Angled tip catheter

Abstract

A catheter having improved ability to cross body passage obstructions and that more easily allows backloading of a guidewire into the lumen of the catheter is comprised of a tip, a shaft, and a lumen. The distal end of the catheter tip is oriented at an angle other than 90° to the lengthwise axis of the catheter tip. A guidewire may be easily backloaded into the elongated catheter lumen at the location of the angled catheter tip.

1 . A catheter comprising an elongate shaft, a distal tip, and a lumen extending proximally from the distal tip, a first distal end of the distal tip being oriented at a first angle other than 90 degrees to the lengthwise axis of the catheter tip, a second distal end of the distal tip being oriented at a second angle other than 90 degrees to the lengthwise axis of the catheter tip, the second distal end of the distal tip being adjacent to the first distal end of the distal tip, the second distal end of the distal tip being proximal of the first distal end of the distal tip, and the second angle being less than the first angle. 
   
   
       2 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the first angle is from 70 degrees to 20 degrees. 
   
   
       3 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the first angle is selected from the group consisting of 65, 60, 55, 50, 45, 40, 35, or 30 degrees. 
   
   
       4 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the first angle is 65 degrees. 
   
   
       5 . The catheter of  claim 2 , wherein the second angle is from 60 to 10 degrees. 
   
   
       6 . The catheter of  claim 3 , wherein the second angle is selected from the group consisting of 55, 50, 45, 40, 35, 30, 25, or 20 degrees. 
   
   
       7 . The catheter of  claim 5 , wherein the second angle is 55 degrees. 
   
   
       8 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the second angle is  5  to 20 degrees less than the first angle. 
   
   
       9 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the second angle is 10 degrees less than the first angle. 
   
   
       10 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft has a length of 10 cm to 300 cm. 
   
   
       11 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft has a length of 20 cm. 
   
   
       12 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the distal tip comprises a tapered region. 
   
   
       13 . The catheter of  claim 12 , wherein the tapered region has an angle relative to the lengthwise axis of the catheter tip of 1 to 16 degrees. 
   
   
       14 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the distal tip has a length of 2 mm to 12 mm. 
   
   
       15 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the lumen extends proximally from the distal end of the distal tip. 
   
   
       16 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the lumen extends proximally from the distal end of the distal tip to a proximal end of the shaft. 
   
   
       17 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft has a length and the shaft has a bend over at least some of its length. 
   
   
       18 . The catheter of  claim 17 , wherein the shaft has a bend over all of its length. 
   
   
       19 . The catheter of  claim 17 , wherein the shaft has a bend at least from the distal tip to a midpoint of the shaft. 
   
   
       20 . The catheter of  claim 17 , wherein the shaft has a bend at least from the distal tip to a point 25 percent of the shaft length proximal from the distal tip. 
   
   
       21 . The catheter of  claim 17 , wherein the shaft has a bend at least from the distal tip to a point 10 percent of the shaft length proximal from the distal tip. 
   
   
       22 . The catheter of  claim 17 , wherein the shaft has a maximum concavity of from 0.2 cm to 2 cm as measured over a length of 10 cm. 
   
   
       23 . The catheter of  claim 22 , wherein the shaft has a maximum concavity selected from the group consisting of 0.4 cm, 0.6 cm, 0.8 cm, 1.0 cm, 1.2 cm, 1.4 cm, 1.6 cm, and 1.8 cm. 
   
   
       24 . The catheter of  claim 22 , wherein the shaft has a maximum concavity of 0.4 cm. 
   
   
       25 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter is a balloon catheter. 
   
   
       26 . A catheter comprising an elongate shaft having a length, a distal tip, and a lumen extending proximally from the distal tip, a distal end of the distal tip being oriented at an angle other than 90 degrees to the lengthwise axis of the catheter tip, and the shaft having a length and the shaft having a bend at least from the distal tip to a point 10 percent of the shaft length proximal from the distal tip. 
   
   
       27 . The catheter of  claim 26 , wherein the shaft has a bend over all of its length. 
   
   
       28 . The catheter of  claim 26 , wherein the shaft has a bend at least from the distal tip to a midpoint of the shaft. 
   
