Catheter assembly
Novel catheter constructions comprising thin covering or wrapping materials such as polymer films. A catheter provided with a guidewire catheter lumen having a thin covering that is easily punctured by a guidewire at virtually any desired point along the catheter length. The thin covering may be integral with the catheter shaft, or may be a separate component that covers only the portion of the catheter shaft immediately adjacent the outer portion of the guidewire lumen, or may be a thin tubular construct that surrounds the entire catheter shaft. Moreover, polymer film can be used in combination with one or more elements to produce novel catheter constructions.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/402,083, filed Mar. 28, 2003, (entitled PUNCTURABLE CATHETER) which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/346,977 filed Jan. 17, 2003, entitled ADJUSTABLE LENGTH CATHETER.).
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to the field of catheters. More particularly, the invention relates to catheters intended for the delivery to a patient of, for example, therapeutic agents or devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONA variety of different therapies can be delivered within the human body by catheter devices. Therapeutic devices such as dilation balloons, occlusion balloons, thrombectomy treatment devices, stents, and embolic filters, and therapeutic agents such as drugs and radiation sources, may be positioned at or near the distal end of the catheter for delivery to a desired site within the body. The proximal end of the catheter is considered to be the end that remains outside of the body, manipulated by the medical practitioner.
To aid in positioning of the distal end of the catheter within the body, typically the distal end of a guidewire is first navigated to the treatment area. After the guidewire has been positioned, the wire can then be used to guide the distal end of the catheter into place. Additionally, a guide catheter may be used to further facilitate the positioning of the guidewire and/or delivery catheter. The interaction between the guidewire and the catheter is critical, as the physician needs to easily track the distal end of the catheter along the path of the guidewire. A number of interaction issues can arise, including but not limited to, having to use more than one person, having to use a long wire, having the advancement of the catheter affect the position of the wire, having the catheter not able to track the wire through tortuous anatomy, having excessive friction between the catheter and the wire, and having a difference between the amount of axial motion applied to the proximal end of the catheter and the amount of axial movement at the distal end of the catheter.
In various attempts to address these issues, a number of catheter designs have been introduced that have defined the interaction between the guidewire and the catheter. Two of the primary applications of catheter systems are percutanous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and coronary stent delivery. Two main types of catheter designs, over-the-wire (OTW) and rapid-exchange (RX), dominate these applications. Each of these designs has its advantages and disadvantages. OTW catheters track over their entire length on a guidewire, which allows them to follow the wire easily and allows the direct transmission of longitudinal force over the guidewire. Additionally, these catheters allow for guidewires to be exchanged once the catheter has been advanced into position, which may be desirable when different guidewire attributes (e.g., tip curvature or radiopaque markers) are needed. However, these systems require the use of a long guidewire (e.g., 300 cm in length) and cannot be effectively operated by one person.
RX catheters typically use shorter guidewires (e.g., 180 cm in length) which allow the catheter to be operated by a single physician. The physician is able to hold the guide catheter and guidewire with one hand while using his other hand to advance or retract the catheter along the guidewire. However, because the entire length of the RX catheter does not slide over the guidewire, the direct transmission of longitudinal force along the path of the guidewire may be compromised, and wire exchange can not be performed once the proximal catheter guidewire port is advanced into the patient.
Furthermore, it is not uncommon for OTW and RX catheters (among others) to be constructed by a plastic (or polymer) extrusion process. Producing, for example, an OTW or RX catheter with a tight tolerance, with a dual lumen construction can be difficult and expensive via an extrusion process.
Among various further catheter designs intended for stent delivery is a system taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,007 to St. Germain et al. This system includes a tubular exterior sleeve with an adjustable length section that, under axial compression, shortens via corrugations to cause another sleeve at the distal end of the catheter to be withdrawn in a proximal direction, releasing the stent. The overall length of the catheter remains the same during the axial compression of the exterior sleeve, and in particular, the length of the guidewire lumen is not adjustable.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,334,147 and 5,380,283 to Johnson teach the construction of a balloon catheter having a proximal portion that includes an aperture through the wall of the catheter into the guidewire lumen. The aperture is covered by a frangible wall (e.g., a thin-walled tube sealed to the catheter body in a position to cover the aperture portion). The frangible wall may be punctured by a guidewire, allowing the guidewire to exit the catheter guidewire lumen via the aperture.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,472,425 to Teirstein describes a catheter having a guidewire lumen covered by a rupturable membrane that extends along substantially the entire length of the catheter, whereby the membrane may be intentionally punctured at any desired location by the guidewire. The use and general construction of the catheter are related, although no materials or specific constructions for the rupturable membrane are taught.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates to novel catheter constructions comprising thin covering or wrapping materials such as polymer films. A first aspect relates to a catheter provided with a guidewire catheter lumen having a thin covering that is easily punctured by the back end (i.e., the proximal end) of a guidewire at virtually any desired point along the catheter length. The thin covering may be integral with the catheter shaft, or may be a separate component that covers only the portion of the catheter shaft immediately adjacent the outer portion of the guidewire lumen, or may be a thin tubular construct that surrounds the entire catheter shaft. The covering is preferably adequately translucent to allow for good visualization of the location of the back end of the guidewire in order to enable puncturing of the covering at the desired location along the length of the catheter shaft. The catheter shaft is preferably made of a material having a color that provides good visibility against an operating field, and more preferably is luminous or phosphorescent either entirely or in part. Materials suitable for the catheter shaft are polymeric materials well known in the art; the catheter shaft may optionally be provided with metallic stiffening components such as wires, wire braids or hypotubes along all or part of the catheter length.
