| Method of and apparatus for navigating medical devices in body lumens -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Method of and apparatus for navigating medical devices in body lumensUSPTO Application #: 20070021731Title: Method of and apparatus for navigating medical devices in body lumens Abstract: A guide wire combined with a catheter or medical device for moving through a body lumen to a desired position in the body with the aid of an applied magnetic field. The guide wire is provided with a magnet on its distal end that can be oriented or oriented and moved by the application of a magnetic field to the magnet. A catheter or other medical device can be advanced over the guide wire. Once the medical device is in its desired position, the magnet can be withdrawn through the lumen of the catheter. Alternatively, a guide wire with a magnet on its distal end can be docked at the distal end of a catheter or medical device and can be oriented, or oriented and moved by the application of a magnetic field. (end of abstract) Agent: Harness, Dickey, & Pierce, P.l.c - St. Louis, MO, US Inventors: Jeffrey M. Garibaldi, Walter M. Blume USPTO Applicaton #: 20070021731 - Class: 604510000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Surgery, Means For Introducing Or Removing Material From Body For Therapeutic Purposes (e.g., Medicating, Irrigating, Aspirating, Etc.), Treating Material Introduced Into Or Removed From Body Orifice, Or Inserted Or Removed Subcutaneously Other Than By Diffusing Through Skin, Method, Therapeutic Material Introduced Or Removed Through A Piercing Conduit (e.g., Trocar) Inserted Into Body, Therapeutic Material Introduced Into Or Removed From Vasculature, By Catheter, The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070021731. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a continuation in part of PCT application Serial No. PCT/US98/02835 filed Feb. 17, 1998. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to a method of, and apparatus for, navigating medical devices in body lumens, such as in blood vessels, the trachea, the gastrointestinal tract, or the urinary tract. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Many diagnostic and therapeutic medical procedures require navigating a medical device to a particular location through lumens in the body. For example, procedures such as cardiac catheterizations and interventional neuroradiology procedures involve the introduction of medical devices through the arteries; bronchoscopies involve the introduction of medical devices through the trachea; endoscopies and colonoscopies involve the introduction of instruments through the gastrointestinal tract; and urethroscopies involve the introduction of medical devices through the urinary tract. [0004] Numerous methods and apparatus have been developed for introducing medical devices in the body. Many of these methods employ guide wires for remotely controlling the orientation of the tip of the medical device as it is advanced in the body lumen. These guide wires typically have a bend in their distal ends, the tip is rotated until the tip is properly oriented, and the wire is then advanced. It is a difficult and tedious process to steer a medical device remotely with a guide wire since the orientation of the guide wire is difficult to control. Thus, these procedures can be prolonged, which increases the risk to the patient and fatigues the physician. [0005] It has been proposed to guide medical devices in the body with magnets, see Yodh, Pierce, Weggel, and Montgomery, A New Magnetic System, for `Intravascular Navigation`, Medical & Biological Engineering, Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 143-147 (March 1968), incorporated herein by reference. This article proposes a magnetically tipped catheter that is steered within the body by an externally applied magnetic field. However, the magnet in this proposed device is attached to the catheter which can impair the ability to control the magnet. Moreover, there is no provision for removing the magnet and leaving the catheter or other medical device in place. Thus, only one such catheter can be directed to a given position because the magnetic field acting on one magnet will also act on the other magnets in the vicinity. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] The methods and apparatuses of the present invention involve magnetically guiding a medical device through a lumen in the body. Generally, according to the method of this invention, a magnet is provided on the end of a guide wire and an externally applied magnetic field orients the magnet in the body lumen. The magnet can be advanced through the body lumen by manipulating the magnetic field or by pushing the guide wire. [0007] According to a first embodiment of this invention, a catheter may be disposed over a guide wire having a magnet on its distal end. The guide wire and catheter combination is introduced into a body lumen through a natural or surgically formed opening. Once in the body the guide wire and catheter combination is navigated through the body lumen by applying a magnetic field, which acts on the distal end of the guide wire, orienting it. Typically, the guide wire is advanced slightly ahead of the catheter at a branch in the body lumen, and a magnetic field is applied to orient the tip of the guide wire, and the guide wire is advanced in the direction of the tip which is oriented into the selected branch. The guide wire can be advanced by the application of the magnetic field, by pushing at the proximal end, or by both. The catheter is then advanced over the guide wire. This process is repeated until the distal end of the catheter is at its desired location. Once the distal end of the catheter is in the desired position, the magnet can be withdrawn through the lumen of the catheter by pulling on the tether. Treatment, such as drug therapy or embolizing agents, can then be passed through the catheter. [0008] According to a second embodiment of this invention, a guide wire with a magnet on the tip may be docked at the distal end of the lumen inside a catheter or other medical device. The guide wire and catheter combination is introduced into a body lumen through a natural or surgically formed opening. Once in the body lumen, the guide wire and catheter combination is navigated through the body lumen by applying a magnetic field, which acts upon the magnet-tipped guide wire in the catheter, orienting it. The catheter is advanced by pushing the guide wire. Once the distal end of the catheter is in the desired location, the guide wire can be withdrawn through the lumen of the catheter by pulling on the guide wire. Treatment, such as drug therapy or embolizing agents, can then be passed through the catheter. [0009] The methods of the various embodiments of this invention, and the guide wire of the various embodiments of this invention, facilitate quick, easy and accurate positioning of a catheter or other medical device via a body lumen. Once the catheter is properly positioned, it can be used during a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure, either directly or as a passage for other medical devices. [0010] These and other features and advantages will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0011] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a guide wire and catheter combination constructed according to the principles of a first embodiment this invention; [0012] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the guide wire of the first embodiment; [0013] FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the distal tip of the guide wire; [0014] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view the distal end of a first alternate construction of the guide wire of the first embodiment, using a socket to secure the magnet; [0015] FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the distal end of a second alternate construction of the guide wire of the first embodiment, using a collar to secure the magnet. [0016] FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a third alternate construction of the distal section of the guide wire; [0017] FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a fourth alternate construction of the distal section of the guide wire; [0018] FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the distal section of a fifth alternate construction of the guide wire of the first embodiment with a portion broken away to show details of the construction; [0019] FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the distal end section of a sixth alternate construction of the guide wire of the first embodiment; Continue reading... Full patent description for Method of and apparatus for navigating medical devices in body lumens Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Method of and apparatus for navigating medical devices in body lumens patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Method of and apparatus for navigating medical devices in body lumens or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Systems and methods for delivering drugs to selected locations within the body Next Patent Application: Guiding introducer system for use in medical procedures in the left ventricle Industry Class: Surgery ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Method of and apparatus for navigating medical devices in body lumens patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.15445 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Canon USA , Celera Genomics , Cephalon, Inc. , Cingular Wireless , Clorox , Colgate-Palmolive , Corning , Cymer , |
||