   
       29 . The catheter of  claim 26 , wherein the shaft has a bend at least from the distal tip to a point 25 percent of the shaft length proximal from the distal tip. 
   
   
       30 . The catheter of  claim 26 , wherein the shaft has a maximum concavity of from 0.2 cm to 2 cm as measured over a length of 10 cm. 
   
   
       31 . The catheter of  claim 30 , wherein the shaft has a maximum concavity selected from the group consisting of 0.4 cm, 0.6 cm, 0.8 cm, 1.0 cm, 1.2 cm, 1.4 cm, 1.6 cm, and 1.8 cm. 
   
   
       32 . The catheter of  claim 30 , wherein the shaft has a maximum concavity of 0.4 cm. 
   
   
       33 . The catheter of  claim 26 , wherein the angle is from 70 degrees to 20 degrees. 
   
   
       34 . The catheter of  claim 26 , wherein the angle is selected from the group consisting of 65, 60, 55, 50, 45, 40, 35, and 30 degrees. 
   
   
       35 . The catheter of  claim 26 , wherein the angle is 65 degrees. 
   
   
       36 . The catheter of  claim 26 , wherein the shaft has a length of 10 cm to 300 cm. 
   
   
       37 . The catheter of  claim 26 , wherein the shaft has a length of 20 cm. 
   
   
       38 . The catheter of  claim 26 , wherein the distal tip comprises a tapered region. 
   
   
       39 . The catheter of  claim 38 , wherein the tapered region has an angle relative to the lengthwise axis of the catheter tip of 1 to 16 degrees. 
   
   
       40 . The catheter of  claim 26 , wherein the distal tip has a length of 2 mm to 12 mm. 
   
   
       41 . The catheter of  claim 26 , wherein the lumen extends proximally from the distal end of the distal tip. 
   
   
       42 . The catheter of  claim 26 , wherein the lumen extends proximally from the distal end of the distal tip to a proximal end of the shaft. 
   
   
       43 . The catheter of  claim 26 , wherein the catheter is a balloon catheter. 
   
   
       44 . A catheter comprising an elongate shaft, a distal tip, and a lumen extending proximally from the distal tip, a distal end of the distal tip being oriented at an angle other than 90 degrees to the lengthwise axis of the catheter tip, the distal tip comprising a tapered region, and the catheter being a balloon catheter. 
   
   
       45 . The catheter of  claim 44 , wherein the angle is from 70 degrees to 20 degrees. 
   
   
       46 . The catheter of  claim 44 , wherein the angle is selected from the group consisting of 65, 60, 55, 50, 45, 40, 35, and 30 degrees. 
   
   
       47 . The catheter of  claim 44 , wherein the angle is 65 degrees. 
   
   
       48 . The catheter of  claim 44 , wherein the angle is 60 degrees. 
   
   
       49 . The catheter of  claim 44 , wherein the angle is 55 degrees. 
   
   
       50 . The catheter of  claim 44 , wherein the shaft has a length of 10 cm to 300 cm. 
   
   
       51 . The catheter of  claim 44 , wherein the shaft has a length of 20 cm. 
   
   
       52 . The catheter of  claim 44 , wherein the tapered region has an angle relative to the lengthwise axis of the catheter tip of 1 to 16 degrees. 
   
   
       53 . The catheter of  claim 44 , wherein the distal tip has a length of 2 mm to 12 mm. 
   
   
       54 . The catheter of  claim 44 , wherein the lumen extends proximally from the distal end of the distal tip. 
   
   
       55 . The catheter of  claim 44 , wherein the lumen extends proximally from the distal end of the distal tip to a proximal end of the shaft. 
   
   
       56 . An assembly comprising a guidewire and a catheter of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       57 . An assembly comprising a guidewire and a catheter of  claim 26 . 
   
   
       58 . An assembly comprising a guidewire and a catheter of  claim 44 . 
   