In an aspect of the invention, the thin covering or wrapping material is made from a thin tape of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) that can be helically wrapped about the exterior of a catheter shaft. Most preferably, the wrapping is accomplished in two opposing directions parallel to the length of the catheter shaft, resulting in a bias-ply construction. This thin covering offers good transparency and is easily punctured by the end of a guidewire, and yet is resistant to tearing at the puncture site.
Other materials may be used for the puncturable thin covering, including polyethylene terephthalate (PET). These materials may also offer good translucency, but may be less tear resistant than the helically wrapped ePTFE thin coverings.
The thin covering (either integral with the catheter shaft or a separate covering) may optionally be provided with a multiplicity of small, pre-formed openings through the thickness of the covering to allow for passage of the back end of a guidewire through any of these openings. The openings would preferably be arranged in a single line extending directly above the guidewire lumen.
The thin covering may optionally be in the form of a braid or helically-wound filaments that allow the guidewire to be passed through any of the multiplicity of openings or interstices that exist between adjacent filaments of the braid or winding. The braid or winding may be of either various polymeric or metallic materials. The braid or winding may be exposed around the entire exterior of the catheter shaft or alternatively may be exposed over only the side of the guidewire lumen closest to the exterior of the catheter shaft.
For many embodiments, the guidewire lumen is in the form of a slot made into the catheter shaft, with the slot provided with the thin covering. Preferably, the slot extends for most or even all of the length of the catheter shaft. It may optionally extend through a balloon or other device located at the distal end of the catheter. The slot is covered with a thin tubular covering that coaxially encloses the entire catheter shaft or alternatively a strip of thin tape-like covering material that covers the slot and is adhered to the surface of the catheter shaft immediately adjacent both sides of the slot. A multiplicity of pre-formed openings may be provided through the thin covering as noted above. Also as noted above, the slot covering material may take the form of a braid or winding of filaments. This braid or winding of filaments may optionally be covered with a thin polymeric tube except for the filaments immediately over the top of the slot which preferably remain exposed and allow for passage of the end of a guidewire through any interstice between adjacent filaments. Other embodiments using the catheter shaft may be provided with a puncturable tubular form inserted into the slot. This tubular form may be made with filaments braided into the tubular form, or a tubular form made of helically wound filaments or from a thin polymeric material, with the tube having an inside diameter adequately large to accommodate a guidewire of the desired size. These tubes are fitted and secured into the slot formed into the catheter shaft, with the result that the outer surface of the braided or helically wound tube covers the exposed part of the slot and allows for the back end of a guidewire contained within the tube to be passed through any interstice between adjacent filaments of the braided or helically wound tube. When the tubular form is made from the thin polymeric material, the resulting tube inserted into the catheter shaft slot is puncturable at any desired location by the back end of a guidewire.
The ability of the catheter to be punctured by the back end of a guidewire at any desired location along the length of the puncturable section of the catheter allows the catheter assembly to be used effectively as desired in either OTW or RX mode.
In addition to being puncturable by the back end of the guidewire, the guidewire catheter lumen may optionally be made to be adjustable in length. The adjustable length catheter guidewire lumen is the conduit, or catheter, or tube, or space that contains the guidewire or provides a space for the passage of a guidewire therethrough. The space may be adjustable in length, as will be further described.
By adjustable length is meant that the length of the adjustable length guidewire catheter lumen may be changed by the application of easily applied manual axial force. In its axially extended or fully lengthened state, the adjustable length guidewire catheter lumen is at least 10% longer than when in the axially compressed, fully shortened state. More preferably, the adjustable length guidewire catheter lumen is adjustable by an amount of at least about 20%, or 30%, or 40%, or 50%, or 75%, or 100%, or 200%, or 400%, or 1000%, or 2000%.
The adjustable length guidewire catheter lumen is adjustable in length by virtue of being scrunchable. This means that this tubular component is easily shortened in length under axial force, without telescoping as by the successive sliding of overlapped concentric tubular sections. Various means of providing a scrunchable tube for use as the adjustable length guidewire catheter lumen include the provision of corrugations (i.e., wrinkles, or accordion pleats or folds), or by the use of a porous tube that compresses axially by reduction in total void space. These are further described below.
