Vessel Treatment Devices

Abstract

A catheter system for treating lesions is provided. The system is suitable for treatment of bifurcation lesions, has a low profile and provides substantially predictable translational and rotational positioning. In one embodiment, the system includes a fixed wire balloon catheter and a partially attached guidewire lumen, wherein the guidewire lumen is attached to the catheter at a crotch point. The location of the crotch point is predetermined so as to provide substantially predictable positioning. Several embodiments of the system are described for various types of lesions and vessel configurations.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A catheter, comprising:
 a shaft;   a balloon connected to the shaft with a core wire along the balloon and extending distally from a distal tip of the balloon;   an auxiliary elongated element associated with the shaft and having a distal opening; and   a guidewire extending through the auxiliary elongated element and exiting through the distal opening.   
     
     
         2 . The catheter of  claim 1  wherein the auxiliary elongated element distal opening is disposed adjacent a proximal end of the balloon. 
     
     
         3 . The catheter of  claim 2  wherein the auxiliary elongated element has a proximal opening. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter of  claim 3  wherein the proximal opening is adapted for rapid exchange of the guidewire. 
     
     
         5 . The catheter of  claim 1  wherein the auxiliary elongated element is on the shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The catheter of  claim 1  wherein the auxiliary elongated element is in the shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The catheter of  claim 1 , further including a stent with a side opening. 
     
     
         8 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the core wire is connected to a fixed wire at a distal portion of the balloon. 
     
     
         9 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the guidewire is positioned at a rotational distance from the core wire. 
     
     
         10 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the core wire proximal to the balloon is positioned in an inflation lumen of the shaft for supplying fluid to the balloon. 
     
     
         11 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the core wire comprises multiple core wires at a core wire exit point of the shaft. 
     
     
         12 . The catheter of  claim 11 , wherein the multiple core wires are bundled together to form a fixed wire at the distal tip of the balloon. 
     
     
         13 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary elongated element has a proximal opening distal of a proximal end of the shaft. 
     
     
         14 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary elongated element has a proximal opening at a proximal end of the shaft for receiving the guidewire.