Deflectable guide catheters and related methods

Deflectable guide catheters and methods, including methods for using defectable guide catheters to perform transnasal procedures within the ear, nose, throat, paranasal sinuses or cranium. Some deflectable guide catheters of the present invention comprise a substantially rigid tube, a helical spring attached to and extending from the distal end of the substantially rigid tube, a tubular plastic inner jacket, an outer plastic jacket substantially covering at least the helical spring member. The spring member is deflectable to cause the distal portion of the guide catheter to deflect to a curved configuration. In embodiments for transnasal use the deflectable guide catheter may have a length of less than 25 cm.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to medical apparatus and methods and more particularly to deflectable guide catheters and their methods of manufacture and use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,619 (Mirarchi, et al.) describes a deflectable catheter that may be inserted percutaneously and advanced through the vasculature to access the heart or brain. An elongated wound wire coil extends through a hollow catheter body, such coil being constructed and arranged to enable the catheter body to withstand reactive compressive load without distortion during application of tension on the pull wire and to transmit torque from the proximal to the distal tip portion of the catheter to enhance fidelity of rotational positioning of the distal tip in response to rotational orientation of the proximal portion of the catheter. The coil is in frictional torque-transmitting relationship with the interior of the hollow shaft substantially along the common length of the catheter body when the catheter is bent. This deflectable catheter purportedly has augmented throw for one-handed operation.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,755,812 (Peterson et al.) describes a deflectable, telescoping guide catheter having an inner guide with a pre-formed distal tip, an outer guide with a predetermined deflection location, and a proximal actuator. The inner guide can be longitudinally extended and axially rotated relative to the outer guide. The proximal actuator can adjustably change a bend angle of the predetermined deflection location. The catheter can be deployed with the inner guide retracted inside the distal end of the outer catheter. The extensible and rotatable inner catheter can be combined with the adjustable bend angle of the outer guide to provide an improved system for accessing and cannulation of venous structures.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,168 (Lundquist, et al.) describes a steering mechanism for use in a variety of medical catheters. Such steering mechanism includes a steering shaft coupled to a controller which manipulates the distal end of the steering shaft. The steering shaft includes a flexible coiled spring having a lead spring fixed in position with respect to a distal end thereof in the distal end of the steering shaft. The distal ends of one or more steering wires is/are affixed to the lead spring. The steering wires extend through the steering shaft to the controller, and the steering apparatus of the controller is used to place tension on the steering wire(s). The attachment of the distal ends of the steering wires to the lead spring may be opposite one another or may be offset for providing greater maneuverability. Tension may be placed on the steering wires by wedges mounted transversely to the controller housing, or by rotation of a shaft mounted transversely to the controller housing, the steering wires being attached to the shaft such that rotation in one direction tenses one steering sire, and rotation in the other direction tenses the other steering wire. Two independently rotatable shafts may be used to separately control the two steering wires. The steering shaft is adapted for insertion into a lumen of a catheter for use in guiding the distal end of the catheter to a treatment site within a patient. The steering mechanism may also be used in conjunction with tools or apparatus which must reach into difficult locations, such as engines or other machines.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,733,248 (Adams et al.) describes a universal guide catheter that has a shaping mandrel inserted into a lumen of the catheter. The shaping mandrel changes from a first configuration to a second configuration after the catheter has been inserted into the body. In some embodiments the shaping mandrel is formed of a shape memory material which changes from the first shape to the second shape as the catheter warms to body temperature.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,585,717 (Wittenberger et al.) describes a deflection mechanism for a medical device comprising a plurality of rings and a connecting structure connecting the plurality of rings. This deflection mechanism is purportedly that are positionable in a catheter or other flexible body to cause a distal portion of the catheter or other flexible body to deflect or curve in more than one direction in a single plane and/or in more than one plane and/or to be deflected more than 360 degrees to form a loop.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,890,329 (Carroll et al.) describes another deflection mechanism that is purportedly capable of deflecting portions of a catheter or other flexible body in more than one direction in a single plane and/or in more than one plane and/or in a curve of more than 360 degrees to form a loop.