In a further aspect of the invention, polymer film is used in combination with one or more elements to produce novel catheter constructions. For example, polymer film can be wrapped about one or more catheter elements to produce useful catheters. Moreover, catheters can be formed by wrapping a suitable polymer film about a mandrel and removing the mandrel to obtain a catheter having at least one lumen therein. Moreover, polymer film can be provided in tubular form, which may be a heat shrinkable material such as a tube comprising polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
Suitable materials for the adjustable length lumen and the polymer film include ePTFE, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide, or other thermoplastic or thermoset polymers, or other such relatively inelastic materials. Alternatively, an elastomeric material may be used, which materials elongate by the application of an extending axial force. The term “elastomeric” is intended to describe a condition whereby a polymer displays stretch and recovery properties similar to an elastomer, although not necessarily to the same degree of stretch and/or recovery.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
After feeding guidewire 19 through the distal section of the guidewire lumen 18 and into the thin-walled tubular sheath 13, the physician may choose any desired location along the length of thin-walled tubular sheath 13 at which to puncture the thin, puncturable cover 102 with the guidewire 19. In this fashion the physician may select his preferred length of the guidewire lumen 18.
The puncturable guidewire lumen may be made in a variety of ways.
In a preferred embodiment, catheter 10 including inflation lumen 22 and guidewire lumen 18 is made using a catheter shaft 15 as shown in the perspective view of
Optionally, such a catheter shaft may be stiffened along all or part of its length as necessary by the inclusion of stiffening wires running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the catheter, or by adding a tubular metal reinforcing braid to the catheter shaft, or by inserting a length of metal hypotube, tubular braid or helically wound wire into the inflation lumen 22. These stiffening methods may be used in combination if desired. For simplicity, these well-known stiffening methods are not shown in the figures.
If it is desired to use a hypotube to stiffen only a portion of the length of the catheter shaft, it may be desirable to cut a helically-oriented slot through the wall of the end of the hypo tube that will be located within the length of the catheter shaft to reduce the abrupt stiffness transition of the stiffened section to the unstiffened section.
As shown by the perspective view of
While a variety of thin, flexible polymer materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polyethylene terephthalate, etc. may be used for the tape 24. Porous polymers, optionally provided with a thin, non-porous coating, may be advantageously used because of their excellent flexibility. Tape 24 is most preferably made from a thin porous expanded PTFE (ePTFE) film that has been provided with a porous or non-porous coating of a thermoplastic such as a thermoplastic fluoropolymer, preferably fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP). ePTFE films are generally made as taught by U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,953,566 and 4,187,390 to Gore. Most preferred ePTFE films for the present application are taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,476,589 to Bacino. The construction of thin, helically-wrapped tubes from ePTFE films and thermoplastic-coated ePTFE films, and the method of providing the coating onto the ePTFE films, are taught by U.S. Pat. No. 6,159,565 to Campbell et al.
An example of a helically-wrapped catheter shaft as shown by
The thickness of the thin tubular tape covering 102 was determined to be about 0.012 mm by measuring the diameter of the catheter shaft at 90 degrees to the orientation of the slot 104 using a laser micrometer both before and after the application of the helically-wrapped covering.
The covered catheter 10 that resulted from this process retained the good flexibility of the precursor catheter shaft 15 prior to covering. When a guidewire 19 was inserted into the guidewire lumen 18, the thin cover 102 exhibited good transparency, meaning that the back end of the guidewire 19 was visible to the unaided eye as it passed through the length of the guidewire lumen 18. It was not difficult to stop the progression of the guidewire back end at a desired point along the length of the guidewire lumen, and by bending the catheter with the guidewire slot oriented to the outside of the bend, the covering 102 was readily punctured by the back end of the guidewire 19. When a large portion of the length of the guidewire was pulled through the puncture site, the puncture site exhibited no sign of tearing or of appreciable enlargement of the puncture.
Another alternative for the puncturable thin cover 102 is shown in the perspective view of
The puncturable cover 102 may also be made using threads, wires or other filaments. For example, threads may be wound around a slotted catheter shaft 15 in various desired patterns to form a covering over a guidewire lumen 18 that effectively contains a guidewire 19 but allows the back end of the guidewire to be passed through any of the multiplicity of spaces between adjacent threads of the wrapped covering. The threads may, for example, be provided as a helically-wrapped pattern, a braided pattern or a knit (e.g. warp knit) pattern. By orienting the threads in close proximity to one another, the guide wire will preferentially stay within a lumen of which the thread defines a portion of the wall. However, the end of the wire can be maneuvered to exit this lumen between the threads. By using a wound thread, the structure is never damaged allowing the catheter to be reused multiple times. By controlling the spacing between adjacent threads, the ease of which the end of the wire exits the lumen may be altered. Preferentially, small diameter threads can be used, for example, with diameters from 0.012 to 0.5 mm. Any variety of thread materials may be used, included common thermoplastic (e.g., polyamide, polypropylene, polyester, etc), thermosets, fluoroplastics (e.g., ePTFE) or various metal wires including stainless steels and nitinol.
