Appeal No. 2000-0323 Page 11
Application No. 08/608,920
the dilator are removed and the sheath assembly is
flushed with saline solution through the side arm of the
sheath assembly. An appropriate catheter assembly 12, for
example, a catheter 22 with a J-tipped guidewire 24 (see
FIG. 1) or a straight tip guidewire (not shown), is then
advanced through the sheath to the intravascular site or
heart chamber under examination. The tip of the guidewire
24 is always advanced ahead of the elongated tube portion
26 of the catheter 22, to minimize any risk of damage to
the walls of the blood vessel. In one embodiment, the
catheter 22 may be advanced through the sheath to the
intravascular site or heart chamber without the use of a
guidewire 24. An exemplary catheter for such use is a
conventional multipurpose catheter or a balloon-tipped
catheter.
As depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3, to reach the main
pulmonary arteries 88, 90, the catheter assembly 12 is
first advanced up the femoral vein 80 or 82, with the
connector 28 of the catheter assembly 12 remaining
outside the vein 80 or 82. The catheter assembly 12 is
then connected to the manifold 14 and the catheter
assembly 12 is flushed vigorously. To flush the catheter
assembly 12, the control valve 42, 44 or 46 regulating
the flow of saline solution is opened. The required
amount of saline is drawn into the syringe 18. Next, the
valve 42, 44 or 46 is closed and the saline may then be
injected into the vessel or chamber under treatment.
Medication may also may administered in the same manner.
Under pressure monitoring and/or fluoroscopic
guidance, the catheter assembly 12 is advanced through
the right or left common iliac 96 or 98 and the inferior
vena cava 100, into the right atrium 102. The catheter
assembly 12 is then advanced through the tricuspid valve
(not shown) into the right ventricle 104, up the
pulmonary trunk 106, and henceforth into the right or
left main pulmonary artery 88 or 90. Once the catheter
assembly 12 reaches the pulmonary trunk 106, or the
cardiac chambers 102, 104, a radiopaque contrast agent
may be injected through the connector 28 of the catheter
Page: Previous 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007