Magnetic lumen catheter

摘要

A catheter configured for use with a guidewire that includes operably connected, magnetically responsive material. The catheter comprises an elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. Magnetically active material is operably connected to the shaft and configured such that the shaft may be magnetically coupled to the guidewire, along a portion of the shaft. The magnetic couple may be sufficiently strong to hold the guidewire and shaft together along a portion of the shaft and a portion of the guidewire while allowing longitudinal sliding of the shaft relative to the guidewire. Rather than connecting the magnetically responsive material to the guidewire and the magnetically active material to the catheter, the magnetically responsive material may be connected to the catheter and the magnetically active material to the guidewire.