Angioplasty apparatus facilitating rapid exchanges and method
Apparatus for introduction into the vessel of a patient comprising a guiding catheter adapted to be inserted into the vessel of the patient and a device adapted to be inserted into the guiding catheter. The device includes a flexible elongate member and a sleeve carried by the flexible elongate member near the distal extremity thereof and extending from a region near the distal extremity to a region spaced from the distal extremity of the flexible elongate element. The device also includes a guide wire adapted to extend through the sleeve so that the guide wire extends rearwardly of the sleeve extending alongside of and exteriorally of the flexible elongate element into a region near the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate element.
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This invention relates to angioplasty apparatus facilitating rapid exchanges and a method for making rapid exchanges of angioplasty devices.
At the present time in practicing angioplasty, it is often necessary to exchange one dilatation catheter for another. In doing so, it has been necessary to utilize long exchange wires having a length of approximately 300 centimeters which typically requires two operators to perform the procedure. During this procedure, it is necessary that the operators communicate with each other which makes the procedure time consuming. In addition, since the exchange wire is so long it often is awkward to handle and for that reason may come in contact with the floor or become contaminated which necessitates removing the entire apparatus being utilized for the angioplasty procedure. There is therefore a need for a new and improved angioplasty apparatus which overcomes such difficulties.
In general, it is an object of the present invention to provide an angioplasty apparatus and a method which facilitates rapid exchanges of various types of devices.
Another object of the invention is to provide an angioplasty apparatus and method of the above character which greatly facilitates exchanges of dilatation catheters.
Another object of the invention is to provide an angioplasty apparatus and method of the above character which can be utilized for the positioning of flexible elongate members.
Another object of the invention is to provide an angioplasty apparatus and method of the above character which can be utilized with various types of devices utilizing flexible elongate members.
Another object of the invention is to provide an angioplasty apparatus and method in which dye injection and pressure measurements can be made.
Additional objects and features of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiments are set forth in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
In general, the angioplasty apparatus of the present invention is designed for introduction into the vessel of a patient. It consists of a guiding catheter which is adapted to be inserted into the vessel of the patient. It also consists of a device which is adapted to be inserted into the guiding catheter. The device includes a flexible elongate member, a sleeve is secured to the flexible elongate member near the distal extremity thereof and extends from the distal extremity into a region spaced from the distal extremity of the flexible elongate member. The device also includes a guide wire which is adapted to extend through the sleeve from the distal extremity of the flexible elongate element, through the sleeve and rearwardly of the sleeve alongside of and exteriorally of the flexible elongate element.
More particularly as shown in
The balloon dilatation catheter 26 is of a single lumen type and is provided with a flexible elongate tubular member 29 which has a lumen 31 extending therethrough. The flexible tubular member 29 can be formed of a suitable material such as plastic. A Luer-type fitting 32 is mounted on the proximal extremity of the flexible tubular member 29 and is adapted to be connected to a syringe or other type of instrument for introducing a radiographic contrast liquid into the flexible tubular member 29. A balloon 33 is mounted on the distal extremity of another flexible tubular member 36 also is formed of a suitable material such as plastic. The distal extremity of the balloon 33 is bonded to the distal extremity of the flexible tubular member 36 to form an air-tight and liquid-tight seal with respect to the same. The balloon 33 is coaxial with the tubular member 36 or sleeve as shown in
Means is provided for forming a balloon inflation lumen 41 substantially concentric with the flexible tubular member 36 and extends toward the distal extremity of the flexible tubular member 36. As can be seen from
The transition region 44 should be positioned at least approximately 10-15 centimeters from the distal extremity of the balloon dilatation catheter 26. This is important for two reasons. One is that the transition region be kept at a point where when the balloon dilatation catheter 26 is utilized in a procedure, the transition region remains in the guiding catheter 27 and out of the coronary artery. The spacing from the distal extremity of the dilatation catheter for the transition region is also advantageous in that it permits the person performing the procedure to pull the balloon dilatation catheter 26 out of the guiding catheter 17 until the transition region 44 clears the y-connector 19 so that all of the portion of the guide wire 27 which is exterior of the balloon dilatation catheter 26 is proximal of the y-connector. While this is being done, the operator can then utilize the knurled nut 21 to again close the o-ring to form a hemostatic seal between the y-connector and the balloon dilatation catheter to minimize the loss of blood from the patient.
