Abstract: A perfusion-type dilatation catheter which can be rapidly exchanged for another catheter without the need for exchange wires or guidewire extension wire. The dilatation catheter has an elongated catheter body with a distal guidewire port in the distal end of the catheter and a proximal guidewire port at least 10 cm but not more than 50 cm from the distal port. The catheter body has a first inflation lumen which extends from the proximal end of the catheter body to the interior of a dilatation balloon adjacent the distal end of the catheter body. A second, much shorter inner lumen is disposed between the proximal and distal guidewire ports and is adapted to slidably receive a guidewire.

Abstract: A balloon dilatation catheter having a catheter shaft with an oblong transverse cross-section with one transverse dimension in a first direction being significantly larger than a second transverse dimension in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first dimension is about 1.1 to about 3 times greater, preferably about 1.2 to about 2.5 times greater than the second dimension. In one embodiment, a length of the distal shaft section has inner and outer tubular members where about 30% to not more than about 90% of the inner periphery of the outer tubular member takes the shape of and is secured to the exterior of the inner tubular member. In another embodiment the flexible distal shaft section is an extruded section having an oval or elliptical transverse cross-section. Preferably a pseudoelastic hypotube of NiTi alloy defines at least part of the inflation lumen within the catheter shaft.

Abstract: A balloon dilatation catheter having a catheter shaft with an oblong transverse cross-section with one transverse dimension in a first direction being significantly larger than a second transverse dimension in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first dimension is about 1.1 to about 3 times greater, preferably about 1.2 to about 2.5 times greater than the second dimension. In one embodiment, a length of the distal shaft section has inner and outer tubular members where about 30% to not more than about 90% of the inner periphery of the outer tubular member takes the shape of and is secured to the exterior of the inner tubular member. In another embodiment the flexible distal shaft section is an extruded section having an oval or elliptical transverse cross-section. Preferably a pseudoelastic hypotube of NiTi alloy defines at least part of the inflation lumen within the catheter shaft.

Abstract: A balloon dilatation catheter having a catheter shaft with an oblong transverse cross-section with one transverse dimension in a first direction being significantly larger than a second transverse dimension in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first dimension is about 1.1 to about 3 times greater, preferably about 1.2 to about 2.5 times greater than the second dimension. In one embodiment, a length of the distal shaft section has inner and outer tubular members where about 30% to not more than about 90% of the inner periphery of the outer tubular member takes the shape of and is secured to the exterior of the inner tubular member. In another embodiment the flexible distal shaft section is an extruded section having an oval or elliptical transverse cross-section. Preferably a pseudoelastic hypotube of NiTi alloy defines at least part of the inflation lumen within the catheter shaft.

Abstract: A balloon dilatation catheter having a catheter shaft with an oblong transverse cross-section with one transverse dimension in a first direction being significantly larger than a second transverse dimension in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first dimension is about 1.1 to about 3 times greater, preferably about 1.2 to about 2.5 times greater than the second dimension. In one embodiment, a length of the distal shaft section has inner and outer tubular members where about 30% to not more than about 90% of the inner periphery of the outer tubular member takes the shape of and is secured to the exterior of the inner tubular member. In another embodiment the flexible distal shaft section is an extruded section having an oval or elliptical transverse cross-section. Preferably a pseudoelastic hypotube of NiTi alloy defines at least part of the inflation lumen within the catheter shaft.

Abstract: An intraluminal catheter, particularly a dilatation catheter for PTCA procedures, which is adapted for rapid exchange during an intraluminal procedure and which also allows for the exchange of the guidewire without loss of access to the intraluminal region about the distal end of the catheter. The catheter has a main guidewire lumen which extends essentially the length of the catheter and a guidewire extension lumen which extends proximally from the main guidewire lumen and is at least in part offset and parallel to the main guidewire lumen. A portion of the catheter shaft which defines at least part of the main guidewire lumen has a first slit from the proximal end of the catheter to the intersection between the extension lumen and the main guidewire lumen and a second lumen which extends from a proximal guidewire port in the guidewire extension lumen to a port in the distal end of the catheter.

Abstract: A catheter and method of using the catheter for the delivery of therapeutic or diagnostic liquid within a body lumen of a patient. The catheter has an outer inflatable member which has a wall with a plurality of apertures which eject therapeutic or diagnostic liquid in a jet-like form deep within the lumenal tissue adjacent to the outer inflatable member. In one embodiment the catheter has an inner inflatable member disposed within the outer inflatable member which upon inflation expands the outer tubular member so as to dilatate a stenotic region of a body lumen such as an artery. The inflatable member may be provided with proximal and distal ends which expand to larger diameters than the central inflatable section so as to seal the larger ends and prevent the loss of fluid.

