Patent ID: 6021340
Filing Date: 2000-02-01
Classification: A61B,A61M,A61N

Abstract:
A guiding catheter for directing an intravascular device within a patient's coronary sinus, comprising:a) an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, a port in a distal tip of the shaft, and an inner lumen extending to and in fluid communication with the port in the distal tip which is configured to slidably receive the intravascular device;b) a relatively stiff proximal shaft section of the elongated shaft;c) a relatively flexible distal shaft section of the elongated shaft having a length of about 2.5 to about 15 centimeters and having a proximal portion having a flexibility greater than that of the proximal shaft section, and a nontraumatic distal portion having a flexibility greater than that of the proximal portion, at least a section of the lumen in the distal portion being axially aligned with the port in the distal tip of the shaft, and at least one of the portions of the distal section being shaped with a bend to facilitate entry within the patient's coronary sinus; andd) an adapter on the proximal end of the elongated shaft to provide access to the inner lumen extending within the elongated shaft.