The flexible tubular member 42 can be formed of a suitable material such as a heat shrinkable plastic so that it can be shrunk onto the distal extremity of the flexible tubular member 29 and onto the proximal extremity of the flexible tubular member 36 to form liquid-tight and air-tight seals with respect to the same. From the construction shown it can be seen that the guide wire 27 exits from the balloon dilatation catheter 26 in a region which is relatively close to the distal extremity of the balloon dilatation catheter 26 and extends exteriorally of the balloon dilatation catheter to the proximal extremity of the same. As shown in
A torquer 46 of a conventional construction is secured to the guide wire 27 for rotating the guide wire as hereinafter described.
Operation and use of the angioplasty apparatus shown in
The guide wire 27 is then introduced into the balloon dilatation catheter 26 by a back loading technique. Without the torquer 46 on the guide wire, the proximal extremity of the guide wire 27 is inserted backwardly through the tip of the balloon dilatation catheter through the guide wire lumen 37. The guide wire is advanced rearwardly by holding the distal extremity of the balloon dilatation catheter in one hand and advancing the guide wire 27 rearwardly with the other hand until the guide wire 27 exits through the opening 43 at the transition region 44 of the dilatation catheter. As soon as the guide wire has cleared the opening 43, the guide wire can be grasped by the hand and pulled rearwardly paralleling the balloon dilatation catheter 26 until its proximal extremity is near the proximal extremity of the dilatation catheter and so that the distal extremity of the guide wire, 27 with its flexible or floppy tip 28 protrudes at least partially from the distal extremity of the balloon dilatation catheter.
At this point in time, the O-ring 23 in the y-connector 19 is opened by operation of the knurled knob 21. The distal extremity of the balloon dilatation catheter 26 having the flexible tip protruding therefrom is then introduced to the y-connector past the opened o-ring 23 and slid down the guiding catheter 17. The balloon dilatation catheter 26 and the guide wire 27 are grasped between the fingers of a hand and are advanced parallel into the guiding catheter 17. This procedure is continued until a substantial portion of the balloon dilatation catheter is disposed in the guiding catheter 17.
The torquer 46 now can be attached to the guide wire 27 near the proximal extremity of the same. The guide wire 27 is then advanced ahead of the balloon dilatation catheter until it enters the arterial vessel of the patient. The balloon dilatation catheter 26 is held stable by the fingers of the hand while the guide wire 27 is being advanced. The positioning of the guide wire. 27 in the desired arterial vessel can be observed under a fluoroscope by using x-ray techniques well known to those skilled in the art. As is well known to those skilled in the art, the torquer 46 can be utilized for rotating the guide wire 27 to facilitate positioning of the flexible tip 28 in the desired arterial vessel so that the distal extremity of the guide wire can be advanced into the stenosis which it is desired to open or enlarge.
As soon as the guide wire 27 is in the desired location, it can be held stationary by two fingers of the hand and at this point in time, the balloon dilatation catheter 26 is advanced over the guide wire until the deflated balloon 33 is across the desired lesion or stenosis. If any difficulty is encountered by the person conducting the procedure in introducing the balloon dilatation catheter so that the balloon 33 resists crossing the lesion or stenosis, the guide wire 27 can be retracted slightly. The person then can observe under the fluoroscope to see that the tip 28 of the guide wire is wiggling in the blood stream indicating that it is free to move in the blood stream. Then the person can grasp both the guide wire and the dilatation catheter in one hand and advance them as a unit so that they can cross the stenosis as a unit. It has been found by utilizing such a procedure, greater pushability can be obtained in advancing the balloon dilatation catheter across the stenosis. In other words, more force can be applied to the balloon to cause it to cross the stenosis or lesion in case the opening therein is very small.
