Coronary guide catheter

Abstract

Embodiments include an interventional guide catheter, comprising: a main tubular shaft with a distal tip and proximal end; the main tubular shaft comprising: a main inner structural layer comprising a metallic helically wound multi-filar wire extending from a proximal tube termination to a distal end, a braided wire layer covering the main inner structural layer that extends from the proximal tube termination to the distal end, an outer layer of polymer jacketing fixedly attached to the main inner structural layer and braid layer, an inner layer of polymer jacketing and fixedly attached to the main inner structural layer, a distal tip made of layers of polymer, a distal end curve shape for anatomical conformance that is heat processed in the main metal portion of the structure; and a lamination of the inner layer, main inner structural layer, braided wire layer and outer layer. Other embodiments are also included herein.

1 . An interventional guide catheter for introducing interventional catheters into the vasculature, comprising:
 a main tubular shaft with a distal tip and proximal end; the main tubular shaft comprising:
 a main inner structural layer comprising a metallic helically wound multi-filar wire extending from a proximal tube termination to a distal end, the multi-filar wire having a wall thickness of 0.0015 to 0.010 inches, 
 a braided wire layer covering the main inner structural layer that extends from the proximal tube termination to the distal end, the braided wire layer having a thickness of 0.0005 to 0.010 inches, 
 an outer layer of polymer jacketing covering and fixedly attached to the main inner structural layer and braid layer with wall thickness of 0.001 to 0.005 inches, 
 an inner layer of polymer jacketing covering and fixedly attached to the main inner structural layer with wall thickness of 0.001 to 0.0005 inches, 
 a distal tip made of layers of polymer, the distal tip being 0.05-0.20 inches in length, 
 a distal end curve shape for anatomical conformance formed by the main inner structural layer; and 
 a lamination of the inner layer, main inner structural layer, braided wire layer and outer layer with the inner layer spaced from the outer layer. 
   
     
     
         2 . The guide catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the main helically wound layer terminates distally before a primary curve of the distal end curve shape. 
     
     
         3 . The guide catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the outer and inner layers are fused together through one or more of the main inner structural layer or the braided wire layer. 
     
     
         4 . The guide catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the lamination does not comprise fusion of the outer and inner layers. 
     
     
         5 . The guide catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic helically wound multi-filar wire comprises stainless steel. 
     
     
         6 . The guide catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the braided wire layer comprises stainless steel wire. 
     
     
         7 . The guide catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the main inner structural layer comprises at least 6 filars and not more than 20 filars. 
     
     
         8 . The guide catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic helically wound multi-filar wire has been swaged. 
     
     
         9 . The guide catheter of  claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the main tubular shaft is at least 0.060 inches and not more than 0.115 inches. 
     
     
         10 . The guide catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the outer layer comprises Pebax. 
     
     
         11 . The guide catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the outer layer comprises Nylon. 
     
     
         12 . The guide catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the outer layer is coated with a hydrophilic polymer. 
     
     
         13 . The guide catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the inner layer comprises PTFE. 
     
     
         14 . The guide catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the inner layer comprises Nylon. 
     
     
         15 . The guide catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the inner layer is coated with a hydrophilic polymer. 
     
     
         16 . The guide catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the distal tip comprises a PTFE inner layer and a Pebax outer layer. 
     
     
         17 . The guide catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the main inner structural layer comprises welded terminations. 
     
     
         18 . The guide catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the main inner structural layer comprises a distal end that comprises a gold coating. 
     
     
         19 . The guide catheter of  claim 18 , wherein the gold coating is at least 0.5 mm and not more than 2 mm in length. 
     
     
         20 . The guide catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the outer layer comprises at least two layers of Pebax. 
     
     
         21 . The guide catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the outer layer is heat shrunk around the the main inner structural layer. 
     
     
         22 . The guide catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic helically wound multi-filar wire has a rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
         23 . The guide catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic helically wound multi-filar wire has a circular cross-section. 
     
     
         24 . The guide catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic helically wound multi-filar wire has an oval or elliptical cross-section. 
     
     
         25 . The guide catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic helically wound multi-filar wire has been coated with PTFE coating prior to forming the main inner structural layer. 
     
     
         26 . The guide catheter of  claim 1  wherein the main tubular shaft length is at least 60 cm and not more than 200 cm long.