[54] STRUCTURE FOR COUPLING A GUIDEWIRE AND A CATHETER
[75] Inventor: Huntly D. Millar, Houston, Tex.
[73] Assignee: Millar Instruments, Inc., Houston, Tex.
[ * ] Notice: The portion of the term of this patent subsequent to Sep. 20, 2005 has been disclaimed.
[21] Appl. No.: 286,480
[22] Filed: Dec. 19, 1988
Related U.S. Application Data
[63] Continuation of Ser. No. 119,616, Nov. 12, 1987, Pat. No. 4,850,358, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 931,273, Nov. 14, 1986, Pat. No. 4,771,782.
[51] Int. CI.' A61B5/00
[52] U.S. CI 128/637; 128/673;
128/675; 128/718
[58] Field of Search 128/637, 642, 657, 672,
128/673, 675, 748, 772
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
1,747,407 2/1930 Wappler .
3,038.465 6/1962 Allard et al 128/675
3,853,130 12/1974 Sheridan 128/303 R
3.995,623 12/1976 Blake et al 128/419 P
4,456,013 6/1984 DeRossi et al 128/675
4,613,323 9/1986 Norton et al 604/43
4,771,782 9/1988 Millar 128/673
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
0074114 3/1983 European Pat. Off. .
0180348 5/1986 European Pat. Off. .
2006019 5/1979 United Kingdom .
2127294 4/1984 United Kingdom .
A method and system for introducing one or more devices into a biological fluid vessel. The system includes a device having a coupling structure comprising a pair of spaced-apart fingers adapted for receiving a guidewire therebetween. Preferably, the .system includes a guidewire having a constricted fitting region at its proximal end where the coupling structure may be easily connected to the guidewire. In one use. the method is used in coronary angioplasty to diagnose and treat stenosis across a coronary valve or other vessel in the coronary arterial tree. In this method, a guiding catheter is percutaneously inserted with its distal end proximate the ostium. A guidewire is inserted through the guiding catheter and subselectively positioned in a region of interest in the coronary arterial tree. Multiple devices may be coupled to the guidewire in accordance with the present invention and then threaded down the guidewire and positioned in the region of interest. Advantageously, the diagnostic and therapeutic devices are small (approximately 3 French in diameter), allowing multiple devices to be threaded through the guiding catheter and positioned in the small arteries of the coronary arterial tree. Such diagnostic devices may comprise a number of different sensors (e.g. pressure, temperature, pH, or Doppler sensors) and are useful in a variety of applications (e.g. venous, urinary tract, esophageal).
17 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
