Stiffening support catheter and methods for using the same

US7993303B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Abbott Laboratories · US

Inventors

• Randolf von Oepen · Los Altos, US
• Ian J. Clark · Beverly Hills, US
• Lorcan Coffey · Tübingen, DE
• Thomas Rieth · Hirrlingen, DE
• Richard Newhauser · Redwood City, US
• Travis R. Yribarren · San Mateo, US
• Marc Gianotti · Wiesendangen, CH
• Bernhard Uihlein · Seligenstadt, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 20, 2007
• Grant date: Aug 9, 2011
• Expiry date: Jul 26, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61M2025/0063
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A support catheter that can puncture a heart septum with a guidewire without buckling and that can access difficult to reach arteries such as carotid or renal arteries from the aorta under difficult circumstances is provided. The support catheter comprises a catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, and an interior wall surface defining a first lumen extending from the proximal end toward the distal end. A second lumen is disposed between the interior wall surface and an outer surface of the catheter body. A plurality of stiffening members is disposed around the second lumen, the plurality of stiffening members being engageable to selectively stiffen the catheter body. In another configuration, the catheter further comprises a second plurality of stiffening members disposed between the first lumen and the second lumen.