Systems and methods for directing and snaring guidewires

US7316655B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Medtronic Vascular, Inc. · US

Inventors

• John T. Garibotto · Marblehead, US
• Steven Kim · Los Altos, US
• Jason B. Whitt · San Francisco, US
• J. Christopher Flaherty · Winter Haven, US
• Joshua Makower · Los Altos, US
• Motoya Hayase · Palo Alto, US
• John Y. Chang · Mountain View, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 30, 2002
• Grant date: Jan 8, 2008
• Expiry date: Oct 7, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61M2025/1052
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Devices and methods for achieving directed placement of guidewires or other flexible rails over which other catheters or other devices may be introduced to a targeted location. A guidewire directing device includes a lumen extending between a proximal end and a distal peripheral opening for directing a guidewire laterally from the device, and may have a deflecting member with a predetermined deflection angle in the lumen adjacent the peripheral opening. A snaring device is also provided that includes one or more lumens through which a snare or other grasping member is directed for releasably capturing or coupling to a guidewire. The snaring and target guidewire devices may include cooperating end effectors for releasably coupling or securing the devices together. The devices may be used for directing, snaring and/or manipulating one or more guidewires between two blood vessels connected by an interstitial channel, for example, to “floss” a guidewire through the coronary arterial and venous systems between two percutaneous entry sites and/or to bypass a lesion in a vessel using proximal and distal interstitial channels communicating with an adjacent vessel.