Swivel tip assembly and catheter using same

Abstract

A swivel tip assembly ( 100 ) includes a housing ( 110 ) having a passageway ( 128 ) with proximal ( 112 ) and distal ( 114 ) openings. Spherical member ( 106 ) and bushing ( 108 ), which is captured by the housing ( 110 ), provide a swivel joint. A wire ( 102 ), which is coupled to the spherical member ( 106 ), is attached to the distal end of a catheter ( 50 ). The swivel joint allows the housing ( 110 ) to swivel or rotate freely thereby minimizing the opportunity of grabbing the guide wire ( 116 ) as the catheter ( 504 ) is being pushed or pulled along the guide wire ( 116 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A catheter assembly which can track along a guide wire, the catheter assembly comprising: 
 a catheter;    a housing having a passageway for receiving the guide wire;    a swivel joint located within the housing; and    the housing is attached to the catheter by a wire having one end attached to the swivel joint and the other end attached to the catheter.    
     
     
         2 . A catheter assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the housing is located distally of the catheter.  
     
     
         3 . A catheter assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the swivel joint allows the housing to rotate freely about the wire.  
     
     
         4 . A catheter assembly as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the catheter has proximal and distal ends and the wire is attached to the catheter at the catheter's distal end.  
     
     
         5 . A catheter assembly as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the swivel joint includes a bushing.  
     
     
         6 . A catheter assembly as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the bushing is attached to the housing by melting the housing about the bushing.  
     
     
         7 . A swivel assembly for use with a flexible elongate member which is tracked along a guide wire, the swivel assembly comprising: 
 a housing member including a passageway having proximal and distal openings for receiving the guide wire;    a swivel joint located inside the housing member; and    an attachment member attached to the swivel joint which allows the housing member to rotate about the attachment member.    
     
     
         8 . A swivel assembly as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the attachment member comprises a wire.  
     
     
         9 . A swivel assembly as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the wire and the housing's passageway are substantially parallel to each other.  
     
     
         10 . A swivel assembly as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the housing is made from plastic.  
     
     
         11 . A swivel assembly as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the swivel joint includes a bushing, which is fixed to the housing.  
     
     
         12 . A swivel assembly as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the attachment member comprises a wire having a substantially spherical member at one end which is captured by the bushing.  
     
     
         13 . A catheter assembly which can track along a guide wire, comprising: 
 a catheter; and    a housing having a passageway for receiving the guide wire, and the housing is attached to the catheter by a wire which is attached to a swivel joint located within the catheter that allows the housing to rotate about the wire.    
     
     
         14 . A catheter assembly as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the housing is located distally of the catheter.  
     
     
         15 . A catheter assembly as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the passageway has distal and proximal openings and the proximal opening is skived to help reduce the possibility of the guide hanging up with the housing.