Patent · US Expired

Methods and apparatus for crossing total occlusions in blood vessels

US6231546A · kind A · utility

388Cited by
41References
35Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 13, 1998
Grant dateMay 15, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 13, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61M2025/0096
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Total occlusions are crossed by passing a guidewire or other penetrating wire from a point proximal to the occlusion into a subintimal space between the intimal layer and adventitial layer of the blood vessel wall. The wire is advanced to a point distal to the occlusion and thereafter deflected back into the blood vessel lumen, typically using a deflecting catheter which is advanced over the guidewire after it has been positioned within the subintimal space. After the guidewire is returned to the blood vessel lumen, the deflecting catheter may be withdrawn and the guidewire is available for introduction of other interventional and diagnostic catheters.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.