As shown by the perspective view of
The thin-walled tube is preferably made from an FEP-coated ePTFE film that has been cut into a tape (width, e.g., 12.7 mm) and helically wrapped on a mandrel with the FEP coating placed on the exterior of the wrapping. The helically wrapped tube is then placed into an oven for a suitable time (e.g., 8 minutes in an oven set at a temperature of 320° C.) to thermally bond the overlapped edges of the helical wrapping together, thereby forming a coherent tube. After removal from the oven and cooling, the resulting tube is removed from the mandrel and may be used as the adjustable length lumen component in the catheter of the present invention. The ends of this tube may be joined to the adjacent components by overlapping the tube end over the adjacent component and adhering the overlapped areas with an adhesive such as a cyanoacrylate (e.g., Loctite 401, Rocky Hill, Conn.) or an ultraviolet adhesive (e.g., Loctite 3311). Alternatively, the tube may be everted to orient the FEP-coating toward the lumen, and an adequate heat source may be used to melt-bond the FEP coating to catheter components such as metal hypotubes.
For use as the puncturable, adjustable length lumen tubular component of a catheter, the ePTFE tube may be provided with corrugations (e.g, accordion pleats or folds) with various methods such as those taught by U.S. Pat. No. 3,105,492 to Jeckel and U.S. Pat. No. 6,016,848 to Egres, Jr. Alternatively, it is not required to provide the thin-walled tube with preformed corrugations as, during axial compression from the fully extended length to the shortened, fully compressed length, the tube will wrinkle and corrugate in a non-uniform but entirely suitable manner for use as the adjustable length lumen portion 18 of catheter 10. In another alternative, an elastomer may be used for the adjustable length portion 18 that would be in its relaxed state prior to loading over the guidewire and would extend into a tensioned condition when the distal end of the catheter is advanced.
Longitudinally extruded and expanded tubes of PTFE, that is, seamless ePTFE tubes, may be used in thinwall form as the puncturable, adjustable length guidewire catheter lumen. Under axial compression, the interconnecting fibrils of the node-and-fibril microstructure of ePTFE will progressively bend and fold. This allows the tubular material to axially compress in a substantially uniform fashion, retaining the longitudinal uniformity of the tube wall (macroscopically), without corrugations. This bending of the fibrils within the microstructure of the wall of the ePTFE tube during axial compression is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,661 to House et al. Longer mean fibril length tubes are preferred to maximize the compressible length, e.g., ePTFE tubes of about 50 micron or greater mean fibril length.
A catheter having a puncturable, adjustable length guidewire lumen was constructed using a very thin walled (e.g., 0.03 mm) sheath material. The sheath material is required to be thin enough to corrugate in small folds, allowing the length of the sheath to be reduced to less than 50% of its original length by compressing into the small amplitude folds. A 0.01 mm thick ePTFE film provided with a non-porous FEP coating on one side was chosen for the sheath material. This film was slit to a 6.4 mm width, thereby forming a tape.
An ePTFE tube, having an inner diameter of about 1.6 mm and a wall thickness of about 0.13 mm, was fitted over a 1.6 mm diameter stainless steel mandrel having a length of about 180 cm. The 6.4 mm wide tape was then helically wrapped about the outer surface of the ePTFE tube with a 50% overlap, resulting in a helically-wrapped tube covered with two layers of tape. The resulting assembly was then placed into an air convection oven set at 320° C. for 8 minutes, after which it was removed from the oven and allowed to cool in an ambient environment.
After cooling, the helically-wrapped tube was removed from the mandrel by withdrawing the mandrel from the tube. The end of the extruded tube that had not been helically-wrapped was clamped in a vise. The end of the helical wrapping closest to the vise was simultaneously pinched on opposite sides of the tube using the thumb and forefingers of both hands, and the helical-wrapping was stripped from the underlying ePTFE tube by everting the helically-wrapped tube while pulling it away from the vise.
This thin-walled tube had an approximate wall thickness of 0.03 mm (measured using Mitutoyo Snap Gauge, Model #1D-C112EBS) and an inner diameter of approximately 1.7 mm (measured using a certified minus pin gauge with a tolerance of 0.01 mm). When this tube was loaded on a 1.2 mm diameter mandrel, it was able to be easily compressed to about 5% of its original length using light digital pressure.
