Capture device

1. A guidewire capture sheath for use in a bodily vessel, the guidewire capture sheath comprising:

a) a catheter having a lumen extending along a longitudinal central axis from a proximal catheter open end to a distal catheter open end; and

b) a capture cone that is connected to or integral with the catheter, wherein the capture cone comprises:

i) a conical portion extending from a proximal conical open end to a distal conical open end, wherein the proximal conical open end is connected to or integral with the distal catheter open end; and

ii) a cylindrical portion extending from a proximal cylindrical open end to a distal cylindrical open rim, wherein the proximal cylindrical open end is connected to or integral with the distal conical open end,

c) wherein at least one portion of the capture cone is expandable from a first condition to a second condition having the conical portion being eccentrically oriented with respect to the longitudinal central axis of the catheter lumen, and wherein in the first condition, the cylindrical portion has a first cross-sectional area that is less than a second cross-sectional area of the conical portion in the eccentrically oriented second condition, the second condition thereby providing the distal conical open end and the cylindrical portion having greater respective diameters than the proximal conical open end so that the eccentrically oriented conical portion of the capture cone is configured to guide a guidewire into the cylindrical portion in open communication with both the conical portion and the catheter lumen.

2. The guidewire capture sheath according to claim 1 , wherein when in the first condition, the at least one portion of the capture cone is contracted to a cross-sectional area that is relatively smaller than that of the catheter lumen, and when in the second condition, the at least one portion of the capture cone is expanded to a cross-sectional area that is relatively larger than that of the catheter lumen.

3. The guidewire capture sheath according to claim 1 , wherein when in the first condition, the at least one portion of the capture cone is disposed within the catheter lumen, and when in the second condition, the at least one portion of the capture cone projects outwardly from the catheter lumen.

4. The guidewire capture sheath according to claim 1 , wherein the capture cone is permanently disposed to project outwardly from the distal catheter open end.

5. The guidewire capture sheath according to claim 1 , wherein the capture cone is comprised of Nitinol having a temperature sensitive memory.

6. A method for capturing a guidewire which is progressing along the lumen of a vessel, the method comprising:

a) providing a guidewire capture sheath, comprising:

i) a catheter having a lumen extending along a longitudinal central axis from a proximal catheter open end to a distal catheter open end; and

ii) a capture cone that is connected to or integral with the catheter, wherein the capture cone comprises:

A) a conical portion extending from a proximal conical open end to a distal conical open end, wherein the proximal conical open end is connected to or integral with the distal catheter open end; and

B) a cylindrical portion extending from a proximal cylindrical open end to a distal cylindrical open rim, wherein the proximal cylindrical open end is connected to or integral with the distal conical open end,

iii) wherein at least one portion of the capture cone is expandable from a first condition to a second condition having the capture cone being eccentrically oriented with respect to the longitudinal central axis of the catheter lumen and wherein in the first condition, the cylindrical portion has a first cross-sectional area that is less than a second cross-sectional area of the conical portion in the eccentrically oriented second condition, the second condition thereby providing the distal conical open end and the cylindrical portion having greater respective diameters than the proximal conical open end so that the eccentrically oriented conical portion of the capture cone is configured to guide a guidewire into the cylindrical portion in open communication with both the conical portion and the catheter lumen;

b) introducing a guidewire into a first vessel;

c) with the capture cone in its first condition, introducing the guidewire capture sheath into the first vessel or a second vessel in communication with the first vessel;

d) advancing the guidewire capture sheath such so that the capture cone is directed towards the guidewire in the first or the second vessel;

e) expanding the at least one portion of the capture cone from its first condition to its second, expanded condition; and

f) causing the guidewire and the capture cone to approach one another so that the guidewire is guided into the cylindrical portion of the capture cone in open communication with both the conical portion and the catheter lumen.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the vessel is the dorsalis pedis artery and the guidewire crosses a lesion within the dorsalis pedis artery.

8. The method according to claim 7 including manipulating the guidewire to approach the guidewire capture sheath from an antegrade direction.

9. The method according to claim 6 further including rotating the guidewire capture sheath eccentrically within the vessel to help guide the guidewire into the cylindrical portion of the capture cone in open communication with both the conical portion and the catheter lumen.

10. The method according to claim 6 including providing the guidewire capture sheath comprising a material having a temperature sensitive memory.

11. The method according to claim 6 , including expanding the at least one portion of the capture cone to its second condition once the guidewire capture sheath is in the desired location in the vessel.

12. The method according to claim 6 , including sizing the capture cone so that with the capture cone in the second condition, an outer perimeter of the at least one portion of the capture cone partially bears against the luminal wall of the vessel in which the guidewire capture sheath is deployed.

13. The method according to claim 1 , including deploying and retracting the capture cone into and out of the catheter lumen to thereby provide the capture cone in the respective second and first conditions.

14. A guidewire capture sheath for use in a bodily vessel, the guidewire capture sheath comprising:

a) a catheter having a lumen extending along a longitudinal central axis from a proximal catheter open end to a distal catheter open end; and

b) a capture cone that is connected to or integral with the catheter, wherein the capture cone comprises:

i) a conical portion extending from a proximal conical open end to a distal conical open end, wherein the proximal conical open end is connected to or integral with the distal catheter open end; and

ii) a cylindrical portion extending from a proximal cylindrical open end to a distal cylindrical open rim, wherein the proximal cylindrical open end is connected to or integral with the distal conical open end,

c) wherein the capture cone is expandable from a first condition to a second condition having the conical portion being eccentrically oriented with respect to the longitudinal central axis of the catheter lumen, and wherein in the first condition, the cylindrical portion has a first cross-sectional area that is less than a second cross-sectional area of the conical portion in the eccentrically oriented second condition, the second condition thereby providing the distal conical open end and the cylindrical portion having greater respective diameters than the proximal conical open end so that the eccentrically oriented conical portion of the capture cone is configured to guide a guidewire into the cylindrical portion of the capture cone in open communication with both the conical portion and the catheter lumen.

15. The guidewire capture sheath according to claim 14 , wherein when in the first condition, the distal conical open end is contracted to a cross-sectional area that is relatively smaller than that of the catheter lumen, and when in the second condition, the distal conical open end is expanded to a cross-sectional area that is relatively larger than that of the catheter lumen.

16. The guidewire capture sheath according to claim 14 , wherein when in the first condition, the capture cone is disposed within the catheter lumen, and when in the second condition, the capture cone projects from the catheter lumen.

17. The guidewire capture sheath according to claim 14 , wherein the capture cone is permanently disposed to project from the distal catheter open end.

18. The guidewire capture sheath according to claim 14 , wherein the capture cone is comprised of Nitinol having a temperature sensitive memory.