon, polyurethane, or a thermoplastic elastomer, the inner layer material is a polymeric polymer, and the middle layer is a metal mesh layer.

[0039] In another aspect of the present application, there is provided a guide extension catheter, The present invention relates to a guide tube including a proximal port and a distal port, and including an inner layer, an intermediate layer, and an outer layer, the inner and outer layers being made of plastic; a guide shaft disposed on the proximal port side for guiding the guide tube to enter a target position; and a transitional connection segment for connecting the guide tube and the guide shaft, the transitional connection segment being a tubular structure including an oblique opening formed and extending in the axial direction from the proximal port, wherein the transitional connection segment includes an inner layer extension segment, an outer layer extension segment, and a rib component, the rib component including a C-shaped circumferential rib and a C-shaped oblique rib, the contour of the oblique rib corresponds to the shape of the oblique opening, and the circumferential rib and the oblique rib form a connection segment that overlaps at the position of the proximal port. The diagonal ribs are formed into an integral structure with the circumferential ribs and the diagonal ribs, and the diagonal ribs include left and right ribs, the shapes and positions of the left and right ribs correspond to the shapes and positions of the diagonal openings, and multiple groups of auxiliary circumferential ribs are distributed within the length of the left and right ribs to support the circumferential rigidity of the transitional connecting segment, where the rib parts are coaxial with but not connected to the intermediate layer, and a first interval of 0.1 mm to 10 mm is left in the middle, and the rib parts are not connected to the guide shaft at a certain distance and are separated by a third interval of 0.1 mm to 2 mm, and the outer layer and outer layer extension segments are wrapped around the intermediate layer, rib parts, inner layer and inner layer extension segments, and then integrated by thermal welding.

[0040] Hereinafter, each aspect of the embodiment of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0041] 1 is a schematic diagram of a combined use of a guide extension catheter 10 and an accessory device 200. Here, the accessory device 200 includes a guiding catheter 11 and a guide sheath 14, which together form a primary intervention passageway, with the distal end 12 of the guiding catheter entering a blood vessel and the proximal end 13 of the guiding catheter connected to a Y-type hemostatic valve 15, and the guide extension catheter 10 enters the primary intervention passageway via the Y-type hemostatic valve 15, advances along the lumen of the guiding catheter 11, and finally protrudes from the distal end 12 of the guiding catheter and is positioned in a more distant blood vessel (e.g., a coronary artery).

[0042] 2 is a schematic diagram of the exterior of a guide extension catheter 10 described in one embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 2, the guide extension catheter 10 includes three sections: a guide tube 20, a transitional connection segment 30, and a guide shaft 40. The guide tube is also called the distal tube, the guide shaft is also called the proximal shaft, and the transitional connection segment is also called the transitional section. Here, the guide tube 20 is located at the distal end of the guide extension catheter 10, the guide shaft 40 is located at the proximal end of the guide extension catheter 10, and the transitional connection segment 30 is used to connect the guide tube 20 and the guide shaft 40.

[0043] 3 is an axial cross-sectional view of a guide extension catheter described in one embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 3, the guide tube 20 has a tubular structure and serves as a passageway for interventional medical instruments. The guide tube 20 has an inner layer 21, a middle layer 22, and an outer layer 23, from the inside to the outside of the lumen, where the inner layer 21, the middle layer 22, and the outer layer 23 form a tubular structure including a lumen 24. The material of the inner layer 21 may be PTFE or other plastics, the material of the middle layer 22 may be stainless steel braided mesh or other metal braided mesh, and the material of the outer layer 23 may be a thermoplastic elastomer, a polyurethane elastomer, or other plastics.

[0044] The guide shaft 40 is an elongated solid rod, and includes a main body portion 41 and a distal portion 42. The main body portion 41 may be a cylindrical stainless steel rod or other metal rod, and the distal portion 42 is an extension of the main body portion 41. The extension method may be flattening by pressing, flattening by laser cutting, grinding, or other processing methods, and the length of the distal portion 42 may be 1 mm to 50 mm.

[0045] As can be seen in FIG. 3 , the transitional connection segment 30 extends axially from the proximal port 26 of the guide tube 20, connects the guide tube 20 to the guide shaft 40, and has an oblique opening 25 that communicates with the lumen 24 of the guide tube 20.

