Surgery – Means for introducing or removing material from body for... – Treating material introduced into or removed from body...
Patent
1997-10-20
2000-06-13
Stright, Ronald
Surgery
Means for introducing or removing material from body for...
Treating material introduced into or removed from body...
604264, 604528, 604523, A61M 3700, A61M 500, A61M 2500, A61M 2501
Patent
active
060743611
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a catheter of the type according to the preamble of claim 1, such as is disclosed by WO 92/14506. The wall of said catheter contains two wire-type elements which lie diametrically opposite each other and are slidable in the lengthwise direction, one being an elastic element which can assume both a curved and a straight shape, and the other being a `stretch` element which has the tendency to prevent the elastic element from assuming the curved shape. Both elements run on into the distal end of the tubular catheter body. Axial movement of one of the elements causes the elastic element to deform from one to the other shape, and the distal end of the tubular catheter body is curved or stretched accordingly.
The structure of this catheter is complicated by the presence of the two elements, while its use, which requires not only manipulation of the catheter but also the operation of two further elements, is difficult. In addition, the free cross section of the lumen is limited by the presence of these two elements, which is a disadvantage if the catheter is being used for diagnostic purposes, for example for the introduction of contrast liquid.
The object of the invention is to overcome these disadvantages. This is achieved with a catheter of the type described in the characterizing part of claim 1.
The catheter according to the present invention, which has only one shaping wire, therefore has two "boundary shapes", that of the shaping wire and that of the catheter body. When the shaping wire has been pushed near to the distal end of the catheter body, the more flexible catheter body will assume the shape of the shaping wire. However, when the shaping wire is pushed back in the direction of the proximal end of the catheter, the catheter body will assume its predetermined intrinsic shape. By "intrinsic shape" we mean here the shape which the distal end of the catheter body assumes when the shaping wire has been removed and the catheter body is free of any other influence of any kind.
By using a shaping wire of--curved--intrinsic shape, or a tubular catheter body of different--curved--intrinsic shape, it is possible to obtain a change in the working shape of the catheter.
The "boundary shapes" of the catheter can be determined depending on the desired application, and "intermediate shapes" are, of course, also usable.
In particular, the distal end of the shaping wire is such a shape that it is suitable for linking up the right coronary artery.
The distal end of the catheter in this case is slightly curved in such a way that the catheter can easily be pushed by way of an artery into the right coronary artery of a patient.
The distal end of the catheter body is preferably shaped in such a way that it is suitable for linking up the left coronary artery.
The reason for this measure is as follows: the shape of the distal end of the catheter which is suitable for linking up the left coronary artery differs, as is known, from the shape which is suitable for linking up in the right coronary artery, in that the distal end of the former is a much more curved shape. The curve of this shape is such that a catheter with this shape of distal end cannot be introduced as such by way of one of the arteries into the body of the patient.
Until now, in heart catheterization it has been customary for the above mentioned linking-up to use a feed wire inserted into the body almost to the aortic arch. A catheter with a specific shape of distal end, a shape corresponding to that of, for example, the right coronary artery, is then pushed along the feed wire until the distal end has reached the desired place, and a contrast liquid is introduced into the coronary artery concerned by way of the catheter. After this action, the catheter is removed from the patient's body. In order also to introduce contrast liquid into the other coronary artery, i.e. the left one in this case, a catheter with a specific shape of distal end, a shape corresponding to that of the left coronary artery, is again inserted into the patient's
REFERENCES:
patent: 3605725 (1971-09-01), Bentov
Hayes Michael J.
Stright Ronald
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