Crimp and cut tool for sealing and unsealing guide wires and tubular instruments

TECHNICAL FIELD

0001The invention generally relates to interventional or surgical procedures, specifically relating to interventional cardiology and other intra-luminal procedures. The invention more particularly concerns a valve mechanism that allows modulation of pressure within a balloon or expandable member attached to, or otherwise located thereon, of a guide-wire or other catheter-like instrument.

BACKGROUND ART

0002The use of a balloon attached to the end of a guide-wire is not new, see for example <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="US6251084B"><text>U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,251,084 (Coelho</text></patcit>), and <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="US4790813B"><text>4,790,813 (Kensey</text></patcit>). In this arrangement, the guide-wire is actually a small diameter tube, with the lumen therethrough serving to allow fluid to be injected, and with the fluid being an agent used to expand the balloon.

0003The balloon may serve various functions (e.g., locating and/or securing the wire or associated device within the artery, securing a wire within a catheter, or blocking the distal flow of fluid and/or debris created during one or more of the procedures).

0004The balloon/guide-wire system may be used in various types of therapeutic and/or diagnostic procedures (e.g., percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, stent placement, the placement of ultrasonic or other diagnostic instruments, and the placement of thrombectomy devices, etc.). During the procedure several catheters or elongate instruments (together "catheters") may be used sequentially, with the same guide-wire. Inserting instruments over, or alongside, a single guide-wire saves procedural time, since only one guide-wire would need to be placed. This approach may also improve safety, and reduce chance of infection, etc.

0005Inserting a plurality of catheters, whether singularly or concurrently, requires the catheter(s) to be placed over the proximal end of the guide-wire. Where the guide-wire is arranged with a balloon at or near the distal end, the catheter(s) would need to be passed over any valve located at the proximal end of the guide-wire.

0006Multiple catheters are commonly used when, for example, a physician performs an angiogram or other diagnostic procedure, and then decides to performs angioplasty or other therapeutic procedure or other interventional procedure. Most interventional procedures will require the placement of a guide wire for the subsequent delivery of the interventional instruments, and more recently some guide wires incorporate distal balloons to protect the distal tissues from debris generated during those same procedures. Since treatment and diagnostic procedures are becoming more commonplace, and the advancements in each of these technologies have led to procedures using even more catheters. These catheters are continually getting smaller, which allows the physician to reach tighter arteries and lumens within the body.

0007For distal protection to be effective the balloon must remain inflated as catheters are exchanged over the guide wire. This necessitates a small diameter valve, which some refer to as a low-profile valve. Self-sealing valves have previously been disclosed; see for example <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="US3477438A"><text>U.S. Patent Nos. 3,477,438 (Allen, et al.</text></patcit>), <patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="US3495594A"><text>3,495,594 (Swanson</text></patcit>), <patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="US3837381A"><text>3,837,381 (Arroyo</text></patcit>), and <patcit id="pcit0006" dnum="US4752287A"><text>4,752,287 (Kurtz, et al.</text></patcit>). These valves are commonly made from elastic (Allen, et al., and Kurtz, et al.) or resilient (Swanson) materials, and may require pressure in the system to operate (Arroyo). The properties of these valve materials, together with their operational pressures, require various of these valves to have large sealing areas. This does not facilitate the design of smaller catheters. Additionally, the valves would ideally operate over a wide range of pressures; including positive and negative pressures.

0008Check valves have also been disclosed, see for example <patcit id="pcit0007" dnum="US4653539A"><text>U.S. Patent No. 4,653,539 (Bell</text></patcit>), however these are directional valves, and therefore will not operate in both positive and negative pressure environments. Employing a vacuum in the system during navigation will facilitate the securing of the balloon to the guide-wire, that is, the balloon will stay folded or otherwise securely pressed against the side of the wire. This may allow the system to navigate tighter vessels or lumens. However, check valves, such as the one disclosed by Bell, do not meet this bi-directional operation need. Additionally, this type of valve, as well as the previously described self-sealing valves, require a syringe or special instrument to allow evacuation around the valve's sealing surface. These syringes or needles must be in-place during the entire evacuation procedure, or the valve will cease the fluid flow. This opens the systems up to situations where malfunctions or equipment breakage may yield an inserted and expanded balloon, which may not readily be collapsed. A system is needed that will allow evacuation without the application of vacuum or other specialized components.

0009In addition to these stated concerns, the length of time required to complete the procedure is affected by these valves. This procedure time is of concern because of escalating medical costs, as well as the stress on the patient. These valves must allow rapid infusion and evacuation of balloon-filling fluids.

0010Yet another low profile catheter valve, designed to fit small diameter catheters to navigate small pathways within the body such as blood vessels and ducts, is disclosed in <patcit id="pcit0008" dnum="US4911163A"><text>U.S. Pat. 4,911,163 (Fina</text></patcit>). A syringe is attached to the proximal end of an elongated tubular conduit (e.g. catheter) and used to inflate a distal balloon. Once the balloon is inflated, the catheter is clamped at the proximal end, the syringe is removed, and a plug is inserted into the lumen of the catheter, and then the clamp is removed. The plug is retracted and reinserted to adjust the balloon inflation volume as needed, using this same multi-step procedure. Needless to say, this type of valve is tedious to handle and the need for a separate clamping system further complicates the procedure and may potentially damage the catheter. Certainly the clamping pressures are very high, in order to totally collapse the circular catheter bore such that fluid will not leak (until the plug is inserted). Reinflating the balloon would also cause integrity problems if the catheter were reclamped at the same location.

0011Another such low profile catheter valve is disclosed in <patcit id="pcit0009" dnum="US6325778B"><text>U.S. Pat. No. 6,325,778 (Zadno-Azizi, et al.</text></patcit>). This valve features a needle which is inserted coaxially with the guide-wire, wherein the needle is arranged to cover a fluid outlet port. The rate of balloon inflation and collapse is limited by the rate at which gas leaves the fluid outlet port. Since the fluid outlet port is radially outward from the guide wire's longitudinal axis, its size is geometrically constrained; that is, the larger diameter of the port, the less strength the guide-wire has. Since the guide-wire must withstand significant bending and torsional stress during the procedure, the port must be significantly less than the inside diameter of the guide-wire, thereby limiting the rate of evacuation of the balloon-filling fluid.

0012This slow evacuation phenomenon may have been recognized by Coelho, as the disclosure prescribes a vacuum to collapse the balloon. Indeed, the tortuous path in the orifice of the Coelho device, through which the balloon inflation fluid is evacuated, must be nearly as small as the one disclosed by Zadno-Azizi. Here, the orifice must be considerably smaller than the inside diameter of the guide-wire, because the path of fluid escape is through a self-sealing valve; and the valve must have sufficient integrity to cause a seal against itself, after an evacuation needle is withdrawn.

0013A valve which may utilize the overall inside diameter (or bore) of the guide wire is disclosed in <patcit id="pcit0010" dnum="US5807330A"><text>U.S. Patent No. 5,807,330 (Teitelbaum</text></patcit>). The two basic concepts disclosed by Teitelbaum are a valve that is basically an insert with threads, wherein the threads secure the valve in the proximal end of the guide-wire; and an insert with a press-fit geometry, that is pressed into the proximal end of the guide-wire. Both of these concepts suffer similar shortcomings.

0014The threaded insert requires extremely fine threads, which are expensive and tedious to manufacture even before considering the limited wall thickness of the guide-wire available for threading (perhaps only a few tens of microns (a few thousandths of an inch)). Additionally, it is extremely difficult to align small threaded parts of this sort, which leads to misalignment and cross-threading. This problem would be especially prevalent where the same valve was actuated more than once during the same procedure-a common occurrence.