After the balloon 33 has crossed the stenosis or lesion, the balloon 33 can be inflated in a conventional manner by introducing a radiopaque contrast liquid through the lumen 31. After the inflation has occurred and the desired operation has been performed by enlarging the opening in the stenosis, the balloon dilatation catheter 26 can be removed very rapidly by the person performing the procedure by grasping the guide wire 27 by two fingers immediately proximal of the y-connector 19 after the torquer 46 has been removed. The balloon dilatation catheter 26 can be removed in several seconds in comparison with the much longer time required for removing the balloon dilatation catheter utilizing prior art exchange wire procedures. As soon as the balloon dilatation catheter 26 has been removed from the guiding catheter 17, another injection of radiographic contrast liquid can be introduced through the guiding catheter 17 to observe whether or not the balloon dilatation procedure which has been performed on the lesion or stenosis has in fact opened the lesion or stenosis to the satisfaction of the person performing the procedure.
If it is ascertained by the person performing the procedure that additional dilation of the stenosis is desired and that a larger balloon should be inserted into the stenosis, this can be accomplished very rapidly by selecting the desired size of balloon dilatation catheter.
As the balloon dilatation catheter 26 is being retracted out of the guiding catheter 17 and as soon as the transition region 44 has cleared the y-adapter 19, the o-ring 23 can be tightened down to form a seal over the balloon dilatation catheter to minimize the loss of blood of the patient. Thereafter, if desired, the remainder of the balloon dilatation catheter 26 can be removed from the guiding catheter 17 until the proximal extremity of the guide wire passes through the opening 43 and passes through the end of the balloon dilatation catheter 26. As soon as this has been accomplished, a new balloon dilatation catheter can be loaded onto the guide wire in a rearward direction by introducing the proximal extremity of the guide wire 27 into the tip of the balloon dilatation catheter. As this is being done, the index finger of the hand performing the procedure can be utilized for opening the o-ring by adjusting the knurled knob 21. The guide wire 27 is grasped by the fingers of the hand and the balloon dilatation catheter 26 can be advanced rapidly over the guide wire into the guiding catheter 17 and advanced across the lesion in a manner hereinbefore described with respect to the smaller balloon dilatation catheter which had been utilized. The balloon of the new dilatation catheter can be inflated in the same manner as hereinbefore described. If necessary even another exchange procedure can be readily accomplished in the same manner as hereinbefore described utilizing a still larger balloon dilatation catheter if that turns out to be necessary.
It has been found that an exchange utilizing the present angioplasty apparatus can be performed in less than 10 to 15 seconds whereas in the past utilizing a prior art guide wire exchange procedure required an average of approximately two minutes.
After the desired amount of dilation of the stenosis or lesion has been accomplished, the balloon dilatation catheter 26 can be removed and thereafter, the guiding catheter 17 can be removed.
Another embodiment of an angioplasty apparatus incorporating the present invention is shown in
The balloon dilatation catheter which is shown in
Still another embodiment of the angioplasty apparatus incorporating the present invention is shown in
The sleeve 52 is provided with a lumen 53 through which the vent tube 51 extends. The vent tube 51 can be formed of a suitable material such as metal and is also provided with a lumen 54 of a size so that gas can escape therethrough. The proximal extremity of the vent tube 51 is provided with a portion 51a which is bent at right angles to the main portion of the vent tube 51 to ensure that the vent tube will be removed from the balloon dilatation catheter 26b prior to insertion into the guiding catheter 17. As shown in
Operation of the balloon dilatation catheter 26b shown in
In all other respects, the balloon dilatation catheter 26b can be utilized in the same manner as the balloon dilatation catheters hereinbefore described in connection with exchanges on the guide wire 27.
