Nanotube paper-based medical device

• US 20040073251A1
• Filed: 10/15/2002
• Published: 04/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Weber, Jan
• Granted Patent: US 7,037,319 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/194
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00535 pneumatically or hydraulically operated A61B2017/22051, A61B2090/401 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22051 with an inflatable part, e.g. balloon, for positioning, blocking, or immobilisation A61B2017/22048, A61B2017/3486 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30075 swellable, e.g. when wetted
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30329 Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0061 swellable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0057 Catheters delivering medicament other than through a conventional lumen, e.g. porous walls or hydrogel coatings
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0058 having an electroactive polymer material, e.g. for steering purposes, for control of flexibility, for locking, for opening or closing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0096 being laterally outward extensions or tools, e.g. hooks or fibres
• 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 25/10 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 medical device is disclosed which may include the use of carbon nanotube paper. The medical device may be provided in the form of a balloon catheter wherein the nanotube paper is mounted about an electrode and into which an electrically conductive fluid is dispersed. An elastomeric sheath may then be provided about the nanotube paper. Actuation of the electrode may cause generation of microbubbles within the fluid and thereby cause the paper to expand.

Claims

1. A medical device, comprising:

an electrode;

a membrane surrounding the electrode;

a ring of nanotube paper surrounding the membrane;

an electrolyte injected into the nanotube paper; and

two conductors attached respectively to the electrode and the nanotube paper.

2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte is an aqueous electrolyte.

3. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte is aqueous sodium chloride.

4. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the device is a catheter.

5. The medical device of claim 4, further comprising an outer elastic sheath.

6. The medical device of claim 4, wherein the electrically non-conductive membrane is porous.

7. The medical device of claim 4, wherein the porous membrane is made of paper.

8. The medical device of claim 4, wherein the porous membrane is made of a polymer.

9. The medical device of claim 4, wherein the sheath extends longitudinally from the nanotube paper at a distal end to a user engageable proximal end.

10. The medical device of claim 7, further including at least one conductor extending through the sheath from the proximal end to the distal end, and a connector ring electrically coupling the conductor to the nanotube paper, the catheter further including a second conductor electrically connected to the electrode.

11. The medical device of claim 1, further including an electrically conductive coating around an outer surface of the ring of nanotube paper, and a second ring of nanotube paper around the electrically conductive coating.

12. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the ring of nanotube paper includes at least one radial slit.

13. A method of deploying a balloon catheter, comprising:

navigating a distal end of the balloon catheter to a procedure site, the distal end including a balloon having nanotube paper surrounding an electrode, electrically conductive fluid being with the nanotube paper, and an elastic sheath surrounding the nanotube paper; and

energizing the electrode, the energization of the electrode generating microbubbles in the nanotube paper, the generation of bubbles causing the nanotube paper to expand.

14. The method of claim 13, further including injecting the electrically conductive fluid into the nanotube paper.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the electrically conductive fluid is sodium chloride.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the electrically conductive fluid is hydrogen chloride.

17. The method of claim 13, further including de-energizing the electrode, de-energization of the electrode causing the bubbles to re-oxidize and allowing the elastic sheath to compress the nanotube radially inwardly.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the electrode is energized by applying a voltage of at least 1.2 volts.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the balloon catheter further includes an electrically conductive coating around an outer surface of nanotube paper and a second ring of a nanotube paper around the electrically conductive coating, and further including selectively energizing the electrode and electrically conductive coating to control the diameter to which the balloon catheter is expanded.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the nanotube paper includes at least one radially extending slit.

21. A balloon catheter, comprising:

a conduit having a distal end and a proximal end; and

means for expansion disposed in the distal end of the conduit, the means for expansion being electrically actuated.

22. The balloon catheter of claim 21, wherein the means for expansion includes an electrically conductive fluid adapted to generate microbubbles upon being energized.

23. The balloon catheter of claim 21, wherein the means for expansion includes nanotube paper mounted around an electrode.

24. The balloon catheter of claim 22, wherein the means for expansion includes nanotube paper mounted around an electrode.

25. The balloon catheter of claim 23, wherein the nanotube paper includes a plurality of radially extending cuts.

26. The balloon catheter of claim 21, wherein the means for expansion includes first and second layers of nanotube paper, each of the first and second layers being separately coupled to first and second electrodes, respectively.

27. The balloon catheter of claim 26, wherein the first layer of nanotube paper surrounds the first electrode, and wherein the second electrode is provided in the form of a metal coating provided on an outer surface of the first layer of nanotube paper, the second layer of nanotube paper surrounding the metal coating.

28. The balloon catheter of claim 23, wherein the means for expansion includes a rigid tube having a closed end and an open end, the nanotube paper being within the rigid tube proximate the closed end, the electrically conductive fluid being within a balloon positioned next to the nanotube paper and proximate the open end.

29. The balloon catheter of claim 23, wherein the means for expansion includes a rigid tube having a closed end and an open end, the nanotube paper being within the rigid tube proximate the closed end, the means for expanding further including a dosage of pharmaceuticals within the rigid tube next to the nanotube paper, a fragile membrane being provided next to the open end and maintaining the dosage of pharmaceuticals in the rigid tube until expansion of the nanotube paper.

30. A medical device, comprising:

a substantially rigid tube having a closed end and an open end;

nanotube paper disposed in the substantially rigid tube at the closed end;

electrically conductive fluid dispersed in the nanotube paper;

an electrode coupled to the nanotube paper and electrically conductive fluid; and

a deployable member disposed in the substantially rigid tube proximate the open end.

31. The medical device of claim 30, wherein the medical device is disposed at a distal end of a guide wire.

32. The medical device of claim 30, wherein the deployable member is a balloon filled with electrically conductive fluid.

33. The medical device of claim 30, wherein the deployable member is a dosage of pharmaceuticals.

34. The medical device of claim 33, further including a frangible membrane at the open end of the substantially rigid tube.

35. The medical device of claim 30, wherein the deployable member is a medical device.