0015The press-fit geometry requires parts of very tight tolerance, which are also tedious and expensive to produce. Press-fit components are normally manufactured for mechanical support, but press-fitting to cause a gas impermeable seal is possible; however, the insert would require an extremely uniform surface, which mates exactly with the inside surface at the proximal end of the guide-wire. It is this guide-wire surface which poses great manufacturing challenges.

0016Boring or machining the inside surface of the guide-wire is very challenging because of the fine wall thickness-perhaps only a few tens of microns (a few thousandths of an inch). Machining of this component may produce irregular wall thinning, since no tube inside and outside is truly concentric, which could lead to premature failure.

0017The aforementioned threaded and press-fit concepts disclosed by Teitelbaum both suffer manufacturing challenges as well as economic disadvantages. Finally, they have features that may lead to premature failure, necessitating removal of the device, following by re-insertion of a new balloon/guide-wire assembly.

0018The above mentioned <patcit id="pcit0011" dnum="US5807330A"><text>U.S. Patent No. 5,807,330</text></patcit> discloses an apparatus for modulating the pressure of a fluid within an expandable portion of a guide wire or tubular instrument in accordance with the preamble of claim 1.

0019The apparatus as disclosed in <patcit id="pcit0012" dnum="US5807330A"><text>U.S. Patent No. 5,807,330</text></patcit> has the disadvantage that precision machining is needed for its manufacturing, particularly in view of the very small wall thickness with which to work, which is a very diffcult as well as an expensive manufacturing process.

0020It is an object of the invention, to provide an alternative apparatus for modulating the pressure of a fluid within an expandable portion of a guide wire or tubular instrument in accordance with the preamble of claim 1.

0021The object of the invention is achieved by an apparatus for modulating the pressure of a fluid within an expandable portion of a guide wire or tubular instrument defined in claim 1. Preferred embodiments are disclosed in the dependent claims.

0022<patcit id="pcit0013" dnum="WO03039624A"><text>WO 03/039624 A</text></patcit> has been published after the priority date of this application and discloses some features of the independent claims.

0023The objects of this invention are achieved by providing a valve mechanism for inflating and deflating a balloon or other expandable member on a guide-wire or catheter (e.g., at or near the distal end of a guide-wire), such that while the balloon is inflated, the proximal end of the wire would have a low profile and would not interfere with the use of other interventional devices using over-the-wire technique or rapid exchange systems. The system basically consists of detachable tools, one each for inflation and deflation of the balloon; additionally the inflation tool features in a preferred embodiment a gripping means, an inflating means, and a sealing means.

0024The inflation tool serves the functions of gripping and releasing the guide wire proximal end; providing a means of modulating the pressure inside the guide wire resulting in balloon or expandable member inflation; and applying a deformable plug into the bore of the guide wire.

0025In use, the proximal end of the guide wire is inserted into a chamber of the inflation tool; pressure is introduced via the inflation means thereby inflating the balloon or expandable member. The detachable inflation tool inserts a malleable plug in the proximal bore of the guide wire, thereby avoiding the need for costly machining and stringently tight tolerances of other devices, in order to maintain pressure within the guide wire upon the detaching the inflation tool. The sealing means prevents the escape of fluid (e.g., gas or liquid) from the guide wire for the duration of the procedure, or until release of pressure becomes necessary.

0026The deflation tool serves the function of relieving the pressure in the balloon or expandable member of the guide wire, by piercing the sealing means in the proximal bore of the guide wire, and upon tool removal allows the fluid contained therein to escape. The valve mechanism herein described allows repeated inflation and deflation of the catheter or guide wire, by engaging the appropriate inflation or deflation tool.