Also, Mols, B.,Moveable Tool Tip for Keyhole Surgery, Delft Outlook, Vol. 3, Pages 13-17 (2005), describes a moveable tip which incorporates a spring and one or more pull cables to facilitate deflection or steering of the tip of the device before or after insertion into a patient's body during keyhole (e.g., laparoscopic) surgery.

Additionally, Piers et al.,A Flexible Distal Tip With Two Degrees of Freedom for Enhanced Dexterity in Endoscopic Robot Surgery, Proceedings 13thMicromechanics Europe Workshop, Pages 271-74 (2002) describes a flexible tube that can be bent by pulling cables running along its length. An outer tube formed on NiTi alloy is disposed on a distal portion of the flexible tube and is cut into a series of rings connected by thin elastic joints.

Also, a number of deflectable guide catheters are on sale and in public use, including for example, the Morph™ Vascular Access Catheter (BioCardia, South San Francisco, Calif.) which is intended to serve as a conduit for access in the coronary vasculature and chambers of the heart and the Attain® Deflectable Catheter Delivery System (Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn.) which is intended for use in coronary sinus cannulation and delivery of electronic pacing leads.

Recently, a transnasal, catheter-based procedure has been developed for treating sinusitus and other disorders of the ear, nose throat and paranasal sinuses (Balloon Sinuplasty™ Procedure; Acclarent, Inc., Menlo Park, Calif.). In this procedure, an appropriately shaped guide catheter having a fixed distal curve is selected from a series of available guide catheter shapes, and the selected guide catheter is advanced though a nostril to a position where the distal end of the guide catheter is adjacent to the ostium of a paranasal sinus. A guidewire is ten advanced through the guide catheter and into the paranasal sinus. Thereafter, a balloon catheter is advanced over the guidewire and through the guide catheter, to a position where the balloon is within the ostium of the paranasal sinus. The balloon is then inflated causing enlargement and restructuring of the ostium, thereby improving sinus drainage. At present, the sinus guide catheters are commercially available in a variety of fixed shapes having distal curves from 0 degrees to 110 degrees (Relieva® Sinus Guide Catheters, Acclarent, Inc., Menlo Park, Calif.). The surgeon typically selects a sinus guide catheter which has a fixed distal curve that is believed to be best for accessing a particular sinus ostium. The fixed distal; curvature of the selected sinus guise catheter cannot be changed while the guide catheter is inserted in the subject's nose.

U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 11/037,548; 11/150,847; 11/193,020 and 11/436,892, of which this application is a continuation in part, describe the use of deflectable or steerable guide catheters in the performance of the Balloon Sinuplasty™ procedure as well as various other procedures wherein deflectable or steerable guide catheters are used to guide devices (e.g., guidewires, catheters, implantable drug delivery devices, etc.) to desired locations within the ear, nose, throat or cranium.

There remains a need for further development of new deflectable guide catheters having variable shapes and their methods of manufacture and use for transnasal and/or other applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for delivering a substance or device (e.g., a guidewire, catheter, implant or any other diagnostic or therapeutic device) to a desired location within the ear, nose, throat or cranium of a human or animal subject using a deflectable guide catheter that has an elongate catheter shaft, a distal portion of the shaft which is deflectable, a distal end and a deflection control that remains outside of the subject's body and is useable to cause the distal portion of the shaft to deflect form a first configuration to a second configuration. Such method generally includes the steps of (A) inserting the guide catheter, distal end first, through a nostril of the subject; (B) using the deflection control to deflect the distal portion of the catheter shaft from the first configuration to the second configuration, (C) positioning the distal end at or near the desired location; and (D) advancing a device or delivering a substance or flow of energy through the guide catheter and to or through the desired location.