Continuing assembly of the catheter, this sheath was then coaxially mounted over a conventional Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA) catheter with a maximum outer diameter proximal of the balloon of less than approximately 0.040″ (1.02 mm). The PTCA catheter used was a rapid exchange type, having a proximal guidewire exit port at a location significantly distal of its hub. Prior to mounting the sheath, a 9 Fr (3.0 mm) inner diameter hemostasis y-arm valve (P/N 80348, Qosina, Edgewood, N.Y.) was slid onto the catheter from the catheter's distal end (hemostasis valve oriented away from the back end of the catheter). Next, a female luer (P/N 65206. Qosina, Edgewood, N.Y.) was slid onto the catheter and the luer connection of these two components was engaged. A 2.0 mm inside diameter by 2.1 mm outside diameter 304 stainless steel tube (Microgroup, Medway, Mass.) was then swaged down to approximately 1.4 mm inside diameter by 1.6 mm outside diameter, and then trimmed to a length of approximately 19 mm.
This tube was slid coaxially over the catheter and bonded to the distal end of the female luer with an approximate 6 mm overlap using cyanoacrylate adhesive (Loctite 401, Loctite Corp., Rocky Hill, Conn.). Next, the helically-wrapped sheath described above was slid over the distal tip of the catheter and its proximal end attached by sliding it over the exposed end of the hypotube. These overlapped surfaces were bonded using the cyanoacrylate adhesive, after which 2.3 mm inside diameter polyolefin 2-to-1 shrink ratio shrink tubing was fitted over the junction and heated to conform to the surface of the junction. The distal end of the sheath was then trimmed to a length of approximately 135 cm, equal to the desired working length of the catheter (i.e. length from the distal tip of the catheter to the distal end of the strain relief on the catheter's hub). The distal end of the sheath was then attached at a location approximately 2 mm distal of the proximal guidewire port in the wall of the PTCA catheter. This attachment was made using the cyanoacrylate adhesive between the sheath and catheter, and then over-wrapping this attachment point with cyanoacrylate adhesive and 0.13 mm diameter ePTFE suture (CV-8, WL Gore and Associates, Flagstaff, Ariz.).
To complete the catheter a hemostasis y-fitting was slid distally on the catheter until it was just proximal of the proximal hole of the original PTCA catheter. This compressed the sheath to approximately 15% of its original approximately 135 mm length. A guidewire was then fed into the distal tip of the catheter and carefully threaded through the catheter, including the sheath component, and out from the proximal end of the catheter through the side arm of the y-fitting.
With the guidewire inserted, the user was able to hold the guidewire and hemostasis y-fitting in a fixed position while advancing the distal tip of the catheter relative to the guidewire. Compared to a standard catheter with a proximal guidewire side port fixed distally of the proximal hub, this inventive catheter significantly improved the ability of the section of the catheter, distal to the hemostasis y-fitting, to track the guidewire and allow push forces applied to the proximal portion of the catheter shaft to be transferred directly to the distal tip of the catheter.
In still a further aspect of the invention, a polymer film wrapping process can be used to construct, modify or enhance the properties of catheters in a variety of ways. Suitable polymer films include, for example, flexible polymer materials such as polyethylene, including ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polyethylene terephthalate, fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), perfluoro alkoxy resin (PFA), polyurethane, polyester, polyimide, etc. Porous polymers, optionally provided with a thin, non-porous coating, may be advantageously used because of their excellent flexibility. The polymer film is most preferably made from a thin, porous expanded PTFE (ePTFE) film that has been provided with a porous or non-porous coating of a thermoplastic such as a thermoplastic fluoropolymer, preferably fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP). EPTFE films are generally made as taught by U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,953,566 and 4,187,390 to Gore and U.S. Pat. No. 5,476,589 to Bacino. It may be desirable to modify the polymer film material by providing various fillers to the film. In the case of porous polymers such as ePTFE film, fillers can be imbibed into the porosity of the film by known methods, such as taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,794, to Korleski. Suitable fillers include, for example, fillers in particulate and/or fiber form and can be ceramics, metals, metalloids, carbon, and combinations thereof. Particularly useful fillers include, for example, radiopaque materials, such as certain metals (e.g. gold) and carbon. The fillers can be used in combination with desired adhesive materials when imbibed into the porosity of the polymer film. It may also be desirable to metalize the film on at least a portion thereof. Moreover, ePTFE/FEP laminate films are taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,159,565, to Campbell et al. In an aspect of the invention, the polymer film is provided in a helically-wrapped fashion. In a further aspect of the invention, polymer films which exhibit longitudinal shrinkage (e.g., by heat or chemical activation) may be particularly attractive for use in certain aspects of the invention. Further suitable polymer films can be polymer tubes which may be heat shrinkable materials. One such material is PET shrink tubing, which can be provided in very thin (e.g., 0.5 mil) thicknesses. ePTFE is another example of polymer film (or tubing) that may exhibit shrinkage upon either chemical or heat activation.
It may be desirable to provide a suitable adhesive material to at least a portion of at least one side of the polymer film. Any number of adhesives may be useful according to this aspect of the invention; including thermoplastic adhesives, thermoset adhesives, pressure sensitive adhesives, heat activated adhesives, chemically activated adhesives, and UV-curable adhesives, depending upon the particular embodiment and desired results. The adhesives can be provided in liquid or solid form. In an aspect of the invention, adhesives include, for example, polyamides, polyacrylamides, polyesters, polyolefins (e.g., polyethylene), polyurethanes, and the like.