0027An alternative embodiment may rely on any prior described or other methodologies in the art for inflation ; wherein the sealing may be accomplished by crimping the guide wire or catheter, preventing the loss of pressure, and the deflation may be accomplished by severing the crimped end of the guide wire or catheter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0028<ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li><figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> is a sectional view of one design of tool for applying the sealing plug.</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref> is a perspective view of the sealing plug holding rod.</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Fig. 3</figref> is a perspective view of the cam sleeve.</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Fig. 4</figref> is a sectional view of the deflation needle tool prior to application.</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Fig. 5</figref> is a sectional view of the deflation needle tool during application.</li><li><figref idref="f0004">Fig. 6</figref> is a schematic view of one design of tool for crimping and cutting a tubular guide wire.</li><li><figref idref="f0005">Fig. 7a</figref> is a sectional view of the crimping means and tubular guide wire.</li><li><figref idref="f0005">Fig. 7b</figref> is a sectional view of the crimped tubular guide wire.</li><li><figref idref="f0006">Fig. 8a</figref> is a sectional view of the cutting means and tubular guide wire.</li><li><figref idref="f0006">Fig. 8b</figref> is a sectional view of the cutting means and tubular guide wire.</li><li><figref idref="f0007">Fig. 9a</figref> is a cross sectional view of a guide wire crimped into a "C" shape.</li><li><figref idref="f0007">Fig. 9b</figref> is a cross sectional view of a guide wire crimped into a "cross" shape.</li><li>Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one design of tool for crimping and cutting incorporated into the tool for gripping and inflating.</li></ul>

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

DESCRIPTION OF INFLATION TOOL

0029The preferred embodiment tool shown in <figref idref="f0001">Figs. 1</figref>, <figref idref="f0002">2 and 3</figref>, performs various functions, including but not limited to: <ol id="ol0001" compact="compact"><li>a) Gripping and releasing the guide wire proximal end;</li><li>b) Inflating the balloon on the distal end of the guide-wire, or placed somewhere therealong; and</li><li>c) Applying a sealing member in the proximal bore of the guide wire.</li></ol>

0030These various device embodiments comprise sealing means, gripping means, and inflation means; while a separate device features deflation means. It is recognized that the device arranged for deflation may be attached to the device arranged for inflation (for convenience), although they may not share any componentry other than structural or housing. Additionally, it is contemplated by this invention that an inflation device or "inflation tool" may not necessarily comprise each of a gripping means, an inflation means, and a sealing means.

0031As a non-limiting example, it is recognized that the inflation means may be a traditional syringe (where the inflation device was arranged to accept same). It is also recognized that the gripping means may be useful to perform other functions (e.g., gripping tubes at diagnostic and/or therapeutic equipment inlet ports, e.g., those found on bypass and dialysis machines.)

0032Referring now to <figref idref="f0001">Figs. 1</figref>, <figref idref="f0002">2, and 3</figref>, describing a preferred embodiment of the inflation tool, wherein like numbers indicate like components. A preferred gripping means is disclosed, wherein a tubular guide wire 12, enters bore 37 in shaft 18 and passes through deformable member 19, through pierceable diaphragm 20, into cavity 21, and stops against the face 23A of rod 23. Shaft 18 is slidably mounted in bore 41 of housing 28, and, driven proximally (relative to the guide-wire 12) by spring 16, thereby compressing deformable member 19 against the tapered bore 40 in housing 28. Pierceable diaphragm 20 is an intact disc until pierced by the entering tubular guide wire 12, the purpose of the diaphragm being to capture a charge of fluid (e.g., CO₂ or saline) in cavities 45, 21, and channel 35, prior to the piercing by the guide-wire 12. Axial compression of the deformable member 19 results in the tubular guide wire 12 being gripped as the deformable member is moved radially inward by the taper 40. An alternative to the pierceable diaphragm for retaining the charge of fluid in the cavity 21 and 45 is to ship the assembly with a smooth mandrel gripped in the deformable member 19 (not shown).

0033In a preferred embodiment, the gripping means further features an insertion-release means, wherein the shaft 18 can be driven distally (relative to the guide-wire 12) by movement of lever 15 which, pivoting on pin 14, moves the cone 13 attached to shaft 18. Thus movement of the lever 15 radially inward relieves the pressure on the deformable member 19 and hence releases the guide wire 12 (the same feature may also be used in reverse, to assist the entry of the guide-wire into the device, as will be described later).