Further in accordance with the present invention, there are provided deflectable guide catheter devices that are useable to perform the above summarized method as well as other methods wherein it is desired to deliver a substance or device (e.g., a guidewire, catheter, implant or any other diagnostic or therapeutic device) to a desired location anywhere within the body of a human or animal subject. In general, these guide catheter devices of the present invention comprise (A) a substantially rigid tube (e.g., a metal hypotube) having a lumen, an inner surface, an outer surface and a distal end, (B) a deflectable member (e.g., a spring member) having a distal end, said helical spring member being attached to and extending from the distal end of the substantially rigid tube, (C) a tubular plastic inner jacket having an inner surface, an outer surface and a lumen, said inner jacket extending through the lumen of the metal outer tube and through the helical spring member; (D) an outer jacket (e.g., a separate tube, sheath or coating) substantially covering at least the deflectable member and (E) a deflector member extending between the inner surface of the substantially rigid tube and the outer surface of the tubular inner jacket, said deflector member being attached to the helical spring member at or near its distal end such that, when the deflector member is pushed or pulled, a distal portion of the guide catheter will deflect. In embodiments intended for delivering devices or substances transnasally to locations within the ear, nose, throat or cranium of a human or animal subject, the deflectable guide catheter device may have a length of less than approximately 25 cm and in some embodiments less than 15 cm.

Still further in accordance with the present invention, there are provided other deflectable guide catheter devices and methods of use. These other deflectable guide catheter devices generally comprise a tubular catheter shaft that includes a proximal segment having a beveled distal end and a distal segment having a beveled proximal end that abuts against the beveled distal end of the proximal segment. The distal segment is rotatable between a) a first position where the beveled proximal end of the distal segment abuts with the beveled distal end of the proximal segment in a manner that causes the catheter shaft to be substantially straight and b) a second position wherein the beveled proximal end of the distal segment abuts with the beveled distal end of the proximal segment in a manner that causes the catheter shaft to be curved. Also, in some embodiments, such deflectable guide catheter device may further include a medial segment disposed between the proximal and distal segments. Such medial segment has a beveled proximal end and a beveled distal end. The beveled proximal end of the medial segment abuts against the beveled distal end of the proximal segment and the beveled distal end of the medial segment abuts against the beveled proximal end of the distal segment. In this embodiment, the medial and distal segments are independently rotatable to impart different curvatures to the catheter shaft. In operation, the medial and/or distal segments are rotated to provide a desired curvature of the catheter shaft prior to or after insertion of the catheter shaft into the body of a human or animal subject.

Further aspects, elements and advantages of the present invention will be understood by those of skill in the art upon reading of the detailed description set forth herebelow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description and the accompanying drawings are intended to describe some, but not necessarily all, examples or embodiments of the invention. The contents of this detailed description and the accompanying drawings do not limit the scope of the invention in any way.

FIGS. 1 through 1Cshow one embodiment of a deflectable transnasal guide catheter device10of the present invention. In this embodiment, the guide catheter device10generally comprises an elongate catheter shaft12having a lumen23, a deflectable distal portion14adjacent to is distal end DE and a proximal assembly16on its proximal end PE. As seen inFIGS. 1A and 1B, the catheter shaft12may be constructed of a substantially rigid tube20, a deflector member which in this example is a helical spring member30, a tubular inner jacket24, an outer jacket28and, in some embodiments, an optional inner liner26. In some embodiments, an energy guide such as a fiberoptic laser guide or wire for delivering current may extend through or replace the lumen23.