Still another embodiment of an angioplasty apparatus incorporating the present invention is shown in
It can be readily seen from the foregoing description that the pressure/dye catheter 61 can be readily introduced into a guiding catheter 17 and that the distal extremity of the pressure/dye catheter can be positioned in a desired location in the arterial vessel by utilizing the guide wire 68 to position the same. It also should be appreciated that a torquer of the type hereinbefore described such as the torquer 46 can be utilized on the proximal extremity of the guide wire 68 to cause rotational movement of the guide wire to facilitate positioning of the guide wire in the desired arterial vessel and to thereafter have the tubular member 62 follow the same. The desired picture and/or dye measurements can then be made by utilizing the lumen 63 provided in the tubular member 62. As can be seen from
Another embodiment of an angioplasty apparatus is shown in
It should be appreciated that the concept of using a relatively short sleeve extending from the distal extremity of the device to a region approximately 10 to 15 centimeters to the rear and then having the guide wire extend externally of the device is applicable for a number of medical devices as well as other applications. For example, ultrasonic catheters for imaging ultrasound and for measurement of Doppler velocity can be utilized to provide various types of dedicated devices having the guide sleeve with the guide wire therein for facilitating positioning of the same in arterial vessels. The apparatus of the present invention is particularly useful in devices where multiple re-entries are required in order to complete the procedure.
In
Still another embodiment of the angioplasty apparatus of the present invention is shown in
The bailout catheter 86 is utilized in situations where an obstruction has occurred in a blood vessel and stops the flow of blood. In order to reestablish the flow of blood, the bailout device is inserted into the guiding catheter 17. If a guide wire is already in place, the bailout device can be placed on the guide wire by introducing the proximal extremity of the guide wire into the sleeve and then pushing the bailout catheter on the guide wire into the guiding catheter 17 until it passes through the obstruction in the arterial vessel. The distal extremity of the bailout device is so positioned so that the obstruction is disposed between the two sets of holes 91 and 92. When the bailout catheter is positioned, blood can still flow through the holes 93 past the obstruction which is held out of the way by the bailout catheter.
Thus it can be seen that the same principle utilizing a guide tube and an external guide wire passing through the guide tube can be utilized for positioning the bailout device. As pointed out previously, the bailout device can be utilized for positioning other types of devices in arterial vessel, as for example, atherectomy devices particularly where multiple re-entries or reintroductions of the devices are required.
In
Use of the holder 101 shown in
More than one of the slots 108 has been provided in the holder 101 in order to make it possible to accommodate two wire or two balloon dilatation catheters in which one of the other slots 108 can be utilized for accommodating the additional guide wire. This prevents the guide wires from becoming entangled with each other.
It is apparent from the foregoing that there has been provided an angioplasty apparatus which greatly facilitates the exchange of devices which utilize flexible elongate elements as a part thereof. Rapid exchanges are possible with only one person being necessary to make the exchanges. The need for long exchange wires has been eliminated. One device can be readily substituted for another utilizing the same guide wire which has already been positioned. It can be seen from the foregoing that a relatively simple and expedient solution has been provided which eliminates the need for long exchange wires and the danger of those exchange wires becoming contaminated.
Although the present invention has been described principally in conjunction with catheters having coaxial lumens, it should be appreciated that the invention is as applicable, if not more applicable, to catheters having side-by-side lumens.
Claims
1. In an apparatus of the character described for introduction into the vessel of a patient, a guiding catheter adapted to be inserted into the vessel of the patient, and a device adapted to be inserted into the guiding catheter, the device including a flexible elongate member, a sleeve carried by the flexible elongate member near the distal extremity thereof and extending from a region near the distal extremity to a region spaced from the distal extremity of the flexible elongate element, the device also including a guide wire adapted to extend through the sleeve so that the guide wire can be positioned so that it extends from the distal extremity of the flexible elongate member, through the sleeve and rearwardly of the sleeve alongside of and exteriorally of the flexible elongate element into a region near the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate element.
2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said device includes a balloon dilatation catheter having said flexible elongate member forming a part thereof.