0034In a preferred embodiment the inflation tool features a sealing means, with the sealing means arranged to deliver a sealing member material into the guide-wire to effect a seal, as will be described later. In this embodiment, the sealing means is preferentially located at the proximal end of the device, wherein there exists a mounted rod 23 which can move axially and rotationally in bore 21A of housing 28. Rod 23 is driven distally by spring 25 acting through flange 24 and is restrained by arm 26 coming in contact with one of the grooves 42 or 43. An O-ring seal 29 seals rod 23 against bore 21A. A sealing member material 22 is inserted in an off center bore in rod 23. Surface 23A of rod 23 is striated with grooves (not shown) to permit flow of fluid into the bore of tubular guide wire 12.

0035In a preferred embodiment the sealing member material is made from a plastically deformable or inelastic material, wherein such material may comprise organic and/or inorganic material. It is recognized that various materials may be suitable for this application, and the totality of material properties (e.g., strength, ductility, thixotropy, toughness, malleability, hysteresis, adhesiveness and fluid permeability, etc.) may reveal several good candidates.

0036In another embodiment, to be further discussed later, the sealing means comprises means for crimping a guide-wire or elongated tubular instrument, and the deflation device comprises a means for cutting the guide wire distal to the crimped region. Within this embodiment, the guide wire inner diameter (I.D.) may further be coated with a deformable, malleable or other material arranged to facilitate sealing of the guide-wire after crimping. Alternatively, a pliable material (e.g. a filament) which does not contact the entire surface may be placed in the I.D. and allowed to flow during the crimping process. The severing means may additionally feature a receptacle to contain the severed, proximal end of the guide wire.

0037In a preferred embodiment the inflation tool features inflation means. At the lower portion of <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> is shown a preferred embodiment of the inflation means, comprising an inflation syringe 44, wherein the syringe contains a barrel 30 arranged to be attached to body 28 using adhesive or a threaded joint (not shown). The charge of fluid is pre-charged into cavities 45, 21 and 35. A piston 31 attached to a plunger 32 drives fluid (gas or liquid) from chamber 45 via channel 35 into chamber 21 and thence into tubular guide wire 12. Another preferred embodiment additionally features a latch 33 fastened to barrel 30, wherein the latch 33 engages flange 34 after the plunger has been moved inward to deliver the fluid. The latch serves to prevent the piston and plunger from being driven back by the pressure trapped in cavity 21 (etc.) and balloon 11.

DESCRIPTION OF INFLATION TOOL USE

0038A preferred embodiment inflation tool includes the gripping, inflation, and sealing means in combination, and allows the operator to hold the assembly 1 in one hand and with the thumb and fore-fmger to squeeze the lever 15 toward the body 28 thus moving shaft 18 distally and relieving pressure on the deformable member 19. The guide wire 12 is then inserted into shaft 18, centralized by the tapered inlet 38, passed through the deformable member 19, to pierce the diaphragm 20 and come to rest against rod 23 at surface 23A. Chamfers at 39 and 36 further aid in centralizing the guide wire. Surface 23A of rod 23 is striated with fine grooves (not shown) to permit flow of fluid into the bore of tubular guide wire 12. When the guide wire has bottomed on surface 23A, the user releases the lever 15, whereupon the shaft 18 is propelled to proximally and deformable member 19 is placed in compression. In turn this action, through taper 40, causes the deformable member 19 to grip the guide wire 12 securely.

0039In a preferred embodiment, the position of the guide wire may be confirmed visually by viewing the location via the lens 46 built in to a clear plastic housing 28. Alternatively, if the housing is made from an opaque material the viewing lens 46 can be inserted in a tunnel as a separate component (not shown).

0040In yet another embodiment, the correct position of the guide wire 12 can alternatively be ascertained by observing the location of a contrasting band of color 60, formed on the guide wire 12, relative to the entrance 61 of shaft 18.