The substantially rigid tube20has a lumen, an inner surface, an outer surface and a distal end and may be formed of malleable material including metals such as stainless steel hypotube. In the particular transnasal embodiment shown, this substantially rigid tube20may be formed of hypotube having an outer diameter of about 2 mm to about 4 mm. The helical spring member30may be connected to the distal end of the substantially rigid tube20by solder, adhesive, a weldment or any other appropriate attachment member or substance34, as seen inFIG. 1B. The helical spring member may alternatively comprise a section of the substantially rigid tube20in which a helical cut or one or more other cut(s), groves, openings, or weakened area(s) is/are formed. In some embodiments, the helical spring member may be formed of metal wire having a diameter of from about 0.016 inch to about 0.017 helically wound to a pitch of from about 0.060 inch to about 0.100 inch. In catheters sized for transnasal use, such helical spring member may also have a length of from about 0.625 inch to about 0.75 inch and an outer diameter of from about 0.100 inch to about 0.156 inch. The tubular inner jacket24has an inner surface, an outer surface and a lumen. This tubular inner jacket24may be formed of any suitable elastomer or other material, such as polyurethane, and may comprise a separate tube that is mounted on or fused in place or a coating or layer or material that has been applied by a suitable procedure such as dip coating, vapor deposition, painting, etc. In the particular non-limiting example shown inFIG. 1B, the tubular inner jacket24extends through the lumen of the substantially rigid tube20and through the helical spring member30, protruding slightly beyond the distal end of the spring member30. A pull member22, such as metal wire, monofilament or other suitable material, extends between the inner surface of the substantially rigid tube20and the outer surface of the tubular inner jacket24. Such pull member22further extends through the spring member30and is connected to the distal end of the spring member30by solder, adhesive, weldment or any other appropriate attachment member or substance34and/or by tying, looping or twining the pull member around the wire, strand or other member of which the helical spring member30is formed. An outer jacket28, such as an elastomeric (e.g., polyurethane) tube, may be disposed over the outer surface of the spring member30and, optionally, may extend in the distal direction to cover some or all of the outer surface of the substantially rigid tubular member20. In the particular non-limiting example shown inFIGS. 1-1C, the outer jacket28extends proximally over the distal 3 cm to 5 cm of the substantially rigid tubular member20. This outer jacket28may comprise a tube that is heat shrunk or otherwise caused to fight snuggly on the distal portion of the device10. Alternatively, this outer jacket28may comprise be fused (e.g., heat fused), adhered by adhesive, solvent welded or otherwise affixed (e.g., sewn, stitched, etc.) to at least a portion of the inner jacket24. For example, during manufacture, a mandrel may be inserted into the distal end of the device lumen23and heat may be applied to cause the outer jacket to heat shrink and to fuse at least its distal end to at least the distal end of the inner jacket24. In some cases, the heating process may cause the inner jacket24and outer jacket28to melt or fuse together over the length of the spring member30, substantially filling the helical space within the spring member30with elastomeric material as seen inFIG. 1B. Alternatively, as explained above, the outer jacket28may comprise a layer of material (e.g., polymeric coating material) that has been applied by a suitable process such as dip coating, vapor deposition, painting, etc. to form the outer jacket28, as shown.

Optionally, in some embodiments, a tubular inner liner26such as a thin walled polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tube may extend through all or part of the lumen23of the device. Such inner liner26(if present) may or may not be fused (e.g., heat fused), adhered by adhesive, solvent welded or otherwise affixed to all or part of the inner jacket24.

In operation, when the pull member22is pulled in the proximal direction, the curvature of the spring member30(and the curvature of the deflectable distal portion14) will increase. Conversely, when the pull member is advanced in the distal direction, the curvature of the spring member30(and the curvature of the deflectable distal portion14) will decrease. In embodiments intended for transnasal insertion and use in accessing the ostia or paranasal sinuses, it is desirable for the distal portion14to be deflectable to form curves ranging from about 0 degrees (i.e., substantially straight) to at least about 110 degrees. As will be explained in more detail herebelow, the deflection of the distal portion14may be carried out before and/or after the distal portion has been inserted into the body of a human or animal subject.

