Guide catheter

Abstract

An elongated sheath of a guide catheter includes a fully radiopaque and echogenic distal tip having a length greater than approximately 0.08 inch.

1 . A guide catheter, comprising:
 an outer sheath; and   an inner sheath slideably engaged within the outer sheath and including a fully radiopaque distal tip having a length greater than or equal to approximately 0.2 inch;   wherein the inner sheath engaged within the outer sheath may be positioned such that the radiopaque distal tip protrudes from a distal end of the outer sheath.   
     
     
         2 . The guide catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the fully radiopaque distal tip is also fully echogenic. 
     
     
         3 . The guide catheter of  claim 2 , wherein the distal tip is formed of a material comprising tungsten carbide particles. 
     
     
         4 . The guide catheter of  claim 3 , wherein the fully radiopaque distal tip includes a first resilient preformed curve. 
     
     
         5 . The guide catheter of  claim 4 , wherein the first curve sweeps about an angle greater than or equal to approximately 180°. 
     
     
         6 . The guide catheter of  claim 4 , wherein the first curve sweeps about an angle of approximately 90°. 
     
     
         7 . The guide catheter of  claim 4 , wherein the first curve sweeps about an angle between approximately 10° and approximately 70°. 
     
     
         8 . The guide catheter of  claim 4 , wherein the fully radiopaque distal tip further includes a second resilient preformed curve extending from the first resilient preformed curve. 
     
     
         9 . The guide catheter of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second curves, together, sweep about an angle greater than approximately 90°. 
     
     
         10 . The guide catheter of  claim 6 , wherein the first curve sweeps about an angle between approximately 160° and approximately 180° and the second curve sweeps, in an opposite direction to the first curve, about an angle between approximately 40° and approximately 80°. 
     
     
         11 . The guide catheter of  claim 6 , wherein the first curve and the second curve form an Amplatz shape. 
     
     
         12 . The guide catheter of  claim 6 , wherein the fully radiopaque distal tip further includes a third resilient preformed curve extending from the second resilient preformed curve. 
     
     
         13 . The guide catheter of  claim 12 , wherein the first, second and third curves, together, sweep about an angle greater than approximately 100°. 
     
     
         14 . The guide catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the fully radiopaque distal tip includes a tapered transition. 
     
     
         15 . The guide catheter of  claim 4 , wherein the fully radiopaque distal tip includes a tapered transition. 
     
     
         16 . The guide catheter of  claim 15 , wherein the tapered transition is located proximal to the first resilient preformed curve. 
     
     
         17 . The guide catheter of  claim 6 , wherein the fully radiopaque distal tip includes a tapered transition. 
     
     
         18 . The guide catheter of  claim 17 , wherein the tapered transition is located proximal to the second resilient preformed curve. 
     
     
         19 . The guide catheter of  claim 12 , wherein the fully radiopaque distal tip includes a tapered transition. 
     
     
         20 . The guide catheter of  claim 19 , wherein the tapered transition is located proximal to the third resilient preformed curve. 
     
     
         21 . A method for positioning a guide catheter within a body in order to deliver a medical device or agent, comprising:
 advancing an inner sheath of the guide catheter through an outer sheath of the guide catheter such that distal tip of the inner sheath extends distally from a distal end of the outer sheath;   wherein the distal tip of the inner sheath is fully radiopaque.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the distal tip is also fully echogenic. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising visualizing the distal tip of the inner sheath by means of ultrasound. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising cannulating a coronary sinus with the distal end of the outer sheath such that advancing the inner sheath positions the distal tip of the inner sheath within the coronary vasculature. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising dilating of a structure of coronary vasculature when the inner sheath is advanced. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising cannulating a coronary sinus with the distal tip of the inner sheath. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising cannulating a branch vein of the coronary vasculature with the distal tip of the inner sheath. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising advancing a guide wire through the inner sheath, out through the distal tip of the inner sheath and into the branch vein. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising advancing a lead through the inner sheath, out through the distal tip of the inner sheath and into the branch vein. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising advancing a lead over the guide wire and into the branch vein.