Turning to the Figures, shown for example in partial isometric
Shown in partial isometric
Shown in partial isometric
Numerous shapes, sizes and quantities of tubular elements can be easily joined together by polymer film wrapping to form catheters of the present invention. Shown, for example, in
Specifically,
The term “tubular element” includes any longitudinally extending structure with or without a through lumen. Thus, tubular elements include but are not limited to tubes with lumens, solid rods, hollow or solid wires (e.g., guidewires), hollow or solid stylets, metal tubes (e.g., hypotubes), polymer tubes, pull cords or tethers, fibers, filaments, electrical conductors, radiopaque elements, radioactive elements and radiographic elements. Tubular elements can be of any material and can have any cross-sectional shape including but not limited to profiles that are circular, oval, triangular, square, polygon shaped or randomly shaped.
Shown in
Moreover, polymer film wrapping can be used to form catheters having similar profiles as those shown in
A further aspect of the present invention is depicted in
Shown in
Shown in
As mentioned, it may be desirable to fuse, bond or adhere together the elements when forming a catheter according to the present invention. Shown in
In a further aspect, an exterior polymer film wrap can be used to secure, provide strain relief or join tubular elements together to form various catheter constructions. Shown for example in partial cross-sectional view
In an alternate configuration, tubular elements can be similarly joined together in an overlapping relationship. Shown in partial cross-sectional view,
Shown in
A film wrapped external layer can be used to secure individual components onto a tubular member to form catheters of the present invention. Shown for example in partial cross-sectional view,
In addition to securing multiple tubular elements or balloons, polymer film can be used to secure or cover various secondary components to form catheters of the present invention. These secondary components or elements include but are not limited to radiopaque elements, visualization elements (such as indicia), radioactive elements, chemical eluting elements, electrical components, valves, seals, occluders, filters, membranes, members used to alter or enhance mechanical properties, historic indicators of use, temperature or sterilization, fluid fittings and interconnect hubs. Shown for example in partial cross-sectional view,
Film wrapping processes can be used to construct an entire catheter tube or be used to modify the properties of a catheter tube from a proximal point to a distal point on the tube. The same polymer materials discussed above are suitable for this aspect of the invention as well. Shown for example in partial cross-sectional view in
Catheters can be constructed having physical attributes that vary by distinct regions or can display a progressive or continuous gradient in physical properties. Shown for example in partial cross-section view
Film wrapping processes are ideally suited for forming tubular elements with “non-linear” profiles such as tapers, flares, an “egg in a snake” bulge, square to round (profile 1 to profile 2) shapes, large to small diameters or any other, “generally non-extrudable” profile. Shown for example in partial cross-sectional
Catheter profiles, such as the tapered profiles shown in
Film wrapping processes can also be used to form tubular members that have a longitudinal sliding relationship. For example as shown in partial cross-sectional view
In a preferred embodiment, a general catheter of the present invention has a longitudinally sliding fit between a base tube and an external film layer that forms a sliding “gate-valve”. Shown in partial cross-sectional view
Shown in partial cross-sectional view
With regard to film wrapping of fenestrated tubing, it is believed that an ePTFE/adhesive laminate film may be particularly useful. For example, as discussed above, it may desirable to provide an adhesive to the outer surface, the inner surface, or both, of the ePTFE film to provide for enhanced properties. In such a case, it is believed that the ePTFE is particularly attractive, since the ePTFE may act as a stable scaffold (i.e., the film tends to shrink only a small amount) for the adhesive. For example, when wrapping a metal hypotube with an ePTFE/FEP system, the FEP could act as an adhesive, the system could be heated to cause the FEP to flow; however, the FEP will tend to stay in the ePTFE structure and not infiltrate into the fenestrations in the hypotube. Further embodiments could include wrapping a cut PEBAX tube with an ePTFE film and an adhesive with a lower melting temperature—or indeed a UV curable adhesive. Other variations of this embodiment will now be apparent to the skilled artisan.
Film coverings of the present invention do not necessarily have to be adhered or fixed onto a base tubular element. In some preferred embodiments, catheters of the present invention can have film coverings that are non-adhered or separate from the underlying base tubular element. Shown for example in partial cross-sectional view
In a similar configuration, stretchable, elastic or distending film coverings can be applied and selectively non-adhered to a longitudinally extending tubular element. Shown for example in partial cross-sectional view
Alternate uses of film wrappings on catheters include the sealing of secondary lumens or channels. Shown for example in cross-sectional view
In a further aspect of the invention, demonstrated in
Film wrapping processes can also be used to alter or create new surface profiles on tubular elements. Shown for example in partial isometric view,
In an alternative embodiment, suitable “fish scales” or “sails” could be obtained by using polymer film having a variable stiffness or thickness across the width of the film. For example, a suitable polymer film could be cut into tape form wherein one side of the tape is thicker than the other side of the tape. As shown in
Claims
1. Catheter comprising:
- at least a first and a second essentially parallel, longitudinally extending elements each having an outer surface, a distal end and a proximal end;
- at least one of the elements having a lumen extending for at least a portion therethrough; and
- polymer film contacting the outer surface of each element.