0041Now returning to the preferred combination embodiment, the plunger 32 and attached piston 31 are then driven inward to propel the fluid in cavity 45 through channel 35 into cavity 21 and thence through the bore of guide wire 12 into the balloon 11. In the case where gas is used to inflate the balloon, the plunger 32 may be driven to the bottom of the bore and allowed to return to a position controlled by flange 34 and latch 33. This over-compression of the gas permits the initial pressure to be high to overcome the balloon resistance but drops the pressure as the balloon reaches full size, thus reducing the tendency to overpressure the vessel (not shown) in which the balloon is residing.

0042With the balloon 11 inflated in the vessel, the arm 26 is rotated 180 degrees in this example (but any other angle would work with slots 42 &amp; 43 placed differently) so that rod 23 revolves to place the sealing material 22 to a position opposing the guide wire 12. Then spring 25 urges rod 23 distally and drives the sealing material 22 into the open end of tubular guide wire 10 thus trapping the fluid in the guide wire and balloon. A plug 50 of sealing material 22, is driven into the bore of the tubular guide wire 12, as shown in <figref idref="f0003">Fig. 4</figref>.

0043At this point the lever 15 is again pressed inward radially and the guide wire is removed from the device, and the wire is ready for the rest of the interventional procedure, which might involve the passage of angioplasty balloons, stent balloons, diagnostic ultrasound, or other procedure requiring a balloon protected or anchored guide wire with the balloon inflated.

DESCRIPTION OF DEFLATION TOOL

0044Referring to <figref idref="f0003">Figs. 4 and 5</figref>, a preferred embodiment of the deflation tool 56 is basically constructed from four elements, a handle 51, a tube 54, a spring 52, and a needle 53. The handle has a bore 57 of about 390 microns (0.016 inch) diameter, a little larger than the outside diameter of the guide wire 12 which is typically 370 microns (0.015 inch), and has a lead in taper 55 to allow the operator to easily locate the bore 57.

0045The proximal end (relative to the user's hand while utilizing the tool) of the needle 53 is held centrally in the bore 57 by tube 54. Tube 54, together with the needle 53, and the handle 51 can be assembled together by any convenient means, including but not limited to welding, using an adhesive, or a crimping operation. The needle is approximately 120 microns (0.005 inch) in diameter in this embodiment, and is supported by the spring coils 52 to prevent the needle from being bent during use and to align the distal end (relative to the user's hand while utilizing tool) of the needle on the centerline of the bore 57. The length of the plug 50 of sealing member material 22 (see <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>) in the proximal end of the guide wire 12 is preferably about 740 microns (0.030 inch) long axially, although other dimensions may be more suitable depending on the composition of the sealing material and the pressure at which the balloon requires. The guide wire outside diameter 59 is typically 370 microns (0.01 inch) and the bore 58 can typically range from 270 microns (0.011 inch) to 120 microns (0.005 inch). The needle needs to be sufficiently large to provide a bore through the plug 50 that it will allow the balloon to be deflated rapidly, but not so large that the plug 50 is smeared along the bore 58 too far to require a very long needle. It has been found that a 120 microns (0.005 inch) diameter needle permits deflation times that are acceptable (less than 30 seconds), utilizing a 170 microns (0.007 inch) diameter guide wire bore. Clearly these dimensions are examples only and could be adjusted to accommodate guide wires or catheters of different diameters.

0046The deflation tool embodiment described can be used multiple times, but it is unlikely that the operator will ever need to inflate and deflate the balloon more than 5 times in a procedure. The needle 53 is therefore preferably required to penetrate several times the length of the plug 50 into the guide wire bore 58 for this to be achieved.

0047In an alternative embodiment, the balloon may be deflated by using a severing means (e.g., a cutting tool) to unseal the guide wire bore, as shown in <figref idref="f0005">Fig. 7</figref>, to be discussed later.

