Catheter assembly

Abstract

A catheter assembly is disclosed. This assembly may include a first elongate member having an internal lumen and a distal portion, a second elongate member, slidable within the first elongate member, and a spacer positioned between the second elongate member and the first elongate member. In this example, the spacer may be positioned at bendable portions of the first elongate member and the second elongate member such that the spacer maintains a substantially uniform spacing between the second elongate member and the first elongate member when the first elongate member and the second elongate member are in a curved orientation.

1 . A catheter assembly comprising: 
 a first elongate member having an internal lumen and a distal portion, the first elongate member sized for insertion into a body of a patient;    a second elongate member, 
 the second elongate member also having an internal lumen,  
 the second elongate member slidable within the first elongate member,  
 the second elongate member having a delivery end extendible outside of the  
 distal portion of the first elongate member,  
   a spacer positioned between the second elongate member and the first elongate member, 
 the spacer positioned at bendable portions of the first elongate member and the second elongate member,  
 the spacer maintaining a substantially uniform spacing between the second elongate member and the first elongate member when the first elongate member and the second elongate member are in a curved orientation.  
   
   
   
       2 . The catheter system of  claim 1  wherein the distance of insertion of a proximal end of the second elongate member is substantially equal to the distance of extension of the delivery end of the second elongate member away from the distal portion of the first elongate member when the first elongate member and the second elongate member are in a curved orientation.  
   
   
       3 . The catheter system of  claim 1  wherein the delivery end of the second elongate member is a piercing tip.  
   
   
       4 . The catheter system of  claim 1  wherein the first elongate member and the second elongate member are tubes having circular cross-sections.  
   
   
       5 . The catheter system of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a scale, the scale coupled to the first elongate member, the containing indices that reflect the length of extension of the delivery end of the second elongate member from the distal portion of the first elongate member.    
   
   
       6 . The catheter system of  claim 1  wherein the delivery end of the second elongate member contains a marker.  
   
   
       7 . The catheter system of  claim 6  wherein the marker is a radiopaque marker.  
   
   
       8 . The catheter system of  claim 1  wherein the spacer extends along at least half of the length of second elongate member.  
   
   
       9 . The catheter system of  claim 1  wherein the spacer is mounted to the first elongate member.  
   
   
       10 . The catheter system of  claim 1  wherein the spacer is mounted to the second elongate member.  
   
   
       11 . The catheter system of  claim 1  wherein the spacer extends along the entire length of the first elongate member.  
   
   
       12 . The catheter syst6em of  claim 1  wherein the second elongate member is coupled to a source of therapeutic.  
   
   
       13 . The catheter of  claim 1  wherein the spacer defines uniform gaps along bendable portions of the first elongate member and bendable portions of the second elongate member, the gaps being uniform when the first elongate member is straight and the second elongate member is straight.  
   
   
       14 . The catheter of  claim 1  wherein the spacer comprises a plurality of individual contact points between the first elongate member and the second elongate member.  
   
   
       15 . The catheter system of  claim 1  wherein the first elongate member is sized to fit within arterial lumens of a human.  
   
   
       16 . The catheter system of  claim 1  wherein the spacer maintains a uniform spacing between the second elongate member and the first elongate member when the first elongate member and the second elongate member are in a curved orientation.  
   
   
       17 . The catheter system of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a second spacer positioned between the second elongate member and the first elongate member,    the second spacer positioned at bendable portions of the first elongate member and the second elongate member,    the second spacer maintaining a substantially uniform spacing between the second elongate member and the first elongate member when the first elongate member and the second elongate member are in a curved orientation.