Reentry device

Abstract

The disclosure provides apparatus and methods for reentering a true lumen. The reentry catheter includes a shaft that includes a proximal opening in a proximal end of the shaft, a J-shaped filler in a distal end of the shaft, and a distal side opening in a sidewall of the shaft. The distal side opening is adjacent to the J-shaped filler. A passageway extends between the proximal opening and the distal side opening. The proximal opening, the distal side opening, and the passageway each are configured for the passage of an elongate medical device there through. A movable cover is hingedly attached to the sidewall of the shaft biased in a closed position and configured to occlude the distal side opening when in the closed position. The elongate medical device is configured to open the movable cover, the movable cover is configured to facilitate reentry to a true lumen.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reentry catheter, comprising:
 a shaft comprising a proximal opening in a proximal end of the shaft, a J-shaped filler in a distal end of the shaft, a distal side opening in a sidewall of the shaft, the distal side opening adjacent to the J-shaped filler, and a passageway extending between the proximal opening and the distal side opening, the proximal opening, the distal side opening, and the passageway each being configured for the passage of an elongate medical device there through, a movable cover hingedly attached to the sidewall of the shaft, the movable cover biased in a closed position and configured to occlude the distal side opening when in the closed position,   wherein the elongate medical device is configured to open the movable cover, the opened movable cover being configured to facilitate reentry to a true lumen.   
     
     
         2 . The reentry catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the distal side opening is marked by surrounding radiopaque material in the sidewall. 
     
     
         3 . The reentry catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the movable cover comprises one of the following mechanisms: a spring, a magnet, a stopper, or a hinge pin. 
     
     
         4 . The reentry catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the movable cover comprises shape memory material. 
     
     
         5 . The reentry catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the movable cover comprises radiopaque material. 
     
     
         6 . The reentry catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the J-shaped filler comprises radiopaque material. 
     
     
         7 . The reentry catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate medical device comprises radiopaque material at a distal end thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The reentry catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate medical device comprises a radiopaque catheter balloon. 
     
     
         9 . A method for removing an occlusion in a true lumen, the method comprising:
 inserting a wire guide by puncturing through a vessel wall of the true lumen;   advancing a first catheter having a distal opening along a wire guide until the distal opening is distal to the occlusion;   removing the wire guide from the first catheter;   advancing a reentry catheter inside the first catheter, the reentry catheter having a shaft comprising a proximal opening in a proximal end of the shaft, a J-shaped filler in a distal end of the shaft, a distal side opening in a sidewall of the shaft, the distal side opening adjacent to the J-shaped filler, and a passageway extending between the proximal opening and the distal side opening, the proximal opening, the distal side opening, and the passageway each being configured for the passage of an elongate medical device there through, a movable cover hingedly attached to the sidewall of the shaft, the movable cover biased in a closed position and configured to occlude the distal side opening when in the closed position;   advancing the reentry catheter until the movable cover is distal to the distal opening of the first catheter; and   reentering the true lumen by opening the movable cover with the elongate medical device, the movable cover being configured to facilitate reentry to the true lumen in an open position.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising removing the reentry catheter and leaving the elongate medical device in place. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the distal side opening is marked by surrounding radiopaque material in the sidewall. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the movable cover comprises one of the following mechanisms: a spring, a magnet, a stopper, or a hinge pin. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the movable cover comprises shape memory material. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the movable cover comprises radiopaque material. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the elongate medical device comprises radiopaque material at a distal end thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the elongate medical device comprises a radiopaque catheter balloon. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising feeding the first catheter over the elongate medical device into the true lumen. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first catheter comprises a balloon.