[0046] The transition connection segment 30 includes an inner layer extension segment 211, an outer layer extension segment 231, and a rib component 31, and the rib component 31 is coated between the inner layer extension segment 211 and the outer layer extension segment 231. The rib component 31 is coaxial with but not connected to the proximal end of the intermediate layer 22, and the distance therebetween may be 0.1 mm to 10 mm. At the same time, the rib component 31 is not connected to the guide shaft 40 at a distance therefrom, and the distance therebetween may be 0.1 mm to 2 mm, thereby enhancing the flexibility of the structure and reducing the overall thickness of the structure by avoiding an increase in thickness due to lamination.

[0047] The material of the rib component 31 may be nitinol alloy, cobalt alloy, titanium alloy, platinum-iridium alloy, stainless steel, or carbon fiber or other metal, and may also be in any strip-like form such as round thread or square rod. The rib component may be a one-piece molded whole, or may be a whole formed by welding or other methods in segments.

[0048] A bridging wedge sleeve 35 is coated around the distal end 42 of the guide shaft 40, and the coating method may be hot melt coating or pressing, welding, brazing, riveting, etc., and the material of the bridging wedge sleeve 35 may be plastic such as nylon or metal.

[0049] The bridging wedge sleeve 35 is coated between the outer layer 23 and the guide shaft 40 and is inlaid with both to form a bridging mortise and tenon structure, which maintains the flexibility of the structure while significantly enhancing its rigidity and tensile strength, and the rib component 31 is also coated between the outer layer 23 and the inner layer 21 and is inlaid with both to form a single piece, and after the excess tubular portion not including the middle layer 22 and the rib component 31 is removed at the proximal end of the guide tube 20, an arc-shaped oblique opening, i.e., an oblique opening 25, is finally formed. The oblique opening 25 is also an entrance through which other interventional instruments can enter the guide extension catheter 10.

[0050] After the assembly is completed, the above-mentioned components are hot melt coated with the outer layer 23 of the guide tube 20 to form the main structure of the guide extension catheter 10.

[0051] The proximal end of the guide tube 20, the rib component 31, the bridging wedge sleeve 35 and the distal end of the guide shaft 40 together constitute the transitional connection segment 30 of the guide extension catheter, and the presence of the rib component 31 significantly alleviates the large stress concentration at both ends of the transitional connection segment 30 caused by the large difference in cross-sectional area (ratio such as 80:1) and structural hardness, thereby significantly improving the mechanical transmission and transience of the transitional connection segment 30.

[0052] At the same time, the rib component 31 made of nitinol alloy, cobalt alloy, titanium alloy, platinum-iridium alloy, stainless steel or carbon fiber can significantly improve the luminal support force of the oblique opening 25 and the memory recovery force after deformation under force. The structural design of the rib component 31 takes into account the flexibility to adapt to deformation at any angle, leading to an improvement in the bending and passing ability of the transitional connection segment 30, thereby significantly improving the core performance of the guide extension catheter 10 as a whole, including passability, pushability, effective luminal holding ability and reliability.

[0053] 4A to 4C are simplified schematic diagrams of a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4C-4C of FIG. 4B. The drawings show the relative positions of the main components of the skeletal structure of the guide extension catheter, including the intermediate layer 22, the rib component 31, and the guide shaft 40. The rib component 31 is coaxial with the proximal end of the intermediate layer 22 and is located above the guide shaft 40. The rib component 31 is coaxial with but not connected to the proximal end of the intermediate layer 22. There is a first gap 311 between the rib component 31 and the intermediate layer 22, and the distance of the first gap 311 may be 0.1 mm to 10 mm. The proximal end of the intermediate layer 22 is centered with but not connected to the distal end of the guide shaft 40. There is a second gap 312, and the distance of the second gap 312 may be 0.1 mm to 10 mm.

