A RAPIDLY EXCHANGEABLE VASCULAR CATHETER FOR MAINTAINING PATENCY OF BLOOD VESSEL

摘要

A vascular catheter having an expandable cagemounted on the distal end of a tubular member which isradially expanded and contracted by means of a control wirewhich is secured to the distal end of the expandable cage.The control wire extends through a first inner lumen withinthe tubular member which extends along essentially theentire length thereof. A second inner lumen is provided inthe distal portion of the tubular member which has aproximal port at least 15 but not more than 60 cm from thedistal end of the catheter and a distal port which opensinto the interior of the expandable cage. A guidewire ora low-profile steerable catheter is slidably disposedwithin the second lumen and a tubular member such as aslightly expanded coil through the expandable cage interiorto facilitate the rapid exchange of the catheter. Thecatheter assembly is particularly adapted to hold open ablood vessel after a vascular procedure therein such as anangioplasty.