   
       59 . A method of advancing a catheter into a body lumen of a patient comprising:
 providing a catheter, the catheter comprising an elongate shaft, a distal tip, and a lumen extending proximally from the distal tip, a first distal end of the distal tip being oriented at a first angle other than 90 degrees to the lengthwise axis of the catheter tip, a second distal end of the distal tip being oriented at a second angle other than 90 degrees to the lengthwise axis of the catheter tip, the second distal end of the distal tip being adjacent to the first distal end of the distal tip, the second distal end of the distal tip being proximal of the first distal end of the distal tip, and the second angle being less than the first angle;   loading a guidewire into the lumen of the catheter;   advancing the guidewire into the body lumen; and   advancing the catheter over the guidewire into the body lumen.   
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the catheter traverses an obstruction in the body lumen. 
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the body lumen is a blood vessel. 
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the shaft has a length, the shaft has a bend over at least some of its length, and the shaft has a maximum concavity of 0.2 cm to 2 cm as measured over a length of 10 cm, and wherein the catheter self-orients on the guidewire such that the maximum concavity is aligned with a maximum convex curvature of the guidewire. 
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the guidewire is advanced into the body lumen such that it traverses an obstruction in the body lumen, the guidewire having a bend at a portion of the guidewire that traverses the obstruction, the bend creating a gap between the guidewire and the obstruction, the method further comprising orienting a distal most portion of the distal tip so that the distal most portion of the distal tip traverses the obstruction through the gap as the catheter traverses the obstruction. 
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the shaft has a length, the shaft has a bend over at least some of its length, and the shaft has a maximum concavity of 0.2 cm to 2 cm as measured over a length of 10 cm, and wherein the catheter self-orients on the guidewire such that the maximum concavity is aligned with a maximum convex curvature of the guidewire. 
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the catheter is a balloon catheter. 
   
   
       66 . A method of advancing a catheter into a body lumen of a patient comprising:
 providing a catheter, the catheter comprising an elongate shaft having a length, a distal tip, and a lumen extending proximally from the distal tip, a distal end of the distal tip being oriented at an angle other than 90 degrees to the lengthwise axis of the catheter tip, and the shaft having a length and the shaft having a bend at least from the distal tip to a point 10 percent of the shaft length proximal from the distal tip;   loading a guidewire into the lumen of the catheter;   advancing the guidewire into the body lumen; and   advancing the catheter over the guidewire into the body lumen.   
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the catheter traverses an obstruction in the body lumen. 
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the body lumen is a blood vessel. 
   
   
       69 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the shaft has a maximum concavity of 0.2 cm to 2 cm as measured over a length of 10 cm, and wherein the catheter self-orients on the guidewire such that the maximum concavity is aligned with a maximum convex curvature of the guidewire. 
   
   
       70 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the guidewire is advanced into the body lumen such that it traverses an obstruction in the body lumen, the guidewire having a bend at a portion of the guidewire that traverses the obstruction, the bend creating a gap between the guidewire and the obstruction, the method further comprising orienting a distal most portion of the distal tip so that the distal most portion of the distal tip traverses the obstruction through the gap as the catheter traverses the obstruction. 
   
   
       71 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein the shaft has a maximum concavity of 0.2 cm to 2 cm as measured over a length of 10 cm, and wherein the catheter self-orients on the guidewire such that the maximum concavity is aligned with a maximum convex curvature of the guidewire. 
   
   
       72 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the catheter is a balloon catheter. 
   
   
       73 . A method of advancing a catheter into a body lumen of a patient comprising:
 providing a catheter, the catheter comprising an elongate shaft, a distal tip, and a lumen extending proximally from the distal tip, a distal end of the distal tip being oriented at an angle other than 90 degrees to the lengthwise axis of the catheter tip, the distal tip comprising a tapered region, and the catheter being a balloon catheter;   loading a guidewire into the lumen of the catheter;   advancing the guidewire into the body lumen; and   advancing the catheter over the guidewire into the body lumen.   
   
   
       74 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the catheter traverses an obstruction in the body lumen. 
   
   
       75 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the body lumen is a blood vessel. 
   
   
       76 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the guidewire is advanced into the body lumen such that it traverses an obstruction in the body lumen, the guidewire having a bend at a portion of the guidewire that traverses the obstruction, the bend creating a gap between the guidewire and the obstruction, the method further comprising orienting a distal most portion of the distal tip so that the distal most portion of the distal tip traverses the obstruction through the gap as the catheter traverses the obstruction.