DILATATION CATHETER WITH THIN GUIDE WIRE

摘要

Dilatation catheter (11) and relatively thin guide wire (17) for use in coronary angioplasty. The luminal opening (24a) in the catheter (11) is only slightly greater in diameter than the guide wire (17), and the luminal wall in close proximity to the guide wire (17) supports the relatively thin wire (17) against buckling and enhances the transmission of torsional and axial forces through the wire (17). In the disclosed embodiment, the catheter (11) is a balloon dilatation catheter, and the proximal end portions of the inner and outer tubular members (12, 16) which form the catheter (11) are stiffer than the distal end portions to facilitate insertion of the guide wire (17) and catheter (11) into the cardiovascular system. The distal end portion of the luminal opening (24a) is lined with a lubricious material (24) such as Teflon to facilitate insertion of the relatively thin guide wire (17).