Guidewire-Centering Catheter Tip

Abstract

A catheter for use with a guidewire, the catheter having a distal tip that centers the guidewire even when the catheter is severely bent, thereby avoiding protrusion of the distal tip of the catheter at the outer meridian of the catheter bend and reducing the risk of the catheter tip catching on the luminal surface of the adjacent vasculature. The distal tip of the catheter incorporates at least one guidewire bearing, preferably multiple bearings in the form of longitudinally oriented ribs, which provide the centering characteristic with minimal friction between the inner surface of the catheter distal tip and the outer surface of the guidewire. Preferably, at least four guidewire bearings are provided.

1 . A catheter tube comprising a tube for insertion into a body of a patient, said tube having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, a distal end that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube, a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends allowing passage of a guidewire therethrough, a luminal surface, and a distal tip portion located adjacent to the distal end of the catheter tube, said catheter tube having centering means projecting from the luminal surface of only the distal tip portion wherein a distal-most portion of said centering means is coplanar with the distal end of the catheter tube, and wherein said lumen provides operating clearance between the guidewire and the luminal surface of the catheter tube over the length of the catheter tube exclusive of the centering means. 
   
   
       2 . A catheter tube according to  claim 1  wherein the centering means comprise at least one bearing surface projecting from the luminal surface of the tip portion of the catheter tube. 
   
   
       3 . A catheter tube according to  claim 1  wherein the centering means comprise at least three bearing surfaces projecting from the luminal surface of the tip portion of the catheter tube. 
   
   
       4 . A catheter tube according to  claim 1  wherein the centering means comprise at least four bearing surfaces projecting from the luminal surface of the tip portion of the catheter tube. 
   
   
       5 . A catheter tube according to  claim 1  wherein the centering means comprise multiple longitudinally-oriented ribs projecting from the luminal surface of the tip portion of the catheter tube. 
   
   
       6 . A catheter tube according to  claim 1  wherein the centering means comprise multiple helically-oriented ribs projecting from the luminal surface of the tip portion of the catheter tube. 
   
   
       7 . A catheter tube according to  claim 1  wherein the centering means comprise multiple substantially hemispherical shapes projecting from the luminal surface of the tip portion of the catheter tube. 
   
   
       8 . A catheter tube according to  claim 1  wherein the centering means extends back into the catheter tube from the very distal tip for a length of 6 mm or less. 
   
   
       9 . A catheter tube according to  claim 1  wherein said centering means extends back into the catheter tube from the very distal tip for a length of 3 mm or less. 
   
   
       10 . A catheter tube according to  claim 1  wherein said centering means and said tip portion are integrally formed of one material. 
   
   
       11 . A catheter tube comprising a tube for insertion into a body of a patient, said tube having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, a distal end that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube, a length and a lumen both extending between the proximal and distal ends, a luminal surface, and a distal tip portion located adjacent to the distal end of the catheter tube, said catheter tube having centering means projecting from the luminal surface of only the distal tip portion wherein a distal-most portion of said centering means is coplanar with the distal end of the catheter tube and said centering means has an inside diameter, and wherein, for a device having a maximum outside diameter substantially equal to or slightly larger than the inside diameter of the centering means, said lumen allows passage of the device through the entire length of the tube. 
   
   
       12 . A catheter tube according to  claim 11  wherein the centering means comprise at least one bearing surface projecting from the luminal surface of the tip portion of the catheter tube. 
   
   
       13 . A catheter tube according to  claim 11  wherein the centering means comprise at least three bearing surfaces projecting from the luminal surface of the tip portion of the catheter tube. 
   
   
       14 . A catheter tube according to  claim 11  wherein the centering means comprise at least four bearing surfaces projecting from the luminal surface of the tip portion of the catheter tube. 
   
   
       15 . A catheter tube according to  claim 11  wherein the centering means comprise multiple longitudinally-oriented ribs projecting from the luminal surface of the tip portion of the catheter tube. 
   
   
       16 . A catheter tube according to  claim 11  wherein the centering means comprise multiple helically-oriented ribs projecting from the luminal surface of the tip portion of the catheter tube. 
   
   
       17 . A catheter tube according to  claim 11  wherein the centering means comprise multiple substantially hemispherical shapes projecting from the luminal surface of the tip portion of the catheter tube. 
   
   
       18 . A catheter tube according to  claim 11  wherein the centering means extends back into the catheter tube from the very distal tip for a length of 6 mm or less. 
   
   
       19 . A catheter tube according to  claim 11  wherein said centering means extends back into the catheter tube from the very distal tip for a length of 3 mm or less. 
   
   
       20 . A catheter tube according to  claim 11  wherein said centering means and said tip portion are integrally formed of one material. 
   
   
       21 . A catheter tube according to  claim 11  wherein the device comprises a guidewire. 
   
   
       22 . A catheter tube according to  claim 11  wherein the device comprises an embolic filter.