Vascular Re-entry Catheter
A catheter has a guide-tip including at least one wing for crossing a CTO lesion in an artery via exploring the subintimal space. The catheter can includes one or more exit port(s) and radiopaque marker(s) for steering a re-entry wire through one of the exit ports. The catheter may include a number of spiral-cut sections with varying characteristics to provide different strength and flexibility along the axial direction.
1 . A catheter device comprising,
a distal tube portion having a distal tip and a longitudinal axis, the distal tube portion including a tube wall comprising at least one side port and at least one radiopaque marker, and at least one wing protruding radially outward from the tube wall.
2 . The catheter device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one wing comprises two wings protruding radially outward in diametrically opposing directions.
3 . The catheter device of claim 2 , wherein the at least one side port is radially offset from each of the two wings for about 90 degrees.
4 . The catheter device of claim 2 , wherein the at least one side port comprises a first side port and a second side port, wherein the second side port is located distal the first side port and being longitudinally and radially offset from the first side port.
5 . The catheter device of claim 4 , wherein the at least one radiopaque maker includes a first radiopaque marker located longitudinally between the first side port and the second side port, and a second radiopaque marker distal the second side port.
6 . The catheter device of claim 4 , wherein the first side port and the second side port are radially offset for about 180° degrees from each other.
7 . The catheter device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one wing is part of a guide-tip engaging a distal end portion of the distal catheter tube portion.
8 . The catheter device of claim 1 , wherein the catheter device includes at least one spiral-cut section, and wherein the at least one side port is located in the spiral-cut section and includes a rim not breached by a spiral cut.
9 . The catheter device of claim 1 , wherein the catheter device comprises at least two spiral-cut sections having different pitches.
10 . The catheter device of claim 1 , wherein the catheter device includes at least one spiral-cut section with interrupted spirals.
11 . The catheter device of claim 1 , further comprising a radiopaque marker affixed on the distal tube portion in axial alignment with the at least one side port.
12 . The catheter device of claim 1 , further comprising a radiopaque marker encircling the at least one side port.
13 . The catheter device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one side port is beveled.
14 . The catheter device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one wing is formed from a polymeric material.
15 . The catheter device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one wing is formed from a metal.
16 . The catheter device of claim 1 , wherein the distal tube portion is formed from stainless steel.
17 . A method for facilitating treatment of an occlusion in a blood vessel with a catheter device, the blood vessel having a vascular wall defining a vascular lumen containing an occlusion therein, the method comprising:
positioning the catheter device proximate the occlusion, the catheter device having a lumen and comprising:
a distal catheter tube portion including
a tube wall comprising at least one side port and at least one radiopaque marker,
a guide-tip located at a distal end of the catheter, where the guide-tip includes at least two wings protruding radially outward in diametrically opposing directions,
advancing the guide-tip within the vascular wall adjacent the occlusion until the at least one side port is positioned distal of the occlusion to establish a channel in the vascular wall extending longitudinally across the occlusion;
orienting the at least one side port toward the vascular lumen;
inserting a re-entry device through the lumen of the catheter device wherein the re-entry device has a distal end portion in a compressed state; and
manipulating the re-entry device such that a distal end portion of the re-entry device exits, in a natural state, from the at least one side port into the distal segment of the vascular lumen.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the at least one side port includes a first side port and a second side port, wherein the second side port is located distal the first side port and being longitudinally and radially offset from the first side port.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the at least one radiopaque maker includes a first radiopaque marker located longitudinally between the first side port and the second side port, and a second radiopaque marker distal the second side port.