Back-loading catheter

Abstract

A catheter provided with a collapsible inner lumen within a main body. The catheter can deploy a distal protection device using a guidewire which is threaded through the inner lumen, the inner lumen collapsing upon retrieval of the device into the catheter main body.

1 . A system for use with a filter, comprising:
 a catheter including an elongate shaft;   the elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a side wall defining a shaft lumen;   a tubular member having a first end in fluid communication with an opening in the side wall of the elongate shaft, and a second end disposed within the shaft lumen;   the tubular member defining a guidewire lumen; and   the guidewire lumen being in communication with a distal guidewire port defined by the second end of the tubular member.   
   
   
       2 . A system for delivering a filter, comprising;
 a catheter including an elongate shaft;   the elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a side wall defining a shaft lumen;   a tubular member having a first end in fluid communication with an opening in the side wall of the elongate shaft, and a second end disposed within the shaft lumen;   the tubular member defining a guidewire lumen; and   the guidewire lumen being in communication with a distal guidewire port defined by the distal end of the tubular member.   
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the distal guidewire port is disposed proximally of the distal end of the elongate shaft, and the proximal guidewire port is disposed proximally of the distal guidewire port. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the proximal guidewire port and the distal guidewire port are separated by a longitudinal distance. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein a longitudinal distance between the proximal guidewire port and the distal guidewire port is less than about 55 centimeters. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein a longitudinal distance between the proximal guidewire port and the distal guidewire port is less than about 45 centimeters. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein a longitudinal distance between the proximal guidewire port and the distal guidewire port is less than about 35 centimeters. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 2 , further including a filter disposed within a distal portion of the shaft lumen. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 2 , further including a filter disposed within a distal portion of the shaft lumen and a guidewire extending from the filter through the guidewire lumen. 
   
   
       10 . A system for delivering a filter, comprising;
 a catheter including a main body;   the main body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a wall defining a main body lumen;   a tubular member having a first end in fluid communication with an opening in the wall of the main body, and a second end disposed within the main body lumen;   the tubular member defining a guidewire lumen; and   the guidewire lumen being in communication with a distal guidewire port defined by the distal end of the tubular member.   
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the distal guidewire port is disposed proximally of the distal end of the main body, and the proximal guidewire exit port is disposed proximally of the distal guidewire port. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the proximal guidewire exit port and the distal guidewire port are separated by a longitudinal distance. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein a longitudinal distance between the proximal guidewire exit port and the distal guidewire port is less than about 55 centimeters. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein a longitudinal distance between the proximal guidewire exit port and the distal guidewire port is less than about 45 centimeters. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein a longitudinal distance between the proximal guidewire exit port and the distal guidewire port is less than about 35 centimeters. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 10 , further including a filter disposed within a distal portion of the main body lumen. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 10 , further including a filter disposed within a distal portion of the main body lumen and a guidewire extending from the filter through the guidewire lumen.