DESCRIPTION OF DEFLATION TOOL USE

0048The operator inserts the proximal end of the guide wire 12 into the lead taper 55 of the deflation tool 56 compressing the spring 52 to the fully compressed condition. The plug 50 is pierced, as shown in <figref idref="f0003">Fig. 5</figref>, and smears into an elongated tubular shape 62 concentric to the bore 57. The balloon 11 (see Fig.l) then deflates due to its inherent elastic recovery, and/or vacuum can be applied to the tubular guide wire 12 by syringe or other means (neither shown) to accelerate the deflation time. The tool is then removed and is available for any subsequent use.

0049Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or general characteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, the embodiments described herein are to be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive, by applying current or future knowledge. The scope of the invention is to be indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

DESCRIPTION OF CRIMPING TOOL

0050In an alternative embodiment, as shown in <figref idref="f0004">Fig. 6</figref>, the sealing is accomplished by means of a crimping tool 70, to maintain the inflation of a balloon or expandable member on or about the distal end of the catheter. A preferred embodiment of the crimping tool, may incorporate a crimping mechanism (not shown) contained within the barrel 72, and around or next to the central bore 74, of the tool 70, and may provide a hand grip 77, lever 78, and spring 79 in order to actuate the crimping mechanism. Referring to <figref idref="f0005">Figs. 7a and 7b</figref>, the crimping mechanism may incorporate a plurality of dies 88, that when actuated compress the tubular guide wire 12, effectively sealing the tubular guide wire. The tool may also provide a mechanism for controlling the location of the crimp 90, by providing a stop 89 (e.g., a flat surface), located within the crimping tool bore 74 (as shown in <figref idref="f0004">Fig. 6</figref>), in order to allow consistent placement of the crimped section 90 from the end of the guide wire 12 or catheter. In the embodiment of the invention shown in <figref idref="f0004">Fig. 6</figref> the tool passes over the wire without a stop, as the positioning of the crimp is not critical and may be performed without exact positioning of the crimp. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the barrel 72 may be split parallel to the axis in order for the guide wire 12 to be inserted sideways into the crimping tool.

0051Inserting a plurality of catheters, whether singularly or concurrently, requires the catheter(s) to be placed over the proximal end of the guide-wire. Where the guide-wire is arranged with a balloon at or near the distal end, the catheter(s) would need to be passed over any valve located at the proximal end of the guide-wire. To facilitate this, the invention may provide a crimped section of guide wire or catheter which is not of a larger outside diameter than the outside of the balance of the guide wire. This may be accomplished, for example, by tailoring the dies. In one embodiment the dies may compress the guide wire 12' into a "C" shape, as shown in <figref idref="f0007">Fig. 9a</figref>, where the inside surface 58' is collapsed onto itself by deforming part of the guide wire 59'. Alternatively, the dies may be pointed, and used, for example, in greater numbers, see <figref idref="f0007">Fig. 9b</figref>. A set of four pointed dies may be used to create a "cross" shaped crimp in the guide 12".

0052In a preferred embodiment, the three-part device, previously described, includes a crimping (i.e. sealing means, gripping means, inflation means) means (and in one embodiment, a cutting means), e.g., see <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>. Alternatively, sealing means and inflation means may be used in conjunction with each other, whether in the same tool or not (not shown).

0053As can be seen in Fig. 10, in another embodiment, the crimping tool 70 may be the sealing means incorporated into the tool of <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> additionally comprising the gripping means, and inflation means. The orientation of the handles, is illustrated as a non-limiting example, the orientation may be different for various applications of the tool.

