Devices and Methods for Accessing the Vasculature of a Patient

Abstract

Methods for easy, atraumatic access to areas of the vasculature that are otherwise difficult to access, using steerable guide catheters constructed with components that are selected to provide optimal navigability, torque transfer, and push ability for a variety of typical percutaneous access routes. The catheter wall thickness in the deflecting segment of the guide catheter is about 1 French (⅓ mm) or less, and includes a slotted deflection tube, and this construction allows a very tight turning radius which in turn enables guide catheter access to regions of the vasculature that are otherwise inaccessible.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of accessing a target site within the vasculature of a patient, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a deflectable guide catheter characterized by a distal end and a proximal end and a wall thickness, said deflectable guide catheter comprising a main body section and a deflectable segment disposed at the distal end thereof, said deflectable segment and having a total wall thickness of about 1 French and an inner diameter of at least 3 French (0.035″ or 0.9 mm), and a pullwire operably connected to the deflectable segment from the proximal end of the deflectable guide catheter;   inserting the deflectable guide catheter percutaneously, through an access point in the vasculature of the patient, and navigating the deflectable guide catheter through the vasculature to locate the deflectable segment into proximity with target site, and operating the deflectable segment and rotating the guide catheter as necessary to manipulate the deflecting segment toward the target site; wherein   the main body section comprises a PTFE liner, a braid, and a jacket encasing the pullwire, and   the deflectable segment consists of a PTFE liner, a braid, a deflectable member, the pullwire and an outer jacket, with said braid disposed over the PTFE liner.   
     
     
         2 . A method of accessing a target site within the vasculature of a patient comprising the steps of:
 providing a deflectable guide catheter characterized by a distal end and a proximal end and a wall thickness, said deflectable guide catheter comprising a main body section and a deflectable segment disposed at the distal end thereof, said deflectable segment having a total wall thickness of about 1 French and comprising a deflectable member configured to provide a bend arc of about 90° to 135° and a bend radius of about 1 inch (2.5 cm), and a pullwire operably connected to the deflectable segment from the proximal end of the deflectable guide catheter;   inserting the deflectable guide catheter percutaneously, through an access point in a vasculature of the patient, and navigating the deflectable guide catheter through the vasculature to locate the deflectable segment into proximity with the target site, and operating the deflectable segment and rotating the guide catheter as necessary to manipulate the deflecting segment toward the target site; wherein   the main body section comprises a PTFE liner, a braid, and a jacket encasing the pullwire; and   the deflectable segment consists of a PTFE liner, a braid, the deflectable member, the pullwire and an outer jacket, with said braid disposed over the PTFE liner.   
     
     
         3 . A deflectable guide catheter characterized by a distal end and a proximal end and a wall thickness, said deflectable guide catheter comprising:
 a main body section and a deflectable segment disposed at the distal end thereof, said deflectable segment having a total wall thickness of about 1 French and an inner diameter of at least 3 French (0.035″ or 0.9 mm), and a pullwire operably connected to the deflectable segment from the proximal end of the deflectable guide catheter; wherein   the main body section comprises a PTFE liner, a braid, and a jacket encasing the pullwire, and   the deflectable segment consists of a PTFE liner, a braid, a deflectable member, the pullwire and an outer jacket, with said braid disposed over the PTFE liner.   
     
     
         4 . A deflectable guide catheter characterized by a distal end and a proximal end and a wall thickness, said deflectable guide catheter comprising:
 a main body section and a deflectable segment disposed at the distal end thereof, said deflectable segment having a total wall thickness of about 1 French and comprising a deflectable member configured to provide a bend arc of about 90° to 135° and a bend radius of about 1 inch (2.5 cm), and a pullwire operably connected to the deflectable segment from the proximal end of the deflectable guide catheter; wherein   the main body section comprises a PTFE liner, a braid, and a jacket encasing the pullwire, and   the deflectable segment consists of a PTFE liner, a braid, the deflectable member, the pullwire and an outer jacket, with said braid disposed over the PTFE liner.