Vascular Re-entry Catheter

Abstract

A catheter has a guide-tip including at least one wing for crossing a CTO lesion in an artery via exploring the subintimal space. The catheter can includes one or more exit port(s) and radiopaque marker(s) for steering a re-entry wire through one of the exit ports. The catheter may include a number of spiral-cut sections with varying characteristics to provide different strength and flexibility along the axial direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A catheter device comprising,
 a distal tube portion having a distal tip and a longitudinal axis, the distal tube portion including a tube wall comprising at least one side port and at least one radiopaque marker, and at least one wing protruding radially outward from the tube wall.   
     
     
         2 . The catheter device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wing comprises two wings protruding radially outward in diametrically opposing directions. 
     
     
         3 . The catheter device of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one side port is radially offset from each of the two wings for about 90 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter device of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one side port comprises a first side port and a second side port, wherein the second side port is located distal the first side port and being longitudinally and radially offset from the first side port. 
     
     
         5 . The catheter device of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one radiopaque maker includes a first radiopaque marker located longitudinally between the first side port and the second side port, and a second radiopaque marker distal the second side port. 
     
     
         6 . The catheter device of  claim 4 , wherein the first side port and the second side port are radially offset for about 180° degrees from each other. 
     
     
         7 . The catheter device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wing is part of a guide-tip engaging a distal end portion of the distal catheter tube portion. 
     
     
         8 . The catheter device of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter device includes at least one spiral-cut section, and wherein the at least one side port is located in the spiral-cut section and includes a rim not breached by a spiral cut. 
     
     
         9 . The catheter device of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter device comprises at least two spiral-cut sections having different pitches. 
     
     
         10 . The catheter device of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter device includes at least one spiral-cut section with interrupted spirals. 
     
     
         11 . The catheter device of  claim 1 , further comprising a radiopaque marker affixed on the distal tube portion in axial alignment with the at least one side port. 
     
     
         12 . The catheter device of  claim 1 , further comprising a radiopaque marker encircling the at least one side port. 
     
     
         13 . The catheter device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one side port is beveled. 
     
     
         14 . The catheter device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wing is formed from a polymeric material. 
     
     
         15 . The catheter device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wing is formed from a metal. 
     
     
         16 . The catheter device of  claim 1 , wherein the distal tube portion is formed from stainless steel. 
     
     
         17 . A method for facilitating treatment of an occlusion in a blood vessel with a catheter device, the blood vessel having a vascular wall defining a vascular lumen containing an occlusion therein, the method comprising:
 positioning the catheter device proximate the occlusion, the catheter device having a lumen and comprising:
 a distal catheter tube portion including
 a tube wall comprising at least one side port and at least one radiopaque marker, 
 a guide-tip located at a distal end of the catheter, where the guide-tip includes at least two wings protruding radially outward in diametrically opposing directions, 
 
   advancing the guide-tip within the vascular wall adjacent the occlusion until the at least one side port is positioned distal of the occlusion to establish a channel in the vascular wall extending longitudinally across the occlusion;   orienting the at least one side port toward the vascular lumen;   inserting a re-entry device through the lumen of the catheter device wherein the re-entry device has a distal end portion in a compressed state; and   manipulating the re-entry device such that a distal end portion of the re-entry device exits, in a natural state, from the at least one side port into the distal segment of the vascular lumen.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one side port includes a first side port and a second side port, wherein the second side port is located distal the first side port and being longitudinally and radially offset from the first side port. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one radiopaque maker includes a first radiopaque marker located longitudinally between the first side port and the second side port, and a second radiopaque marker distal the second side port.