Guidewire-centering catheter tip
US7547304B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 19, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jun 16, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 19, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61M2025/006
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A catheter for use with a guidewire, the catheter having a distal tip that centers the guidewire even when the catheter is severely bent, thereby avoiding protrusion of the distal tip of the catheter at the outer meridian of the catheter bend and reducing the risk of the catheter tip catching on the luminal surface of the adjacent vasculature. The distal tip of the catheter incorporates at least one guidewire bearing, preferably multiple bearings in the form of longitudinally oriented ribs, which provide the centering characteristic with minimal friction between the inner surface of the catheter distal tip and the outer surface of the guidewire. Preferably, at least four guidewire bearings are provided.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.