Abstract: A guidewire replacement device having an elongated catheter shaft with an inner lumen extending within the catheter shaft, a proximal guidewire port spaced at least 1 cm from the distal end of the catheter which is in fluid communication with the inner lumen and a distal guidewire port in the distal end of the catheter which is also in fluid communication with the inner lumen. The proximal end of an in-place guidewire is inserted through the distal guidewire port and advanced through the inner lumen until the proximal end of the guidewire extends through the proximal guidewire port. The exchange device is advanced over the guidewire until the distal end of the exchange device is seated within the proximal guidewire port in the readily exchangeable dilatation catheter. With the distal end of the exchange device well seated within the proximal guidewire port of the dilatation catheter, the in-place guidewire can be withdrawn from the patient.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter such as a dilatation catheter for angioplasty with a catheter shaft having an outer tubular member with an expandable distal section which expands elasticly upon the introduction of fluid under a pressure within a first pressure range to a larger diameter and which contracts by elastic recoil upon the withdrawal of the inflation fluid. The expandable distal section is relatively noncompliant at pressures above the first pressure range. Preferably, the dilatation catheter has an inflatable member or balloon disposed distal to the expandable distal section which is formed of the same polymeric material as the expandable distal section and is in fluid communication with the expandable inner lumen within the expandable distal section. In one preferred embodiment the catheter has a distal section which includes an outer tubular member bonded or otherwise secured (e.g.

Abstract: A perfusion-type dilatation catheter which can be rapidly exchanged for another catheter without the need for exchange wires or guidewire extension wires. The dilatation catheter has an elongated catheter body with a distal guidewire port in the distal end of the catheter and a proximal guidewire port at least 10 cm but not more than 50 cm from the distal port. The catheter body has a first inflation lumen which extends from the proximal end of the catheter body to the interior of a dilatation balloon adjacent the distal end of the catheter body. A second, much shorter inner lumen is disposed between the proximal and distal guidewire ports and is adapted to slidably receive a guidewire.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter, such as a balloon dilatation catheter, which has a distal section wherein a small dimensioned distal section of an outer tubular member is bonded to an inner tubular member over a significant portion thereof to provide a catheter shaft having small transverse dimensions and improved flexibility with little or no loss is pushability. The catheter construction can be employed in a wide variety of catheters.

Abstract: An intraluminal catheter, particularly a dilatation catheter for PTCA procedures, which is adapted for rapid exchange during an intraluminal procedure and which also allows for the exchange of the guidewire without loss of access to the intraluminal region about the distal end of the catheter. The catheter has a main guidewire lumen which extends essentially the length of the catheter and a guidewire extension lumen which extends proximally from the main guidewire lumen and is at least in part offset and parallel to the main guidewire lumen. A portion of the catheter shaft which defines at least part of the main guidewire lumen has a first slit from the proximal end of the catheter to the intersection between the extension lumen and the main guidewire lumen and a second lumen which extends from a proximal guidewire port in the guidewire extension lumen to a port in the distal end of the catheter.

Abstract: A perfusion-type dilatation catheter with perfusion ports in the wall of the catheter shaft wherein the proximal edges of the perfusion ports have depressions extending into a guidewire receiving inner lumen which passes through the catheter shaft. The depressed proximal edges prevent excursions of guidewires through the perfusion ports as the guidewire is passed through the guidewire receiving inner lumen. The perfusion ports may be conveniently made by forming holes into the wall of the catheter shaft, inserting shaping pins into the holes, heating the wall of the catheter shaft to make it readily deformable and then rotating the shaping pins proximally along the longitudinal axis of the catheter shaft so that the rotated shaping pins form depressions along the proximal edges of the perfusion ports which extend into the guidewire receiving inner lumen within the catheter shaft.

Abstract: A balloon dilatation catheter which has a coiled supporting element disposed within a guidewire receiving inner lumen extending within the interior of the balloon. Substantially lower profiles can be obtained with catheters of this type, particularly with perfusion-type dilatation catheters with little chance that the inner member will collapse when the balloon is inflated to high pressures. Additionally, the coiled supporting element provides much smoother transitions at the ends of the balloon and thereby improves the trackability of the catheter over a guidewire.

Abstract: A dilatation catheter is described wherein a primary perfusion port is provided adjacent the proximal end of the inflatable member having a transverse cross-sectional area which is dimensioned to provide the bulk of the perfusion flow through the catheter. The primary perfusion port is offset from the guidewire receiving lumen which extends through the catheter shaft.