[0054] The relative positional relationship between the rib parts 31 and the guide shafts 40 is as shown in Figure 4. The rib parts 31 and the guide shafts 40 are distributed in the circumferential direction of the transitional connection segment, and there is a third interval 313. The distance of the third interval 313 may be 0.1mm to 2mm. The above-mentioned interval design increases the flexibility of the structure, avoids the increase in thickness due to stacking, and reduces the thickness of the entire structure. Therefore, the rib parts provide sufficient rigid support for the transitional connection segment, while avoiding stacking, and significantly improves the mechanical transmission and transition properties of the transitional connection segment 30.

[0055] 5A to 5C are a front view, a plan view, and a left side view of the structure of a rib component according to one embodiment of the present application. As shown in Fig. 5A, the rib component 31 includes a plurality of ribs, including a circumferential rib 32, a diagonal rib 33, and an auxiliary circumferential rib 34.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 5C, the circumferential ribs 32 are C-shaped in the circumferential direction and are distributed perpendicular to the axial direction of the guide extension catheter. The circumferential ribs 32 and the diagonal ribs 33 form an overlapping connection segment at the position of the proximal port 26 of the guide tube. The contour of the diagonal ribs 33 corresponds to the shape of the diagonal opening 25. The diagonal ribs 33 include left ribs 331 and right ribs 332. The shapes and positions of the left ribs 331 and right ribs 332 correspond to the shapes and positions of the diagonal openings and are used to support the circumferential rigidity of the transitional connection segment. The diagonal ribs 33 intersect with the axial direction of the guide extension catheter at a certain angle and / or radian. Multiple pairs of auxiliary circumferential ribs 34 are distributed within the length range of the left ribs 331 and right ribs 332. The auxiliary circumferential ribs 34 are C-shaped in the circumferential direction, and the number of pairs may be two or more.

[0057] The rib component 31 may be fabricated by laser cutting, wire cutting, welding, gluing, or other methods. In some embodiments, the circumferential rib 32 and the secondary circumferential rib 34 of the rib component 31 may be circumferentially O-shaped, i.e., connected at both ends to form a closed ring. In some embodiments, the diagonal rib 33 may also be O-shaped.

[0058] 6A and 6B are front and side views of the structure of a rib component according to another embodiment of the present application. In this embodiment, the circumferential rib 32 and the auxiliary circumferential rib 34 of the rib component 31 may be serpentine, S-shaped curved, or other irregularly shaped ribs along the circumferential direction, so as to further strengthen the circumferential support of the transitional connection segments of the circumferential rib 32 and the auxiliary circumferential rib 34.

[0059] 7A and 7B are front and side views of the structure of a rib component according to yet another embodiment of the present application. In this embodiment, the circumferential rib 32 and the auxiliary circumferential rib 34 of the rib component 31 include basic segments and reinforcing segments. As shown in FIG. 7B, the basic segments 321 and the reinforcing segments 322 are located on the circumferential rib 32. The reinforcing segments 322 have holes, which form branches with wider or larger surface areas than the basic segments 321, thereby further strengthening circumferential support for the transitional connecting segments of the circumferential rib 32 and the auxiliary circumferential rib 34.

[0060] 8A and 8B are front and side views of the structure of a rib component according to another embodiment of the present application. In this embodiment, the circumferential rib 32 and the auxiliary circumferential rib 34 of the rib component 31 include a base segment and a reinforcing segment, and the reinforcing segment has branches, which are integrally joined to the main body by a connecting method such as welding, brazing, or adhesive bonding, thereby meeting different performance requirements.

[0061] The methods provided by the exemplary embodiments herein are used only as examples, and one example of a method does not limit other examples of a method. An apparatus / method illustrated in one drawing may be added to or interchanged with an apparatus / method in another drawing. Furthermore, specific numerical data values ​​(e.g., specific quantities, amounts, categories, etc.) or other specific information are used only to describe the exemplary embodiments, and such specific information does not limit the exemplary embodiments.

