Patent ID: 6544230
Filing Date: 2003-04-08
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
A tissue penetrating catheter device useable to form a single penetration outwardly from the lumen of a blood vessel in which the catheter device is positioned, through the wall of that blood vessel, and to a target location, such that a guidewire may be passed from the lumen of that blood vessel to the target location, said device comprising:i) a flexible catheter body which is insertable into the blood vessel, said catheter body having a side wall, a proximal end, a distal end and an outlet opening formed in the side wall thereof; ii) a first lumen through which a separate imaging catheter may be inserted; iii) a second lumen which extends through said outlet opening; iv) a tissue penetrating member disposed within said second lumen and advanceable out of said outlet opening and through the wall of the blood vessel and to a target location such that a single penetration is made through the wall of the blood vessel, said tissue penetrating member having a substantially open working lumen extending longitudinally therethrough; and, v) an orientation structure positioned on the catheter body, said orientation structure being constructed so as to define an imaging catheter-receiving space therein in alignment with said first lumen and at least one marker member, said marker member being imageable so as to create on an image display received from an imaging catheter positioned within the imaging catheter-receiving space, an indication of the path that will be followed by the tissue penetrating member as the tissue penetrating member is subsequently advanced from the catheter body, wherein the orientation structure comprises a plurality of strut members that extend longitudinally, at circumferentially spaced-apart locations, about said hollow interior space, a first one of said strut members being a) located at a radial position which is aligned with location of the tissue penetration member outlet opening and b) constructed to produce an ultrasound image which is distinguishable form the images produced by the other(s) of said strut members, said first one of said strut members being thereby operative to create, on an image received through an IVUS catheter positioned within hollow interior space.