In some embodiments, the proximal and distal movement of the pull member22may be controlled by a deflection control that is located on a portion of the guide catheter device10that remains outside of the subject's body. In the particular embodiment of the guide catheter device10shown inFIGS. 1-1C, this deflection control comprises a control knob48located on the proximal assembly16. As seen in detail inFIG. 1C, this proximal assembly16comprises an externally threaded two-piece body member46having a female Luer fitting40at its proximal end, the control knob48having internal threads that are mated with the external threads of the inner body member46. Spring47applies tension on Luer fitting40and liner26with respect to body member46. Pull member22is connected to a washer that is in contact with body member46. When the control knob48is rotated in one direction (e.g., clockwise), it advances in the distal direction causing the body member46and the pull member22to also advance in the distal direction and resulting in a decrease of the curvature of the deflectable distal portion14. When the control knob48is rotated in the opposite direction (e.g., counterclockwise), it retracts in the proximal direction causing the body member46and the pull member22to also retract in the proximal direction and resulting in an increase in the curvature of the deflectable distal portion14.

Also, in some embodiments, indicia (e.g., markings, graduations, zones, projections, other visible or tactilely discernable indicators) may be associated with the deflection control to indicate to the operator the present direction and/or degree of curvature of the deflectable distal portion14. Such indicia may be located on a portion of the device that remains outside of the subject's body to enable the operator to determine the direction or plane in which the deflectable distal portion14will curve and/or the degree to which it is presently curved, even though the deflectable distal portion14may be located within the subject's body and out of the operator's sight. In the particular embodiment of the guide catheter device10shown inFIGS. 1-1C, diametrically opposed wings42may extend radially from the proximal assembly16in a plane that is the same as or parallel to a plane in which the deflectable distal portion14curves, thereby acting as indicia of the direction or plane in which the deflectable distal portion14will curve. Also, graduation markings (not shown) may be formed on the proximal assembly16to indicate how far the control knob48is advanced in the distal direction and the corresponding degree of curvature of the distal portion14(e.g., in some embodiments markings may be formed at increments between 0 degrees and approximately 110 degrees, etc.).

FIG. 1Dshows an embodiment of a guide catheter device10aof the present invention that is essentially the same as that shown inFIGS. 1A-1C, but which includes two pull members22a,22b(and may have two deflection controls) to cause the deflectable distal portion14aof the catheter shaft12ato deflect in two directions, as shown. It will be appreciated that any of the deflectable guide catheters of the present invention may have a single pull member22such that they may be deflectable in a single direction or they may have a plurality of pull members22a,22bsuch that they may alternately be deflected in different directions.

FIG. 2shows another embodiment of a guide catheter10bof the present invention that is essentially the same as that shown inFIGS. 1-1C, but wherein the proximal assembly16bcomprises a handpiece body52and wherein the deflection control comprises a rotatable wheel54mounted on the handpiece52. Rotatable wheel54is linked to the pull member (not seen inFIG. 2) such that when the wheel54is rotated in one direction (e.g., clockwise), it will cause the pull member22to advance in the distal direction resulting in a decrease of the curvature of the deflectable distal portion14bof shaft12b. When the wheel54is rotated in the opposite direction (e.g., counterclockwise), it causes the pull member22to retract in the proximal direction thereby resulting in an increase in the curvature of the deflectable distal portion14bof shaft12b.

