Buoyant tip aspiration catheter and methods of use

• US 20030088208A1
• Filed: 10/22/2002
• Published: 05/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
• Original Assignee: Embolx, Inc.
• Inventors: Murphy, Richard O.
• Application Number:
  US10/278,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20030088208A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/96.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0014 removed from the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/02 Gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10 Balloon catheters A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02; inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 ; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00

Abstract

A catheter comprising a flexible elongate tubular member having a lumen communicating with a proximal end and a distal port at a distal end. A chamber, filled with gas or fluid less dense than blood, is mounted at the distal end. Methods of using the aspiration catheter for removing embolic air or gaseous bubbles within a body cavity are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A buoyant tip catheter, comprising:

a flexible elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen therebetween, the distal end having a port communicating with the lumen; and

a chamber mounted at the distal end and filled with a first gas,

wherein, during use, the distal end of the elongate tubular member is inserted into a body cavity containing body fluid and a second gas, the distal end is guided to the second gas, and the second gas is removed from the body cavity through the port and lumen.

2. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising an introducer.

3. The catheter of claim 2, wherein the introducer is a cannula.

4. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the first gas is selected from the group consisting of helium, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide.

5. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising a pump operatively connected to the proximal end of the elongate tubular member and communicating with the lumen.

6. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the elongate tubular member is a thin-walled material selected from the group consisting of thermal plastic, polyvinyl chloride, polyolefin, urethane, and PEBAX.

7. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the elongate tubular member further comprises a small wire helically wound to prevent kinking.

8. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the chamber comprises a toroidal balloon disposed about the distal end of the elongate tubular member.

9. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the chamber comprises an olive-shaped balloon disposed about the distal end of the elongate tubular member.

10. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the chamber is a balloon, and wherein the elongate tubular member further comprises an inflation lumen communicating with the balloon.

11. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the chamber further comprises an interior filled with foam.

12. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the body cavity is a blood vessel or heart chamber.

13. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the body fluid is blood.