Abstract: An elongated rod terminating in an abutment device with a lumen for passage of a guidewire is used to push an angioplasty balloon along the guidewire and through a vasculature to a location where treatment is needed. The balloon is fed by an inflation tube which remains independent of the guidewire and need not have axial rigidity. This combination of components permits one to exchange balloons without the need for a guidewire extending 100 cm or more outside the patient's body. Guidewire exchanges are also possible in cetain embodiments of the concept, and possibilities for perfusion are also presented. The guidewire passes through a tube inside the balloon which can also be used for perfusion of the patient's blood when the guidewire is withdrawn.

Abstract: A proximal adaptor for an over-the-wire angioplasty catheter is disclosed which contains a retractable catheter slitting element and a releasable guidewire seizing element, both of which are controllable by a manually operated element or elements accessible from the exterior of the adaptor.

Abstract: An elongated rod terminating in an abutment device with a lumen for passage of a guidewire is used to push an angioplasty balloon along the guidewire and through a vasculature to a location where treatment is needed. The balloon is fed by an inflation tube which remains independent of the guidewire and need not have axial rigidity. This combination of components permits one to exchange balloons without the need for a guidewire extending 100 cm or more outside the patient's body. Guidewire exchanges are also possible in certain embodiments of the concept, and possibilities for perfusion are also presented. The guidewire passes through a tube inside the balloon which can also be used for perfusion of the patient's blood when the guidewire is withdrawn.

Abstract: The present invention is a catheter having a guidewire lumen slidable sleeve. The lumen and sleeve have aligned apertures, which may be closed by moving the slidable sleeve. When the apertures are aligned, a guidewire may be loaded from the distal end of the catheter through the lumen. The guidewire is forced out of the lumen by a ramp in the lumen. The ramp is at the end of a removable core member, which provides enhanced shaft rigidity. The catheter may be converted from a "monorail" to an "over-the-wire" configuration by moving the slidable sleeve to close the aperture and advancing a replacement guidewire through the guidewire lumen past the now sealed aperture. A non-circular cross-section is used for the lumen, removable core member, and slidable sleeve, thereby maintaining orientation of the lumen and slidable sleeve apertures should the catheter undergo rotational flexing during use.

Abstract: The present invention is an "over-the-wire" catheter having a proximal adapter system which may be used to open a longitudinally closed guidewire lumen, thereby facilitating rapid removal of the catheter without a guidewire extension mechanism.

Abstract: An exchangeable catheter-guidewire system is disclosed in which the guidewire can be manipulated to seize and to release itself from the catheter body while both are in place in a vasculature or other body vessel. For balloon dilatation catheters, this arrangement permits one to transmit the fluid used for perfusion and/or balloon inflation through the same lumen through which the guidewire passes. Balloon catheters which utilize the invention have the capacity to secure the position of the guidewire relative to the catheter body, as well as to seal the lumen and balloon to retain fluid under pressure, both by remote control from the proximal end of the catheter. The seizure and sealing are achieved by a deformable section on the guidewire, which expands upon deformation to seize a tubular section of the catheter body.

Abstract: A dilatation balloon catheter with a non-removable guidewire is disclosed in which the guidewire is joined to the catheter tube through a distortable element, preferably a twistable tube. The element provides a strong fluid-tight connection between the guidewire and catheter tube and yet permits the guidewire to be rotated relative to the catheter tube over a wide range of rotation, with little torsional stress on either the catheter tube, the balloon or any other element of the catheter construction. In preferred embodiments, the catheter construction further includes a column support tube inside the balloon, surrounding a segment of the guidewire toward its distal end, to prevent collapse of the balloon along its longitudinal axis as the balloon is advanced into a stenosis. In these embodiments, the distortable element is joined to the catheter tube through the column support tube which thus serves as an intermediate linkage.