Also, the showing ofFIG. 2includes an optional endoscope system50that may be attached to or integrated with any deflectable guide catheter of this invention such that the guide catheter device may be used in conjunction with an endoscope system50. This endoscope system50comprises a flexible endoscope60, such as a fiberoptic scope, that is attached to the shaft12bof the guide catheter device10bby way of connectors56,57,58such as clips, bands, snap-in grooves, etc. In some embodiments, the connectors56,57,58may be constructed to allow the endoscope60to be longitudinally advanced and retracted relative to the shaft12bof the guide catheter10b. The endoscope60is connected to a camera62and the camera62is connectable by way of camera cable64to a monitor on which an image received through the endoscope60may be displayed. Each endoscope60has a particular field of view. In this system, the vantage point of the endoscope60may be moved by varying the degree of deflection of the deflectable distal portion14bof the shaft12b, thus bringing different anatomical structures and/or anatomical areas within the endoscope's field of view. Also, in embodiments where the endoscope60is advanceable, the degree of curvature of the deflectable distal portion14bmay be changed to guide the advancement of the endoscope as desired. For example, if it is desired to cause the endoscope to advance through the ostium of a paranasal sinus and into the sinus cavity, the operator may position the distal end DE of the guide catheter10bnear the ostium, visualize the ostium with the scope, and then alter the curvature of the deflectable distal portion14bas the endoscope60is advanced, thereby guiding the endoscope60into the ostium as desired. Also, in some applications, such as when it is desired to pass a guidewire or other device through the frontal outflow tract and into a frontal sinus, the operator may be faced with confusing anatomy, such as the presence of one or more false or blind openings in addition to the actual opening through which the guidewire or device is intended to pass. In such instances, the optional endoscope60may be used to assist the operator in serially or systematically probing or identifying each available opening, thereby facilitating identification of the correct opening and simplifying passage of the guidewire or device into the correct passage. Examples of endoscopes that may be used in this system include those described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/803,695 entitled Endoscopic Methods And Devices For Transnasal Procedures filed May 14, 2007, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,554,691 on Jan. 31, 2017; Ser. No. 11/647,530, entitled Endoscopic Methods and Devices for Transnasal Procedures filed Dec. 27, 2006, Published as U.S. Pub. No. 2007/0167682 on Jun. 19, 2007, now abandoned; Ser. No. 14/725,151 entitled Endoscopic Methods and Devices for Transnasal Procedures filed Mar. 15, 2007, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,089,258 on Jun. 28, 2015 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/844,874 entitled Endoscopic Methods and Devices for Transnasal Procedures filed Sep. 15, 2006, the entire disclosures of such patent applications being expressly incorporated herein by reference.

FIGS. 3 and 3Ashow an embodiment of a deflectable guide catheter10cwhich is essentially the same as that shown inFIGS. 1-1C, except that the proximal assembly16ccomprises a handpiece body having a rotatable thumb wheel64that rotates about an axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the catheter shaft12c. This rotatable thumb wheel64is linked to the pull member (not seen inFIG. 3) such that when the thumb wheel64is rotated in one direction (e.g., forward), it will cause the pull member22to advance in the distal direction resulting in a decrease of the curvature of the deflectable distal portion14cof shaft12c. When the thumb wheel64is rotated in the opposite direction (e.g., back), it causes the pull member22to retract in the proximal direction thereby resulting in an increase in the curvature of the deflectable distal portion14cof shaft12c. As seen inFIG. 3, the thumb wheel64may extend in a plane and/or direction that is the same or parallel to the plane and/or direction in which the deflectable distal portion14cwill curve, thereby acting as indicia of the direction and/or plane of curvature. Additionally, as seen in the cut away view ofFIG. 3A, indicia of the degree to which the deflectable distal portion14cis presently curved may be provided on the thumb wheel64. For example, three colored zones66,68,70may be formed on the thumb wheel64. A first (e.g., white) zone66may be visible and aligned with a mark on the handpiece when the deflectable portion14cis curved from about 0 degrees (i.e., substantially straight) to about 36.6 degrees, a second (e.g., red) zone68may be visible and aligned with a mark on the handpiece when the deflectable portion14cis curved from about 36.7 to about 73.2 degrees and third (e.g., blue) zone70may be visible and aligned with a mark on the handpiece when the deflectable portion14cis curved from about 73.3 degrees to about 110 degrees. It is to be appreciated that may other types of indicia (e.g., hash marks or graduations by degree) may be employed as an alternative to the colored zones66,68,70shown inFIG. 3A.

