Medical device positioner for remote catheter guidance systems

Abstract

A medical device positioner for use with a remote catheter guidance system (RCGS) is provided, which can address angular, lateral and/or translational misalignment of an elongate medical device between the RCGS and an access point on a patient's body. Such a medical device positioner can include first and second tube sections connected by a joint septum, with at least a portion of the second tube section being adapted to be inserted into a vascular system of a patient at an access point.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medical device positioner for use with a remote catheter guidance system, the positioner comprising:
 a first elongate hollow tube;   a base connector attached to a proximal end of the first elongate hollow tube, the base connector being configured to attach to the remote catheter guidance system;   a second elongate hollow tube having a proximal end connected to a distal end of the first elongate hollow tube, a portion of the second elongate hollow tube being configured to be inserted into a vascular system of a patient at an access point;   a joint septum connecting the first elongate hollow tube and the second elongate hollow tube; and   a continuous inner lumen inside the first and second elongate hollow tubes, the inner lumen being configured to receive an elongate medical device and allow axial movement of the elongate medical device through the inner lumen.   
     
     
         2 . The medical device positioner of  claim 1 , further comprising a hemostasis valve positioned at the proximal end of the first elongate hollow tube. 
     
     
         3 . The medical device positioner of  claim 1 , wherein the first elongate hollow tube is connected to the second elongate hollow tube by insertion of the proximal end of the second elongate hollow tube into the distal end of the first elongate hollow tube. 
     
     
         4 . The medical device positioner of  claim 1 , wherein the first elongate hollow tube is connected to the second elongate hollow tube by insertion of the distal end of the first elongate hollow tube into the proximal end of the second elongate hollow tube. 
     
     
         5 . The medical device positioner of  claim 1 , further comprising an annular suture ring disposed around and attached to the second elongate hollow tube proximal to the portion adapted to be inserted into a vascular system, the annular suture ring configured to be secured to a patient's body at the access point. 
     
     
         6 . The medical device positioner of  claim 5 , wherein the joint septum is located next to the annular suture ring. 
     
     
         7 . The medical device positioner of  claim 5 , wherein the joint septum is located a distance proximally from the annular suture ring. 
     
     
         8 . The medical device positioner of  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible jacket tube radially disposed around at least a portion of the first elongate hollow tube. 
     
     
         9 . The medical device positioner of  claim 8 , wherein the joint septum is encompassed by the flexible jacket tube. 
     
     
         10 . The medical device positioner of  claim 8 , wherein the flexible jacket tube is constructed from one of:
 interlocking ball and socket segmented tubing;   spiral wound metal tubing; and   skive cut solid tubing.   
     
     
         11 . The medical device positioner of  claim 1 , further comprising an irrigation port located at the proximal end of the first elongate hollow tube, the irrigation port configured to provide irrigation to the inner lumen. 
     
     
         12 . The medical device positioner of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate medical device is one of a catheter, a fixed sheath and a deflectable sheath. 
     
     
         13 . An introducer for a catheter for use with a remote catheter guidance system, the introducer comprising:
 a first hollow tube, at least a portion of the first hollow tube being sized and configured to be inserted into a vascular system of a patient at an access point;   an annular suture ring disposed around and attached to the first hollow tube proximal to the portion adapted to be inserted into a vascular system, the annular suture ring configured to be secured to a patient's body at an access point;   a second hollow tube, the distal end of the second hollow tube axially connected to the proximal end of the first hollow tube;   a joint septum connecting the first hollow tube and the second hollow tube;   a hemostasis valve attached to the proximal end of the second hollow tube and configured to receive the catheter;   attachment means located on the proximal end of the second hollow tube for attaching the introducer to the remote catheter guidance system; and   a flexible jacket tube radially disposed around at least a portion of the second hollow tube;   whereby the first hollow tube and second hollow tube are configured to provide a guide for the catheter to be inserted into the vascular system of a patient and the flexible jacket tube is configured to align the catheter between the remote catheter guidance system and an access point on a patient's body before and during use of the remote catheter guidance system.