2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the at least first and second elements comprise a first tube and a second tube, each having a lumen extending for at least a portion therethrough.
3. The catheter of claim 2, wherein one of the lumens is a guidewire lumen and one of the lumens is an inflation lumen.
4. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the polymer film is wrapped about the outer surface of each element.
5. The catheter of claim 4, wherein the polymer film is helically wrapped about the outer surface of each element.
6. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the at least first element is a tube and the at least second element comprises a material selected from the group consisting of wires, chords, fibers, and filaments.
7. The catheter of claim 6, wherein the polymer film is wrapped about the outer surfaces of the at least first element and the at least second element.
8. The catheter of claim 7, wherein the polymer film is helically wrapped about the outer surfaces of the at least first element and the at least second element.
9. The catheter of claim 6, wherein an inflatable member is located on the distal end of the catheter.
10. The catheter of claim 2, wherein the first tube and the second tube are about the same length.
11. The catheter of claim 10, wherein the second tube is provided with a guidewire exit port that communicates with the lumen of the second tube and that is located at a point between the distal and proximal ends of the second tube.
12. The catheter of claim 2, wherein the first tube is longer than the second tube.
13. The catheter of claim 2, wherein an inflatable member is located on the distal end of the catheter.
14. The catheter of claim 13, wherein a stent is mounted on the inflatable member.
15. A catheter comprising:
- a first element comprising a first longitudinally extending tube having an outer surface, a lumen extending for at least a portion therethrough, a distal end and a proximal end;
- a second element in contact with the outer surface of the first element; and
- polymer film in contact with the outer surface of the first element and the second element.
16. The catheter of claim 15, wherein the second element is a radiopaque material.
17. The catheter of claim 15, wherein the second element is indicia placed on the outer surface of the first element.
18. The catheter of claim 15, wherein the polymer film is wrapped about the outer surface of each element.
19. The catheter of claim 18, wherein the polymer film is helically wrapped about the outer surface of each element.
20. A catheter comprising:
- a first longitudinally extending element having a lumen extending for at least a portion therethrough, an outer surface, a proximal region and a distal region;
- a second longitudinally extending element having a lumen extending for at least a portion therethrough, an outer surface, a proximal region and a distal region;
- the distal region of the first element joined to the proximal region of the second element;
- wherein polymer film is in contact with the outer surface of the distal region of the first element and the proximal region of the second element.
21. The catheter of claim 20, wherein the first element and the second element are joined in abutting relationship.
22. The catheter of claim 20, wherein the first element and the second element are joined in an overlapping joint.
23. The catheter of claim 20, wherein the lumen of the first element and the lumen of the second element are in fluid communication.
24. The catheter of claim 20, wherein at least one of the first element and the second element further includes a second lumen extending for at least a portion therethrough.
25. The catheter of claim 24, wherein both of the first element and the second element further include a second lumen extending for at least a portion therethrough.
26. The catheter of claim 25, wherein the first and second lumen of the first element are in fluid communication with the first and second lumen of the second element, respectively.
27. The catheter of claim 20, wherein the polymer film is wrapped about the outer surface of each element.
28. The catheter of claim 27, wherein the polymer film is helically wrapped about the outer surface of each element.
29. A catheter comprising:
- A longitudinally extending tube having at least one physical property varied from a proximal point on the catheter to a distal point on the catheter, the at least one physical property being varied by wrapping polymer film about at least a portion of the length of the catheter.
30. The catheter of claim 29, wherein the at least one varied physical property is selected from the group consisting of flexibility, column strength, tensile strength, crush resistance, burst strength, wall thickness and lubricity.
31. The catheter of claim 29, wherein the catheter has a wall thickness that varies from a proximal point to a distal point.
32. The catheter of claim 29, wherein the catheter has a tapered outer diameter.
33. The catheter of claim 29, wherein the catheter has a tapered inner diameter.
34. The catheter of claim 29, wherein the longitudinally extending tube is formed by the wrapped polymer film.
35. The catheter of claim 34, wherein the longitudinally extending tube has a wall thickness that varies from a proximal point to a distal point.
36. The catheter of claim 34, wherein the catheter has a tapered outer diameter.
37. The catheter of claim 34, wherein the catheter has a tapered inner diameter.
38. A medical device comprising:
- a longitudinally extending tube having a wall portion and a lumen extending for at least a portion therethrough;
- the tube having at least one fenestration extending through the wall portion; and
- polymer film covering at least a portion of the at least one fenestration.