DESCRIPTION OF CRIMPING TOOL USE

0054After the balloon is inflated by the inflation means of <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>, or by another method (e.g., a syringe) known in the art, the sealing is accomplished by utilizing the crimping tool 70 of <figref idref="f0004">Fig. 6</figref>, to crimp the guide wire 12 such that the bore 65 is sealed. To facilitate an effective sealing of the crimped guide wire 12 (as shown in <figref idref="f0005">Fig. 7a</figref>), one embodiment of the invention contemplates coating the inner surface 58 of the guide wire 12 with a deformable, malleable material or other pliable material not contacting the entire I.D. (not shown) that may form a sealing gasket upon crimping by the crimping tool.

0055In use, the guide wire 12, is gripped within the central bore 74 (as shown in <figref idref="f0004">fig. 6</figref>) of the barrel 72 of the crimping tool 70, and is centered between the faces of the plurality of dies 88, as shown in <figref idref="f0005">Fig. 7a</figref>. Referring to <figref idref="f0004">Fig. 6</figref>, the user actuates the dies 88, by squeezing the lever 78 together with hand grip 77, compressing spring 79, and actuating the dies 88 shown in <figref idref="f0005">fig. 7a</figref>, to pinch closed the bore 65 of the guide wire 12, forming a seal. Upon release of the pressure on the hand grip 77 and lever 78, the spring 79 urges open the dies 88, releasing the compression upon the guide wire 12 or catheter, thereby rendering the guide wire bore 65 sealed, and releasing the catheter from the crimping tool.

DESCRIPTION OF CUTTING TOOL

0056A preferred cutting tool embodiment provides a means of deflating the balloon or expandable member on or about the end of the catheter or guide wire, by severing the aforementioned crimped end of the guide wire or catheter, releasing the pressure contained therein. It is within the contemplation of the invention that the cutting tool may be contained within the crimping tool 70 of <figref idref="f0004">fig. 6</figref> (hereinafter also referred to as the cutting tool 70 interchangeably), or alternatively the cutting tool may be a separate tool entirely (not shown). In one embodiment, shown in <figref idref="f0004">Fig. 6</figref> (wherein the cutting tool is contained within the crimping tool 70), the cutting tool 70 may comprise a lever 78, hand grip 77 and spring 79, actuating a cutting mechanism (not shown). In one embodiment, the cutting mechanism drives a plurality of cutting discs 82 as shown in <figref idref="f0006">Fig. 8a</figref>. A plurality of centralizing rollers 84, may also be driven by the cutting mechanism, located about a central bore 74, as shown in <figref idref="f0004">fig. 6</figref>, of the cutting tool 70. In an alternative embodiment, the cutting mechanism may consist of multiple shear blades, or other methods suitable for cutting tubular instruments known to those skilled in the art. Within the cutting tool 70, there may also be a container (not shown) to entrap the severed end of the guide wire upon application of the cutting tool.

DESCRIPTION OF CUTTING TOOL USE

0057The cutting tool, whether a separate instrument (not shown) or contained within the crimping tool 70 of <figref idref="f0004">Fig. 6</figref>, may be used to reopen the crimped end of the guide wire 12 and allowing deflation of a balloon or expandable member, or whenever there is a need to sever an end of the catheter or guide wire 12. In use, the catheter 12 is located within the bore 74 of the cutting tool 70. Whereupon the hand grip 77 and the lever 78 are squeezed together, compressing the spring 79, and actuating the cutting mechanism, resulting in a circumferential rotation about the guide wire 12, by both the centralizing rollers 84, as shown in <figref idref="f0006">Fig. 8b</figref>, and the cutting discs 82, while concurrently urging the centralizing rollers 84 and cutting discs 82 radially towards and against the guide wire 12. The revolving centralizing rollers 84 serve to maintain the position of the guide wire 12 in the cutting tool 70, while the cutting discs 82 serve to sever the guide wire 12. After completely severing the end of the guide wire 12, the squeezing pressure applied to the cutting tool 70 of <figref idref="f0004">fig. 6</figref> via the handgrip 77, lever 78 and spring 79 is released, thereupon also releasing the guide wire 12 from the centralizing rollers 84 and cutting discs 82.

0058Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the general characteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, the embodiments described herein are to be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is to be indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.