Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A guiding catheter for disposition within a patient's right coronary artery having a main tubular section which is relatively straight, a second curved tubular section immediately distal to the main tubular section and much shorter than the main tubular section which curves away from the longitudinal axis of the main tubular section, a third tubular section which is relatively straight and distally adjacent to the second tubular section and a fourth tubular section on the distal end of the catheter which curves toward the longitudinal axis of the main tubular section. The radius of curvature of the second tubular section is much greater than the radius of curvature of the fourth tubular section. A line tangent to the second curved section intersects an extension of the longitudinal axis of the main tubular section at a minimum obtuse angle greater than 100.degree.. The catheter can be advanced through a patient's aorta and easily seated into the right coronary ostium thereof. The distal tip of the catheter is preferentially oriented toward the outer curvature of the aorta, so it needs little or no torquing to be guided into the right coronary ostium. Moreover, with the main catheter body wedged up against the upper inner surface of the aortic arch there is little tendency for the distal end of the catheter to back out of the ostium during an angioplasty procedure. A balloon dilatation catheter is advanced through the inner lumen of the guiding catheter.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim