Atraumatic catheter tip

Abstract

A delivery system for delivering an occluding device to a body lumen comprises an elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, a delivery means for delivering the occluding device to a desired location within the body lumen, and a flexible atraumatic tip on the distal end of the elongated shaft. The distal end of the elongated shaft is insertable into the body lumen. The atraumatic tip is configured to guide the elongated shaft through the body lumen while avoiding perforation of the body lumen.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A delivery system for delivering an occluding device to a body lumen, the delivery system comprising:
 an elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end insertable into the body lumen;   a delivery means for delivering the occluding device to a desired location within the body lumen; and   a flexible atraumatic tip on the distal end of the elongated shaft for guiding the elongated shaft through the body lumen.   
     
     
         2 . The delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the occluding device includes a self-expanding tubular member deployable from a collapsed position within a lumen of the elongated shaft to an expanded position outside of the elongated shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The delivery system of  claim 2 , wherein the delivery means comprises a pusher rod slidably received within the lumen of the elongated shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the occluding device includes a non self-expanding tubular member. 
     
     
         5 . The delivery system of  claim 4 , wherein the delivery means comprises an inflatable member near the distal end of the elongated shaft and an inflation lumen in fluid communication with the inflatable member. 
     
     
         6 . The delivery system of  claim 5 , wherein the tubular member is mountable on an outer surface of the inflatable member. 
     
     
         7 . The delivery system of  claim 6 , wherein the inflatable member is configured to expand the tubular member into an expanded position in contact with an inner surface of the body lumen. 
     
     
         8 . The delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated shaft is insertable into a working port of an endoscope. 
     
     
         9 . The delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated shaft is insertable into a working port of a hysteroscope. 
     
     
         10 . The delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the atraumatic tip comprises a tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a slanted facial opening near the distal end. 
     
     
         11 . The delivery system of  claim 10 , wherein the slanted facial opening has a generally ovoid configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The delivery system of  claim 10 , wherein the distal end includes a blunt leading edge. 
     
     
         13 . The delivery system of  claim 12 , wherein the blunt leading edge has a generally rounded outer face. 
     
     
         14 . The delivery system of  claim 10 , wherein the distal end includes a curved flange portion. 
     
     
         15 . The delivery system of  claim 10 , wherein the distal end of the atraumatic tip is tapered. 
     
     
         16 . The delivery system of  claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the atraumatic tip is reinforced with a reinforcing means. 
     
     
         17 . The delivery system of  claim 16 , wherein the reinforcing means comprises wire coil. 
     
     
         18 . The delivery system of  claim 17 , wherein the wire coil has a variable pitch for varying flexibility along the atraumatic tip. 
     
     
         19 . The delivery system of  claim 16 , wherein the reinforcing means comprises wire braid. 
     
     
         20 . The delivery system of  claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the atraumatic tip and the elongated shaft is reinforced with a reinforcing means. 
     
     
         21 . The delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the atraumatic tip is formed integral with the elongated shaft. 
     
     
         22 . The delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the atraumatic tip is formed separate from the elongated shaft and coupled to the shaft. 
     
     
         23 . The delivery system of  claim 22 , wherein the atraumatic tip is coupled to the elongated shaft by heat welding. 
     
     
         24 . The delivery system of  claim 1 , the atraumatic tip comprising a proximal section formed from a first material and a distal section formed from a second material different than the first material. 
     
     
         25 . The delivery system of  claim 24 , the atraumatic tip further comprising a middle section disposed between the proximal and distal sections and formed from a third material different than the first and second materials. 
     
     
         26 . An atraumatic tip for a delivery system for delivering an occluding device to a body lumen, the atraumatic tip comprising:
 a proximal end;   a distal end; and   a tapered section between the proximal and distal ends and having a slanted facial opening, the tapered section including a first portion formed from a first material and a second portion formed from a second material.   
     
     
         27 . The atraumatic tip of  claim 26 , wherein the first portion is an outer portion of the tip and the second portion is a central portion of the tip. 
     
     
         28 . The atraumatic tip of  claim 27 , wherein the stiffness of the second material is greater than that of the first material. 
     
     
         29 . The atraumatic tip of  claim 28 , wherein the first and second portions are formed from a PEBAX material. 
     
     
         30 . The atraumatic tip of  claim 26 , wherein the tapered section is tapered from the proximal end toward the distal end. 
     
     
         31 . The atraumatic tip of  claim 30 , wherein the distal end includes a blunt leading edge. 
     
     
         32 . The atraumatic tip of  claim 31 , wherein the blunt leading edge has a generally rounded outer surface. 
     
     
         33 . The atraumatic tip of  claim 26 , further comprising a curved flange at the distal end. 
     
     
         34 . The atraumatic tip of  claim 33 , wherein the curved flange comprises a coiled spring. 
     
     
         35 . A delivery system for delivering an occluding device to an internal body lumen, the delivery system comprising:
 an elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end insertable into the body lumen;   a delivery means for delivering the occluding device to a desired location within the body lumen; and   an atraumatic tip on the distal end of the elongated shaft for guiding the elongated shaft through the body lumen, the atraumatic tip having a proximal end, a distal end, and a slanted facial opening near the distal end.   
     
     
         36 . The delivery system of  claim 35 , further comprising a curved guide member at the distal end of the elongated shaft. 
     
     
         37 . The delivery system of  claim 36 , wherein the guide member is formed from a strand of wire. 
     
     
         38 . The delivery system of  claim 37 , wherein at least a portion of the wire is encased within the atraumatic tip. 
     
     
         39 . The delivery system of  claim 36 , wherein the slanted facial opening has a generally ovoid configuration. 
     
     
         40 . The delivery system of  claim 36 , wherein the guide member comprises a coiled spring. 
     
     
         41 . The delivery system of  claim 40 , wherein the coiled spring includes a distal end having a generally spherical tip. 
     
     
         42 . The delivery system of  claim 40 , wherein the coiled spring extends into the atraumatic tip to reinforce the tip. 
     
     
         43 . The delivery system of  claim 42 , wherein the portion of the coiled spring forming the guide member has a first diameter and the portion of the coiled spring reinforcing the tip has a second, larger diameter. 
     
     
         44 . The delivery system of  claim 40 , wherein the coiled spring includes an outer cover enclosing the spring. 
     
     
         45 . The delivery system of  claim 35 , wherein at least a portion of the atraumatic tip is reinforced with a reinforcing means. 
     
     
         46 . The delivery system of  claim 35 , wherein at least a portion of the atraumatic tip and the elongated shaft is reinforced with a reinforcing means.