Methods and apparatus for sclerosing the wall of a varicose vein

• US 20030120256A1
• Filed: 02/05/2003
• Published: 06/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: VEIN Rx Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Syntheon LLC
• Inventors: Termin, Charles S., Smith, Kevin W., Pinchuk, Leonard, Lary, Banning G.
• Application Number:
  US10/358,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20030120256A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/509
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00008 Vein tendon strippers tube strippers A61M1/83
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320725 with radially expandable cutting or abrading elements A61B17/32075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00778 Operations on blood vessels A61B2017/22097, A61B2017/320741 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22038 with a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22067 Blocking; Occlusion A61B2017/22054 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22082 after introduction of a substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/013 Distal protection devices, i.e. devices placed distally in combination with another endovascular procedure, e.g. angioplasty or stenting
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0004 having two or more concentrically arranged tubes for forming a concentric catheter system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0008 having visible markings on its surface, i.e. visible to the naked eye, for any purpose, e.g. insertion depth markers, rotational markers or identification of type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0175 having telescopic features, interengaging nestable members movable in relations to one another
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0177 having external means for receiving guide wires, wires or stiffening members, e.g. loops, clamps or lateral tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/105 having a balloon suitable for drug delivery, e.g. by using holes for delivery, drug coating or membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1052 for temporarily occluding a vessel for isolating a sector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1068 having means for varying the length or diameter of the deployed balloon, this variations could be caused by excess pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1086 having a special balloon surface topography, e.g. pores, protuberances, spikes or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/00 Catheters; Hollow probes dilators A61M29/00; peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00 ; for measuring or testing A61B; materials for catheters A61L29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0075 Valve means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0108 : using radio-opaque or ultrasound markers
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1011 : Multiple balloon catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/02 : Dilators made of swellable material balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/00 : Devices for introducing or retaining media, e.g. remedies, in cavities of the body A61M25/00 takes precedence ; introducing or retaining ophthalmic products into the ocular cavities A61F9/0008

Abstract

Apparatus for sclerosing the wall of a varicose vein includes an inner tube having an expandable balloon at its distal end, an intermediate tube slidably disposed over the inner tube and having a fluid outlet at its distal end and a plunger at its proximal end, and an outer tube through which the plunger is movable. Methods of using the apparatus include deploying the inner and intermediate tubes in the vessel to be sclerosed, inflating the balloon, filling the outer tube with sclerosing agent and moving the plunger from the distal end of the outer tube toward the proximal end.

Claims

1. An apparatus for delivering an intravascular drug, said apparatus comprising:

a) a first tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a fluid lumen extending from its proximal end to its distal end;

b) an inflatable balloon coupled to said distal end of said first tube and in fluid communication with said fluid lumen;

c) a second tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a fluid lumen extending from its proximal end to its distal end, said first tube extending through said fluid lumen of said second tube, said second tube having at least one distal fluid outlet, wherein

said second tube is adapted to receive and deliver the intravascular drug to a location proximal of said inflatable balloon.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

d) a third tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a fluid lumen extending from its proximal end to its distal end; and

e) a movable plunger disposed in said third tube, said movable plunger coupled to said proximal end of said second tube and permitting fluid communication from said fluid lumen of said third tube to said fluid lumen of said second tube.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

movement of said plunger toward said proximal end of said third tube causes said distal end of said second tube to move proximally relative to said inflatable balloon.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

said proximal end of said third tube is coupled to means for injecting the intravascular drug into said lumen of said third tube.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:

said means for injecting includes one-way valve means for preventing the drug from exiting the lumen of the third tube through said means for injecting.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:

when said lumen of said third tube and said lumen of said second tube are filled with the intravascular drug, movement of said plunger toward said proximal end of said third tube causes the intravascular drug to exit said at least one distal fluid outlet.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

said means for injecting includes a syringe coupled to said proximal end of said third tube

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

d) means for inflating said balloon coupled to said proximal end of said first tube.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

said means for inflating includes a syringe.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein:

said means for inflating includes a stop cock.

11. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

f) a movable marker on said third tube for indicating a location between said proximal end and said distal end of said third tube.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

said movable marker includes a plurality of elastic o-rings.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

said third tube is substantially transparent or translucent such that said plunger is visible.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

said plunger includes indicia which is visible through said third tube.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

d) location means for locating the inflatable balloon when said inflatable balloon is located inside a blood vessel.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein:

said location means includes a radiopaque member coupled to said first tube.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein:

said location means includes a light emitting member.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein:

said light emitting member includes an LED.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein:

said light emitting member includes a fiber optic.

20. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein:

said location means includes a magnetic member.

21. An apparatus for delivering an intravascular drug, said apparatus comprising:

a) a drug delivery tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending from its proximal end to its distal end;

b) a drug reservoir fluidly coupled to the proximal end of the lumen of the drug delivery tube; and

c) dispensing means coupled to said drug reservoir, said dispensing means being adapted to automatically dispense the drug from the reservoir into the lumen of the drug delivery tube as the drug delivery tube is moved through a blood vessel.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein:

said drug reservoir includes a tube having a proximal end and a distal end,

said proximal end having drug receiving means for receiving the intravascular drug,

said dispensing means including a plunger coupled to said proximal end of said drug delivery tube and movable within said drug reservoir.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein:

said dispensing means includes a pullwire coupled to said plunger and extending through said proximal end of said drug reservoir tube.

24. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein:

said drug receiving means includes a one way valve.

25. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein:

said drug receiving means includes a female Luer.

26. An apparatus for delivering an intravascular drug, said apparatus comprising:

a) a drug delivery tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending from its proximal end to its distal end;

b) dispensing means coupled to said proximal end of said drug delivery tube for automatically dispense the drug from the distal end of said drug delivery tube as the drug delivery tube is moved through a blood vessel.

27. A method for delivering an intravascular drug, comprising:

a) delivering a drug delivery catheter and an expandable balloon into a blood vessel;

b) expanding the balloon; and

c) partially removing the drug delivery catheter from the blood vessel while dispensing of the drug.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein;

the drug is dispensed evenly regardless of the speed at which the catheter is removed.

29. The method according to claim 27, wherein:

the balloon is delivered coaxially to the drug delivery catheter.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein:

the balloon is an inflatable balloon attached to an inflation catheter which is coaxial to the drug delivery catheter.