Rapid exchange catheter with depressable channel

Abstract

A rapid exchange catheter extends from a proximal portion which remains outside of a patient's body during use to a distal portion which, during use, is located within a body lumen adjacent to a target area to be treated, wherein the proximal and distal portions are coupled by a medial portion. The catheter comprises a guide wire lumen extending longitudinally through the distal portion and a guide wire receiving channel formed by an outer surface of the medial portion, wherein the guide wire lumen is open to a distal end of the channel.

1 . A rapid exchange catheter comprising: 
 a guide wire lumen; and    first and second slits separated from one another longitudinally along a portion of the catheter forming a depressable portion of a wall of the catheter therebetween, the depressable portion being movable between a depressed configuration in which an inner surface of the depressable portion is moved radially inward toward an inner surface of an opposite side of the guide wire lumen and a non-depressed configuration.    
   
   
       2 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein, when in the depressed configuration, at least one of the first and second slits forms an opening to the guide wire lumen.  
   
   
       3 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second slits are transverse, partially circumferential cuts in the catheter wall.  
   
   
       4 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein, when in the non-depressed configuration, an outer surface of the depressable portion forms a substantially continuous surface with adjacent portions of the catheter wall.  
   
   
       5 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein, when in the depressed configuration, the depressable portion forms a guide wire receiving channel.  
   
   
       6 . The catheter according to  claim 5 , wherein, when in the depressed configuration, the inner surface of the depressable portion is moved radially inward a predetermined distance relative to the non-depressed configuration, so that when a guide wire is received in the guide wire receiving channel a combined diameter of the guide wire and the catheter is no greater than a diameter of the catheter in the non-depressed configuration.  
   
   
       7 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein the depressable portion is biased to the depressed configuration.  
   
   
       8 . The catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein the first slit is distal to the second slit, and the first slit is between about 10 cm and 40 cm from a distal end of the catheter.  
   
   
       9 . The catheter according to  claim 8 , wherein the first slit is between about 20 cm and 30 cm from the distal end of the catheter.  
   
   
       10 . The catheter according to  claim 9 , wherein the first slit is about 25 cm from the distal end of the catheter.  
   
   
       11 . The catheter according to  claim 8 , wherein the guide wire lumen extends distally only through a portion of the catheter distal to the first slit.  
   
   
       12 . A rapid exchange catheter comprising: 
 a guide wire lumen;    a depressable portion of a wall of the catheter which, when in a depressed configuration, forms a guide wire receiving channel with an opening from the guide wire receiving channel to the guide wire lumen at a first end thereof, wherein, when the depressable portion is in a non-depressed configuration, an outer surface of the depressable portion forms a substantially continuous surface with adjacent portions of the catheter wall.    
   
   
       13 . The catheter according to  claim 12 , wherein the guide wire receiving channel includes a further opening from the guide wire receiving channel to the guide wire lumen at a second end thereof.  
   
   
       14 . The catheter according to  claim 12 , wherein the depressable portion is biased to the depressed configuration.  
   
   
       15 . The catheter according to  claim 12 , wherein the guide wire lumen extends only through a distal portion of the catheter.  
   
   
       16 . The catheter according to  claim 12 , wherein the first end of the guide wire receiving channel is between about 10 cm and 40 cm from a distal end of the catheter.  
   
   
       17 . The catheter according to  claim 16 , wherein the first end of the guide wire receiving channel is between about 20 cm and 30 cm from the distal end of the catheter.  
   
   
       18 . The catheter according to  claim 17 , wherein the first end of the guide wire receiving channel is about 25 cm from the distal end of the catheter.  
   
   
       19 . The catheter according to  claim 12 , wherein, when in the depressed configuration, an inner surface of the depressable portion is moved radially inward a predetermined distance relative to the non-depressed configuration, so that when a guide wire is received in the guide wire receiving channel a combined diameter of the guide wire and the catheter at the first end is no greater than a diameter of the catheter in the non-depressed configuration.  
   
   
       20 . A method of treating tissue, comprising: 
 configuring a depressable portion of a wall of a catheter in a depressed configuration to form a guide wire receiving channel with an opening from the guide wire receiving channel to a guide wire lumen;    inserting a guide wire through the opening of the guide wire receiving channel into the guide wire lumen; and    advancing the guide wire through the body lumen to a desired location therein.    
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 grasping a first portion of the guide wire proximal of the opening;    withdrawing the catheter proximally over the guide wire until the distal end of the catheter is within a predetermined distance of the first portion;    grasping a second portion of the guide wire distal of the distal end of the catheter; and    removing the catheter from the guide wire.