IMPROVED GUIDE WIRE SYSTEMS FOR INTRAVASCULAR CATHETERS

摘要

A vascular catheter (10) comprises a catheter body (12) having a fixed guide wire (40) secured to its distal ends (16). The fixed guid wire (40) includes an axial passage (42) which is aligned with a wire lumen (46) within the catheter body (12) so that the vascular catheter (10) can be introduced to the vascular system over a movable guide wire (48). The catheter body (12) typically comprises flexible tube (12) having a housing (24) secured to its distal end (16). A variety of interventional devices, including both therapeutic and diagnostic devices, can be disposed within the housing. Use of both a fixed guide wire (40) and a movable guide wire (48) facilitates initial introduction of even large diameter vascular catheters, while allowing subsequent repositioning of the catheters after the movable guide wire (48) has been withdrawn.