39. The medical device of claim 38, wherein the polymer film has at least one polymer film aperture overlaying at least a portion of the at least one fenestration.
40. The medical device of claim 38, wherein the polymer film is wrapped about the tube and has non-overlapping edges forming the at least one polymer film aperture.
41. The medical device of claim 38, wherein the tube fenestration is a longitudinally extending spiral cut through the wall portion.
42. The medical device of claim 38, wherein an inflatable member is located on the distal end of the tube and the lumen is in fluid communication with the interior of the inflatable member.
43. Catheter comprising a first longitudinally extending hollow polymer tube having a proximal end, a distal end, a wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, and a centrally located lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end;
- a channel located in the wall forming an opening in the outer surface of the wall and extending from the proximal end to the distal end; and
- polymer film covering the channel from the proximal end to the distal end, thus covering the opening in the outer surface and forming a first wall lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end.
44. The catheter of claim 43, further comprising a second longitudinally extending hollow tube having a proximal end and a distal end, a wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, and a centrally located lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein the second longitudinally extending hollow tube is located inside the first longitudinally extending hollow tube with the inner surface of the first tube being in contact with the outer surface of the second tube.
45. The catheter of claim 44, wherein the first polymer tube encapsulates a metal braid material.
46. The catheter of claim 45 wherein the polymer material comprises polyamide.
47. The catheter of claim 46, wherein the polymer film comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.
48. The catheter of claim 44, wherein the second tube comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.
49. The catheter of claim 48, wherein the polytetrafluoroethylene is extruded polytetrafluoroethylene.
50. The catheter of claim 48, wherein the polytetrafluoroethylene is expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.
51. The catheter of claim 46, wherein the channel is formed by a laser.
52. The catheter of claim 46, wherein the polymer film is wrapped about the outer surface of the first longitudinally extending hollow tube.
53. The catheter of claim 52, wherein the polymer film is helically wrapped about the outer surface of the first longitudinally extending hollow tube.
54. The catheter of claim 43, wherein the channel is a longitudinally extending channel.
55. The catheter of claim 43, wherein the channel is a spirally extending channel.
56. The catheter of claim 43, wherein an inflatable member is located on the distal end of the catheter.
57. The catheter of claim 56, wherein the first wall lumen is in fluid communication with the inflatable member.
58. The catheter of claim 57, wherein a guidewire is in sliding relationship with the centrally located lumen of the first longitudinally extending hollow tube.
59. The catheter of claim 45, wherein an inflatable member is located on the distal end of the catheter and the first wall lumen is in fluid communication with the inflatable member.
60. The catheter of claim 58 wherein the inflatable member is an occlusion balloon.
61. The catheter of claim 43, wherein the catheter is sized to be capable of being advanced into a patient's cerebral vasculature.
62. The catheter of claim 60, wherein the catheter is sized to be capable of being advanced into a patient's cerebral vasculature.
63. The catheter of claim 44, wherein the catheter is sized to be capable of being advanced into a patient's cerebral vasculature.
64. The catheter of claim 56, wherein the catheter is sized to be capable of being advanced into a patient's cerebral vasculature.
65. The catheter of claim 64, wherein the inflatable member is an occlusion balloon.
66. The catheter of claim 56, wherein the inflatable member is a dilatation balloon.
67. The catheter of claim 66, wherein a stent is mounted on the dilatation balloon.
68. The catheter of claim 43, further comprising at least a second channel located in the wall forming at least a second opening in the outer surface of the wall.
69. The catheter of claim 68, wherein the second channel extends from the proximal end to the distal end of the catheter.
70. The catheter of claim 68, wherein the polymer film covers the at least second opening in the outer surface of the wall, forming at least a second wall lumen.
71. The catheter of claim 70, wherein the second wall lumen extends from the proximal end to the distal end of the catheter.
72. The catheter of claim 44, wherein the channel is a longitudinally extending channel.
73. The catheter of claim 44, wherein the channel is a spirally extending channel.
74. The catheter of claim 44, wherein an inflatable member is located on the distal end of the catheter.
75. The catheter of claim 74, wherein the first wall lumen is in fluid communication with the inflatable member.
76. The catheter of claim 75, wherein a guidewire is in sliding relationship with the centrally located lumen of the first longitudinally extending hollow tube.
77. The catheter of claim 74, wherein the inflatable member is an occlusion balloon.
78. The catheter of claim 74, wherein the inflatable member is a dilatation balloon.
79. The catheter of claim 78, wherein a stent is mounted on the dilatation balloon.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 21, 2004
Publication Date: Mar 17, 2005
Inventors: Carey Campbell (Flagstaff, AZ), Edward Cully (Flagstaff, AZ), Sherif Eskaros (Elkton, MD), James Mann (Elkton, MD), Benjamin Trapp (Flagstaff, AZ), Michael Vonesh (Flagstaff, AZ)
Application Number: 10/895,817