Catheter delivery system

Abstract

A method for delivering catheters, and stents composed of soft, compliant polymers through anatomical passages. These devices have a bulbous anchorage end with a diameter greater than the rest of the catheter. To facilitate implant and delivery a pusher catheter or sheath with an internal lumen larger than the outer diameter of the catheter but smaller than the outer diameter of the bulbous anchorage end. The distal end of pusher catheter or the sheath physically engages the proximal end of the bulbous anchorage end and applies an axial force to coaxially advance the catheter over a guidewire though anatomical passages. This method allows a physician to move the catheter to an anatomical site without the device exhibiting buckling due to axial force applied. Similarly, this delivery method will allow more force to be applied to the distal end of the catheter diminishing the likelihood of buckling.

1 . A method for delivering a catheter to an anatomical site, the method comprising:
 a) inserting a guidewire into a patient, such that a distal end of the guidewire is proximal to the anatomical site and a proximal end of the guidewire is accessible to a user;   b) placing a catheter with an internal channel with a first opening on a distal end and a second opening on a proximal end over the guidewire such that the guidewire is contained within the internal channel, wherein the proximal end of catheter comprises a first external diameter and the distal end comprises a second external diameter, further wherein the second external diameter is larger than the first external diameter such that the distal end of the catheter comprises a proximal external contacting surface;   c) placing a tube with a distal opening and an internal channel over the proximal end of the catheter, wherein the diameter of the distal opening and the internal channel is larger than the first external diameter, but smaller than the second external diameter, further wherein the tube comprises a distal contacting surface and a proximal pushing surface;   d) pushing the tube over the catheter until the distal contacting surface of the tube engages the proximal external contacting surface of the catheter;   e) applying axial force to the proximal pushing surface of the tube such that the tube advances the catheter on the guidewire;   f) stopping step e) once the catheter is proximal to the anatomical site; and   g) removing the tube.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the shape of the internal channel of the tube complements the external shape of the proximal end of the catheter. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter has a cross-sectional shape that is selected from the group consisting of substantially circular, substantially triangular, substantially square, substantially oval, substantially trapezoidal, substantially hexagonal or substantially octagonal. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the shape of the internal channel of the tube has a cross-sectional shape that is selected from the group consisting of substantially circular, substantially triangular, substantially square, substantially oval, substantially trapezoidal, substantially hexagonal or substantially octagonal. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tube is composed of substantially resilient material. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the catheter is a bulbous anchorage end. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter is composed of a soft, compliant material. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter is composed of a structural hydrogel polymer. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the guidewire does not have a coating that reduces it coefficient of friction. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter has at least one port hole proximal to the distal end. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the catheter has a profile that is selected from the group consisting of substantially spherical, substantially oval, substantially barbell, substantially trumpet or substantially conical. 
     
     
         12 . A catheter delivery system comprising: a catheter with an internal channel with a first opening on the distal end and a second opening on a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of catheter comprises a first external diameter and the distal end comprises a second external diameter, further wherein the second external diameter is larger than the first external diameter such that the distal end of the catheter comprises a proximal external contacting surface; a tube with a distal opening, a distal contacting surface and an internal channel, wherein the diameter of the distal opening and the internal channel is larger than the first external diameter of the catheter, but smaller than the second external diameter; wherein the proximal end of the catheter is place into the distal opening of the tube until the distal contacting surface engages the proximal external contacting surface, further wherein the tube pushes the catheter such that both advance over a guidewire that is inserted into a patient such that a distal end of the guidewire is proximal to an anatomical site. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the shape of the internal channel of the tube complements the external shape of the proximal end of the catheter. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the catheter has a cross-sectional shape that is selected from the group consisting of substantially circular, substantially triangular, substantially square, substantially oval, substantially trapezoidal, substantially hexagonal or substantially octagonal. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the shape of the internal channel of the tube has a cross-sectional shape that is selected from the group consisting of substantially circular, substantially triangular, substantially square, substantially oval, substantially trapezoidal, substantially hexagonal or substantially octagonal. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the distal end of the catheter is a bulbous anchorage end. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the catheter is composed of a soft, compliant material. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the guidewire does not have a coating that reduces it coefficient of friction. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the catheter has at least one port hole proximal to the distal end. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the distal end of the catheter has a profile that is selected from the group consisting of substantially spherical, substantially oval, substantially barbell, substantially trumpet or substantially conical.