Catheter incorporating a guidewire exit ramp

Abstract

Guidewire exit ramp members that may be placed over a tubular member having a guidewire lumen, which longitudinally extending and laterally accessible, and methods of use. The guidewire exit ramp member can be placed to force a guidewire loaded through the lumen in a first direction to be forced out of the lumen via an opening, slit or channel. The guidewire exit ramp member, in an illustrative embodiment, takes the form of a relatively short member having a proximal portion and a distally extending flap. The flap may be designed to enter and remain in a longitudinally accessible guidewire lumen. Combinations of such ramp members and device shafts having longitudinally extending laterally accessible guidewire lumens are also disclosed, as are methods for securing such combinations together. A method of backloading a guidewire into a catheter while causing lateral exit of the guidewire at a desired location is also shown.

1 . A guidewire exit ramp member for use with an elongate medical device having a longitudinally extending laterally accessible guidewire lumen, the member having a proximal end and a distal end, the member comprising: 
 a proximal portion extending distally from the proximal end, the proximal portion shaped and sized to surround and receive an axial portion of the elongate medical device; and    a flap extending distally from the proximal portion, the flap sized for entry into the guidewire lumen.    
     
     
         2 . The member of  claim 1 , further comprising a distal shaft portion extending distally from the proximal portion, the distal shaft portion shaped to receive the elongate medical device when the flap is placed in the guidewire lumen.  
     
     
         3 . The member of  claim 2 , wherein the flap comprises a flat end portion.  
     
     
         4 . The member of  claim 2 , wherein the flap includes a distal end shaped to correspond to a portion of the guidewire lumen.  
     
     
         5 . The member of  claim 2 , wherein the flap is flexible such that, when the flap is disposed within the guidewire lumen, a guidewire passing from a location proximal of the member within the guidewire lumen is readily allowed past the flap in the guidewire lumen.  
     
     
         6 . The member of  claim 5 , wherein the flap is shaped such that a guidewire backloaded into the guidewire lumen will be forced out of the guidewire lumen by the flap when the flap is placed in the guidewire lumen.  
     
     
         7 . A combination guidewire exit ramp member and an elongate medical device comprising: 
 a shaft including a longitudinally extending laterally accessible guidewire lumen; and    a ramp member including a proximal portion extending distally from the proximal end, the proximal portion shaped and sized to surround and receive an axial portion of the shaft of the elongate medical device and a flap extending distally from the proximal portion, the flap sized for lateral entry into the guidewire lumen of the elongate medical device.    
     
     
         8 . The combination of  claim 7 , wherein the ramp member further comprises a distal portion extending distally from the proximal portion, the distal portion shaped to receive the elongate medical device when the flap is placed in the guidewire lumen.  
     
     
         9 . The combination of  claim 8 , wherein the flap comprises a flat end portion.  
     
     
         10 . The combination of  claim 8 , wherein the flap comprises a curved end portion.  
     
     
         11 . The combination of  claim 8 , wherein the flap includes a distal end shaped to correspond to a portion of the guidewire lumen.  
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 8 , wherein the flap is flexible such that, when the flap is disposed within the guidewire lumen, a guidewire passing from a location proximal of the member within the guidewire lumen is readily allowed past the flap in the guidewire lumen.  
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein the flap is shaped such that a guidewire backloaded into the guidewire lumen will be forced out of the guidewire lumen by the flap when the flap is placed in the guidewire lumen.  
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 7 , wherein the elongate medical device includes an opening cut into the guidewire lumen, the opening sized for passage of the flap into the guidewire lumen.  
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 14 , wherein the member is placed on the elongate medical device such that the flap extends through the opening into the guidewire lumen.  
     
     
         16 . The combination of  claim 15 , wherein the member is secured to the elongate medical device.  
     
     
         17 . The combination of  claim 7 , wherein the elongate medical device further includes an auxiliary lumen in addition to the guidewire lumen.  
     
     
         18 . The combination of  claim 7 , wherein the elongate medical device includes a longitudinally accessible guidewire lumen.  
     
     
         19 . The combination of  claim 18 , wherein the longitudinally accessible guidewire lumen includes an axially extending channel for accessing the guidewire lumen.  
     
     
         20 . The combination of  claim 18 , wherein the longitudinally accessible guidewire lumen includes a weakened wall portion allowing access to the guidewire lumen along a length thereof.  
     
     
         21 . A method of preparing an elongate medical device having proximal and distal ends for use, wherein the elongate medical device comprises an elongate shaft including a longitudinally accessible guidewire lumen therein, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a guidewire exit ramp member having proximal and distal ends and including:    (a) a proximal portion extending distally from the proximal end, the surrounding portion shaped and sized to surround and receive a portion of the elongate medical device; and    (b) a flap extending distally from the proximal portion, the flap sized for entry into the longitudinally accessible guidewire lumen;    sliding the member onto the elongate medical device; and    sliding the flap into the longitudinally accessible guidewire lumen.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the elongate medical device includes an opening extending into the guidewire lumen, wherein the step of sliding the flap into the longitudinally accessible guidewire lumen includes sliding the flap through the opening.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising backloading the elongate medical device over a guidewire having proximal and distal ends, wherein during the step of backloading: 
 the proximal end of the guidewire is passed into the guidewire lumen at the distal end of the elongate medical device; and    relative motion between the guidewire and elongate medical device advances the proximal end of the guidewire proximally within the guidewire lumen until the flap engages the proximal end of the guidewire and forces the proximal end of the guidewire laterally out of the guidewire lumen.    
     
     
         24 . A guidewire ramp member for use with an elongate medical device having a guidewire lumen, the guidewire ramp member including: 
 a proximal portion adapted to receive the elongate medical device therein; and    an impinging portion shaped and having sufficient stiffness to pinch and at least partly collapse a portion of the guidewire lumen.    
     
     
         25 . A combination comprising: 
 an elongate medical device including a guidewire lumen with a wall having a transverse cut therein; and    a guidewire ramp member as in  claim 24;     wherein the guidewire ramp member is placed on the elongate medical device such that the impinging portion pinches a portion of the guidewire lumen adjacent the transverse cut.