Claims

1. A guide extension catheter, a guide tube including a proximal port and a distal port, the guide tube including the inner layer, the middle layer, and the outer layer; a guide shaft disposed on the proximal port side for guiding the guide tube to enter a target position; a transitional connection segment for connecting the guide tube and the guide shaft, the transitional connection segment being a tubular structure including an oblique opening formed and extending axially from the proximal port; the transitional connection segment includes an inner layer extension segment, an outer layer extension segment, and a rib component, the size and shape of the rib component being configured to match the size and shape of the transitional connection segment, the inner layer extension segment being a part of the inner layer, and the outer layer extension segment being a part of the outer layer; The rib component is coaxial with but not connected to the intermediate layer, and a first gap of 0.1 mm to 10 mm is left between the rib component and the intermediate layer; the rib component is not connected to the guide shaft at a distance, and is spaced apart by a third gap of 0.1 mm to 2 mm; The outer layer and the outer layer extension segment are wrapped around the intermediate layer, the rib part, the inner layer and the inner layer extension segment, and then integrated by thermal welding.

2. 2. The guide extension catheter of claim 1, wherein the rib components include circumferential ribs and diagonal ribs, the contours of the diagonal ribs correspond to the shape of the diagonal opening, and the circumferential ribs and the diagonal ribs form overlapping connection segments at the position of the proximal port, thereby making the circumferential ribs and the diagonal ribs an integral structure as a whole.

3. The guide extension catheter of claim 2 , wherein the circumferential rib is C-shaped and includes two arcuate ribs extending circumferentially from opposite ends of the overlapping connecting segment.

4. The guide extension catheter of claim 2 , wherein the circumferential rib is a circumferentially closed ring passing through the overlapping connecting segments.

5. 3. The guide extension catheter of claim 2, wherein the diagonal rib is C-shaped and includes a left rib and a right rib, the shape and position of the left rib and the right rib correspond to the shape and position of the diagonal opening, and multiple groups of auxiliary circumferential ribs are distributed within the length of the left rib and the right rib, which are used to support the circumferential rigidity of the transitional connection segment.

6. 6. The guide extension catheter of claim 5, wherein the tails of the auxiliary circumferential ribs are not joined and are spaced apart by a distance.

7. The guide extension catheter according to claim 5 , wherein the circumferential rib or the auxiliary circumferential rib is an S-shaped curve along the circumferential direction.

8. The guide extension catheter of claim 5 , wherein the circumferential rib or auxiliary circumferential rib includes a base segment and a reinforcing segment, and the reinforcing segment has a larger width or surface area than the base segment.

9. The guide extension catheter of claim 8 , wherein the reinforcing segment includes a branch or a hole.

10. The guide extension catheter of claim 1 , wherein the rib component is made of a nitinol alloy, a cobalt alloy, a titanium alloy, a platinum-iridium alloy, stainless steel, or a carbon fiber material.

11. The guide extension catheter of claim 1, wherein the material of the outer layer is nylon, polyurethane or thermoplastic elastomer, the material of the inner layer is a polymeric polymer, and the middle layer is a metal mesh layer.

12. The guide extension catheter of claim 10, wherein the rib component is a round thread or a square rod.

13. A guide extension catheter, a guide tube including a proximal port and a distal port, and including an inner layer, a middle layer, and an outer layer, the inner layer and the outer layer being made of plastic; a guide shaft disposed on the proximal port side for guiding the guide tube to enter a target position; a transitional connection segment for connecting the guide tube and the guide shaft, the transitional connection segment being a tubular structure including an oblique opening formed and extending axially from the proximal port; the transitional connecting segment includes an inner layer extension segment, an outer layer extension segment, and a rib part, the rib part including a C-shaped circumferential rib and a C-shaped diagonal rib, the contour of the diagonal rib corresponds to the shape of the diagonal opening, the circumferential rib and the diagonal rib form an overlapping connecting segment at the position of the proximal port, the circumferential rib and the diagonal rib are integrally structured as a whole, the diagonal rib includes a left rib and a right rib, the shapes and positions of the left rib and the right rib correspond to the shapes and positions of the diagonal opening, and a plurality of groups of auxiliary circumferential ribs are distributed within the length range of the left rib and the right rib, which are used to support the circumferential rigidity of the transitional connecting segment; The rib component is coaxial with but not connected to the intermediate layer, and a first gap of 0.1 mm to 10 mm is left between the rib component and the intermediate layer; the rib component is not connected to the guide shaft at a distance, and is spaced apart by a third gap of 0.1 mm to 2 mm; The outer layer and the outer layer extension segment are wrapped around the intermediate layer, the rib part, the inner layer and the inner layer extension segment, and then integrated by thermal welding.

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