As those of skill in the art will appreciate, deflection mechanisms known in the art, other than those described in these examples, may alternatively be used in any of the deflectable catheters of this invention, including but not limited to: slides, triggers, hydraulics, electromagnetic field activation, shape memory materials which respond to current or temperature change, a straight stylet that is insertable into a catheter that is biased to a curved configuration to overcome a curve bias thereby straightening the catheter, a curved stylet that that is insertable into a catheter that is biased to a straight configuration to cause the catheter to assume a curved shape, etc.

FIGS. 4A through 4Cshow another embodiment of a deflectable guide catheter10dwhich may be substantially the same as that shown inFIGS. 1-1C, but wherein the deflectable portion14dof shaft12dincludes a proximal segment70having a beveled distal end, a rotatable medial segment having beveled proximal and distal ends and a rotatable distal segment74having a beveled proximal end. The beveled proximal end of the medial segment72abuts against the beveled distal end of the proximal segment70. The beveled distal end of the medial segment72abuts against the beveled proximal end of the distal segment74. Rotation of the medial segment72by 180 degrees causes the deflectable portion14dto change from the straight configuration seen inFIG. 4Ato the partially curved configuration seen inFIG. 4B. Thereafter, rotation of the distal segment by 180 degrees causes the deflectable portion14dto change from the partially curved configuration seen inFIG. 4Bto the fully curved configuration seen inFIG. 4C. It will be appreciated that this embodiment will not include a pull wire22. Rather, the operator may rotate the medial and/or distal segments72,74by hand before the guide catheter device10dis inserted into the subject's body. Alternatively, a rotational deflection control mechanism may be provided on a portion of the device that remains outside of the body and linked to the medial and/or distal segments72,74so as to enable the operator to selectively rotate the medial and/or distal segments72,74after the deflectable portion14dof the device has been inserted into the subject's body.

The deflectable guide catheters10,10a,10b,10c,10dof this invention may be used to guide the insertion of a wide variety of devices to a variety of locations within the body. In one non-limiting example shown inFIGS. 5 and 6A-6C, the embodiment of the deflectable guide catheter10shown inFIGS. 1-1Cis used to introduce a guidewire GW into the left maxillary sinus MS of a human subject. After the guidewire has been advanced in to the maxillary sinus MS, one or more other devices (e.g., catheters, scopes, electrodes, dilators, substance delivery implants, stents, etc) may be advanced over the guidewire and/or through the lumen23of the guide catheter20.FIG. 7shows a dilator100including a balloon100, which may be advanced over the guidewire to dilate an opening or anatomical passageway, such as the opening of a paranasal sinus. Although this particular example shows a procedure involving the maxillary sinus MS, it is to be appreciated that this is merely one example and is not intended to provide an exhaustive description of all possible procedures that may be performed using the deflectable guide catheters of this invention. Indeed, as will be well understood by persons of skill in the art, the deflectable guide catheters of this invention may be used to access the ostia of any paranasal sinuses (frontal, sphenoid, maxillary) or other passageways (e.g., openings that have been formed into the ethmoid air cell(s) or other sinuses, Eustachian tubes, naso-lacrimal ducts, etc.) and/or many other locations within the ear, nose or throat.

