Catheter with disruptable guidewire channel

Abstract

The present invention is a catheter device that includes a disruptable guidewire channel. The guidewire channel is configured to provide necessary trackability of the catheter along the guidewire during introduction of the catheter to a treatment site. Once treatment is completed, the guidewire channel can then be disrupted so as to free the guidewire from the catheter in situ. The apparatus of the present invention provides distinct advantages over existing over-the-wire and rapid exchange catheter introduction methods, including the ability to achieve much faster treatment implement exchanges, the ability to rapidly deliver multiple treatment implements in series, and the ability to maintain multiple treatment implements simultaneously at a treatment site using a single guidewire.

The invention claimed is:  
     
         1 . A balloon and catheter assembly comprising 
 an enlargeable balloon, having a length, mounted on a catheter shaft;    a sleeve attached to the balloon forming a guidewire channel along at least a portion of the balloon;    wherein the sleeve is disruptable to cause a guidewire placed within the sleeve to free from the balloon when the sleeve is disrupted.    
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein 
 the balloon has a compacted dimension and an enlarged dimension;  
 the assembly includes a guidewire within the guidewire channel;  
 the sleeve includes a separation line; and  
 the sleeve is disrupted by parting along the separation line when the balloon is enlarged, separating the guidewire from the balloon.  
 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2  wherein the separation line comprises a line of perforations formed in the sleeve.  
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 2  wherein the separation line comprises an attachment line between the balloon and the sleeve.  
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the balloon includes a fluid inflatable structure.  
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the balloon includes a mechanical expansion structure.  
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the catheter shaft includes a support member.  
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein once the sleeve is disrupted the balloon is removable independently from other apparatus being advanced on the guidewire.  
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein once the sleeve is disrupted other apparatus may be advanced to a treatment site without removal of the balloon.  
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein multiple devices are loaded in series on the guidewire.  
     
     
         11 . A guidewire deliverable implement comprising 
 a sleeve attached to the implement forming a guidewire channel along at least a portion of the implement;    wherein the sleeve is disruptable to cause a guidewire placed within the sleeve to free from the implement when the sleeve is disrupted.    
     
     
         12 . The implement of  claim 11  wherein the implement comprises a balloon.  
     
     
         13 . The implement of  claim 12  wherein 
 the balloon has a compacted dimension and an enlarged dimension, and a guidewire within the guidewire channel;  
 the sleeve includes a separation line; and  
 the sleeve is disrupted by parting along the separation line when the balloon is enlarged, separating the guidewire from the balloon.  
 
     
     
         14 . The implement of  claim 11  wherein the sleeve is disrupted by parting along a separation line.  
     
     
         15 . The implement of  claim 14  wherein the separation line comprises an attachment line between the implement and the sleeve.  
     
     
         16 . The implement of  claim 14  wherein comprises the separation line comprises line of perforations formed in the sleeve.  
     
     
         17 . The implement of  claim 11  wherein once the sleeve is disrupted the implement is removable independently from other apparatus being advanced on the guidewire.  
     
     
         18 . The implement of  claim 11  wherein once the sleeve is disrupted other apparatus may be advanced to a treatment site without removal of the implement.  
     
     
         19 . The implement of  claim 11  wherein multiple devices are loaded in series on the guidewire.  
     
     
         20 . A temporary guidewire channel comprising 
 a sleeve having a separation line formed therein;    wherein the sleeve is adapted to receive a guidewire therein and serve as a guidewire channel to permit advancement of the sleeve over the guidewire; and    wherein the sleeve is disruptable along the separation line to cause a guidewire placed within the sleeve to separate from the sleeve when the sleeve is disrupted.    
     
     
         21 . The guidewire channel of  claim 20  wherein the sleeve is attached to a balloon to form a guidewire channel along at least a portion of the balloon.  
     
     
         22 . The guidewire channel of  claim 21  wherein the separation line comprises an attachment line between the balloon and the sleeve.  
     
     
         23 . The guidewire channel of  claim 21  wherein the separation line comprises a line of perforations formed in the sleeve.  
     
     
         24 . The guidewire channel of  claim 20  wherein the separation line comprises a line of perforations formed in the sleeve.  
     
     
         25 . A medical device comprising 
 a balloon configured for insertion within a patient's body directed along a guidewire;    a guidewire channel exterior to the balloon;    the guidewire channel formed from a material that maintains the guidewire close to the balloon during insertion and alters upon inflation of the balloon to separate the guidewire from the balloon upon subsequent deflation of the balloon.    
     
     
         26 . The medical device of  claim 25  wherein the guidewire channel comprises a material that disrupts upon inflation of the balloon, freeing the guidewire from the balloon upon subsequent deflation of the balloon.  
     
     
         27 . The medical device of  claim 26  wherein the guidewire channel includes perforations therein to effectuate disruption of the guidewire channel upon inflation of the balloon.  
     
     
         28 . The medical device of  claim 25  wherein the guidewire channel comprises a material that distends upon inflation of the balloon.  
     
     
         29 . The medical device of  claim 28  wherein the material that distends upon inflation of the balloon undergoes minimal return to its original shape upon subsequent deflation of the balloon.  
     
     
         30 . A medical treatment method comprising 
 providing a first catheter having a disruptable guidewire channel;    positioning a guidewire in a patient;    mounting the catheter on the guidewire through the guidewire channel;    advancing the catheter along the guidewire to a treatment site in the patient;    disrupting the guidewire channel to free the catheter from the guidewire at the treatment site.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein a second catheter is advanced along the guidewire prior to removal of the first catheter.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the second catheter is advanced distal to the treatment site.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the second catheter is advanced adjacent to the treatment site.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30  wherein a second catheter is mounted on the guidewire prior to the first catheter reaching the treatment site.