3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said balloon dilatation catheter includes a balloon near the distal extremity thereof and wherein the sleeve for the guide wire extends through the balloon.
4. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said balloon is concentric with respect to said sleeve.
5. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said balloon dilatation catheter includes a balloon inflation lumen extending through the flexible elongate element.
6. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said balloon dilatation catheter includes a lumen for performing dye injection/pressure measurements.
7. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said balloon dilatation catheter includes an additional sleeve carried by the flexible elongate element and extending into the balloon inflation lumen and extending out of the balloon inflation lumen together with a vent tube disposed in the additional sleeve for venting air from the balloon to the atmosphere when the balloon is being filled with a liquid.
8. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said flexible elongate element is provided with a lumen extending the length thereof, said lumen being capable of being utilized for making pressure/dye measurements.
9. Apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said sleeve carried by the flexible elongate element has its distal extremity extending in a curved manner over the distal extremity of the flexible elongate member.
10. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said flexible elongate member is in the form of a fiber optic cable.
11. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said flexible elongate element has a lumen extending therethrough and wherein said flexible elongate element is provided with spaced apart sets of holes extending through the flexible elongate element and being in communication with the lumen extending through the flexible elongate element.
12. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said guiding catheter includes a y-connector having an O-ring fitting therein and wherein the guide wire is adapted to extend through the y connector together with a holder, said holder having means for supporting the y connector, and means for frictionally retaining the guide wire extending from the y connector.
13. In an angioplasty apparatus adapted to be inserted into the vessel of a patient, a guiding catheter, balloon dilatation catheter including a flexible elongate element having a balloon inflating lumen extending therethrough, a balloon, means for establishing a fluid-tight connection between the balloon inflating lumen and the balloon so that the balloon can be inflated and deflated, a sleeve extending through the balloon and extending rearwardly from the balloon and extending alongside and exteriorally of the flexible elongate element, said sleeve having a guide wire lumen extending therethrough and a guide wire extending through the sleeve and extending beyond the distal extremity of the flexible elongate element and extending rearwardly from the sleeve alongside and exteriorally of the flexible elongate element into a region adjacent the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate element.
14. Apparatus as in claim 13 together with means forming a dye injection/pressure measurement lumen extending along the length of the flexible elongate element and extending through the balloon to the distal extremity of the dilatation catheter.
15. Apparatus as in claim 13 together with an additional sleeve carried by the flexible elongate element and extending from the interior of the balloon to the exterior of the flexible elongate element and a vent tube removably disposed within the sleeve.
16. In a method for performing an angioplasty procedure in which a guiding catheter is disposed in the vessel of the patient and in which a device is to be inserted into the guiding catheter, the device including a flexible elongate element and a sleeve carried by the flexible elongate element extending from approximately the distal extremity thereof rearwardly of the flexible elongate element for a distance of approximately 10 centimeters, the device also including a guide wire, the method including the steps of taking the proximal extremity of the guide wire and inserting it in the distal extremity of the sleeve and pushing it rearwardly through the sleeve until it exits from the sleeve and then further advancing the guide wire so that the guide wire extends alongside and exteriorally substantially the entire length of the flexible elongate element, inserting the device into the guiding catheter with the guide wire thereon, advancing the guide wire ahead of the device to position the guide wire in the desired location in the vessel, and thereafter further advancing the device on the guide wire until the device is positioned in the desired location for performing an operation with the device, and removing device from the guide wire while the guide wire remains in place.
17. A method as in claim 16 together with the step of selecting another device to be utilized in the patient and picking up the proximal extremity of the guide wire and inserting it into the tip of the sleeve and pushing the guide wire rearwardly of the sleeve and continuing to advance the flexible elongate element on the guide wire until the flexible elongate element is positioned in the desired location for performing the desired operation and thereafter removing the flexible elongate element and the guide wire from the guiding catheter and removing the guiding catheter.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 24, 2005
Publication Date: Aug 4, 2005
Applicant:
Inventor: Paul Yock (Menlo Park, CA)
Application Number: 11/065,954