As seen inFIG. 6A, the deflectable distal portion14of the guide catheter10is initially disposed in a configuration that is substantially straight (e.g., about 0 degrees of curvature). The guide catheter shaft12is inserted distal end first into the subject's left nostril with the catheter shaft12orientated such that, when subsequently deflected, the deflectable portion14will curve in the lateral direction. The catheter shaft is advanced through the middle meatus MM along the lateral aspect of the middle turbinate MT until the deflectable portion14has passed the protruding uncinate process; Thereafter, the operator will rotatably retract the control knob48causing the deflectable portion14to curve to a configuration wherein the distal end DE of the catheter shaft12is directed toward the maxillary sinus ostium MSO as seen inFIG. 6B. For entry into the maxillary sinus ostium in a subject who's anatomy in this area has not been altered by prior surgery, the deflectable portion14will be deflected to a curve of about 90 degrees to about 110 degrees. An x ray, fluoroscope, embedded navigation sensor useable with an image guided surgery system, the optional attached endoscope60(if present) or a separate endoscope (if inserted) may be used to verify that the curvature, orientation and position of the guide catheter10is as desired. Thereafter, the guide catheter shaft12may be moved in the lateral direction causing the distal end DE of the guide catheter shaft12to advance around the intact uncinate process UN to a location within or near the maxillary sinus ostium MSO. Thereafter, the guidewire GW is advanced through the lumen23of the guide catheter10and into the maxillary sinus MS as seen inFIG. 5. Similar procedures (but different curvatures of the deflectable portion14) may also be used to facilitate placement of the distal end DE of the guide catheter within or adjacent to the ostia of the frontal, sphenoid or ethmoid sinuses, within or adjacent to other openings such as that of the naso-lacrymal duct or Eustachian tube and/or adjacent to man made openings (e.g., ethmoidectomy or othmoidotomy openings into ethmoid air cells, openings into the cranium to access anatomical structures such as the pituitary gland, etc.

The deflectable guide catheters10,10a,10b,10c,10dof this invention may provide a number of advantages over the use of guide catheters having fixed shapes. For example, the guide catheters10,10a,10b,10c,10dof this invention may be inserted and advanced through the nasal anatomy while in a first configuration (e.g., straight or only slightly curved) thereby allowing the distal portion of the guide catheter to easily advanced though narrow or constricted regions of anatomy and/or adjacent to other devices (e.g., an endoscope) may also be inserted into the nose. Thereafter, after the guide catheter has been advanced to a desired location, the guide catheter may be deflected to a second configuration (e.g., a substantially curved shape) thereby causing or allowing the distal opening of the guide catheter10,10a,10b,10c,10dto move into a position that is adjacent to an in alignment with a desired sinus ostium or passageway so that the intended substance or device may be delivered through the guide catheter lumen and into or through that ostium or passageway. Thereafter, the guide catheter10,10a,10b,10c,10dmay then be returned to the first configuration (e.g., straight or only slightly curved) to facilitate its withdrawal and removal from the anatomy. In this manner, the deflectable guide catheters10,10a,10b,10c,10dof the present invention may be easier to insert/remove and may be less traumatic to the anatomy than other guide catheters having a fixed shapes. Also, when used for some procedures (e.g., balloon dilation of a paranasal sinus ostium) the deflectable guide catheters10,10a,10b,10c,10dof the present invention may result in faster procedure times (e.g., no need to remove balloon and guidewire from the guide catheter on one side of the nostril). Additionally, the deflectable guide catheters10,10a,10b,10c,10dof the present invention may allow hospitals, surgical centers, surgeon's offices or other locations where these procedures are performed to maintain less inventory, as a single deflectable guide catheter bay be used to replace a number of fixed shape guide catheters used in the prior art (e.g., sinus guide catheters having fixed angles of 0, 30, 70, 90 and 110 degrees may be replaced by a single deflectable guide catheter that is capable of being deflected to angles ranging from 0 to 110 degrees.)

It is to be appreciated that the invention has been described hereabove with reference to certain examples or embodiments of the invention but that various additions, deletions, alterations and modifications may be made to these examples and embodiments without departing from the intended spirit and scope of the invention. For example, any element or attribute of one embodiment or example may be incorporated into or used with another embodiment or example, unless otherwise indicated or unless doing so would render the embodiment or example unsuitable for its intended use. Also, where the steps of a method or procedure are referred to or listed in a specific order, the order of such steps may be changed unless otherwise specified or unless doing so would render the method or procedure unsuitable for its intended use. All reasonable additions, deletions, modifications and alterations are to be considered equivalents of the described examples and embodiments and are to be included within the scope of the following claims.