Embolus extractor

• US 20030153944A1
• Filed: 01/13/2003
• Published: 08/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker European Operations Holdings, LLC (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Bashiri, Mehran, Pham, Pete Phong, Phung, Mark Minh, Camins, Beth
• Granted Patent: US 7,749,243 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/200
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/221 Gripping devices in the form of loops or baskets for gripping calculi or similar types of obstructions surgical snare instruments A61B17/32056
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2212 having a closed distal end, e.g. a loop

Abstract

An embolus extractor including elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. The embolus extractor may include primary struts coupled to the distal end of the shaft. The struts may define a proximally disposed mouth. Additional secondary struts may be coupled along the elongate shaft to enhance the thrombus containing ability of the embolus extractor.

Claims

1. An embolus extractor, comprising:

an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

a plurality of primary struts, each strut having a proximal end and a distal end coupled to the distal end of the shaft; and

the primary struts having a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the distal ends and the proximal ends of the primary struts are spaced at a first distance, and in the second position the distal ends and the proximal ends of the struts are spaced at a second distance, the second distance being less than the first distance.

2. An embolus extractor in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a sleeve slidably coupling the distal ends of the primary struts to the shaft.

3. An embolus extractor in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a sleeve slidably coupling the proximal ends of the primary struts to the shaft.

4. An embolus extractor in accordance with claim 1, wherein in the first position, the primary struts are disposed generally parallel to and adjacent the shaft.

5. An embolus extractor in accordance with claim 1, wherein in the second position, a proximal portion of the primary struts define a generally circular mouth.

6. An embolus extractor in accordance with claim 5, wherein the primary struts extend generally distally from the mouth to define a generally distally tapering body.

7. An embolus extractor in accordance with claim 5, wherein the proximal portion of the primary struts forming the mouth extend from the shaft at between 45°

to 90°

the length of the shaft.

8. An embolus extractor in accordance with claim 5, wherein the proximal portions of the primary struts forming the mouth extend from the shaft at between 60°

to 90°

to the length of the shaft.

9. An embolus extractor in accordance with claim 5, wherein the proximal portions of the primary struts forming the mouth extend from the shaft at between 80°

to 90°

to the length of the shaft.

10. An embolus extractor in accordance with claim 5, wherein the proximal portion of the primary struts forming the mouth extends generally proximally from the shaft.

11. An embolus extractor in accordance with claim 5, wherein the proximal portion of the primary struts forming the mouth extends generally distally from the shaft.

12. An embolus extractor in accordance with claim 1, wherein the primary struts include a shape memory material.

13. An embolus extractor in accordance with claim 12, wherein the shape memory material includes a NiTi alloy.

14. An embolus extractor in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a plurality of secondary struts coupled to the shaft;

wherein the secondary struts have a proximal end and a distal end.

15. An embolus extractor in accordance with claim 14, wherein the secondary struts have a transverse cross sectional area;

wherein the primary struts each have a transverse cross sectional area greater than the transverse cross sectional area of the secondary struts.

16. An embolus extractor in accordance with claim 14, further comprising at least one sleeve slidably coupling the distal ends of the secondary struts to the shaft.

17. An embolus extractor in accordance with claim 14 further comprising at least one sleeve slidably coupling the proximal ends of the secondary struts to the shaft.

18. The embolus extractor in accordance with claim 14, wherein the secondary struts form at least a portion of a generally circular mouth.

19. The embolus extractor in accordance with claim 14, wherein at least one secondary strut is coupled to the shaft away from at least one primary strut.

20. The embolus extractor in accordance with claim 14, wherein at least one secondary strut extends from the shaft at a distance away from at least one primary strut.

21. The embolus extractor in accordance with claim 14, wherein the primary struts can move independently of at least one of the secondary struts.

22. The embolus extractor in accordance with claim 14, wherein at least one of the struts can rotate about the elongate shaft.

23. The embolus extractor in accordance with claim 14, wherein at least one of the struts can translate at least in part along the elongate shaft.

24. The embolus extractor in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one strut includes a radiopaque material.

25. An embolus extractor, comprising:

an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

a first strut having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the strut being coupled to the shaft; and

the strut having a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the distal end and the proximal end of the strut are spaced at a first distance, and in the second position, the distal end and the proximal end of the strut are spaced at a second distance being less than the first distance.

26. An embolus extractor in accordance with claim 25, wherein in the first position, the strut is disposed generally parallel to the shaft.

27. An embolus extractor in accordance with claim 25, wherein in the second position, a proximal portion of the strut defines a generally circular mouth.

28. An embolus extractor in accordance with claim 27, wherein the strut extends generally distally from the mouth to define a generally distally tapering body.

29. An embolus extractor in accordance with claim 27, wherein the proximal portion of the strut forming the mouth, extends from the shaft at between 45°

to 90°

to the length of the shaft.

30. An embolus extractor in accordance with claim 27, wherein the proximal portion of the strut forming the mouth, extends from the shaft at between 60°

to 90°

to the length of the shaft.

31. An embolus extractor in accordance with claim 27, wherein the proximal portion of the strut forming the mouth, extends from the shaft at between 80°

to 90°

to the length of the shaft.

32. An embolus extractor in accordance with claim 25, wherein the strut the length of the shaft.

33. An embolus extractor in accordance with claim 32, wherein the shape memory material includes a NiTi alloy.

34. An embolus extractor in accordance with claim 25, further comprising one or more additional struts coupled to the shaft.

35. An embolus extractor in accordance with claim 34, wherein at least one of the additional struts has a transverse cross sectional area;

wherein the first strut has a transverse cross sectional area greater than the cross sectional area of at least one of the additional struts.

36. An embolus extractor in accordance with claim 34, wherein at least one of the additional struts is coupled to the shaft away from the first strut.

37. An embolus extractor in accordance with claim 34, wherein at least one of the additional struts extends from the shaft at a distance away from the first strut.

38. A method of withdrawing an embolus extractor, comprising the steps of:

providing an embolus extractor having an elongate shaft, having a proximal end and a distal end and a plurarity of struts disposed at the distal end of the elongate shaft, the struts and at least a portion of the elongate shaft being disposed in a patient'"'"'s vasculature, an embolus contained by the strut;

providing a micro catheter having a distal end;

advancing the micro catheter over at least a portion of the elongate shaft;

collapsing the struts at least in part at the distal end of the micro catheter; and

moving the micro catheter and embolus extractor together proximally.

39. The method in accordance with claim 38, further comprising the steps of:

providing a radiopaque marker at the distal end of the micro catheter, and providing a radiopaque marker on the embolus extractor; and

positioning the markers relative to each other to determine the relative position of the micro catheter and embolus extractor.

40. A method of placing an embolus extractor at a vessel bifurcation where a proximal vessel region has a first diameter larger than a second diameter of a distal vessel region, comprising:

providing an embolus extractor including an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

a plurality of struts having proximal and distal end region; and

compressing the distal end region such that the distal end regions conform to the second diameter while the proximal end regions conform to the first diameter.