Electroactive polymer actuated medical devices

• US 20040087982A1
• Filed: 08/07/2002
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Eskuri, Alan David
• Granted Patent: US 6,969,395 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/153
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0643 with separate closing member, e.g. for interlocking with staple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1107 for blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1135 End-to-side connections, e.g. T- or Y-connections Y-shaped blood vessel prostheses A61F2002/065
• 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: A61F 2/064 with special features to facilitate anastomotic coupling anastomosis of natural blood vessels A61B17/11
• 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: Y10S 310/80 Piezoelectric polymers, e.g. PVDF

Abstract

The present invention is directed to novel apparatus for use in medical procedures relating to tubular body fluid conduits. According to a first aspect of the invention, a filter apparatus is provided for delivery over a guidewire within a tubular body conduit, such as a blood vessel. The filter apparatus comprises: (a) a filter element transformable between a collapsed state and a deployed state, wherein the filter element is adapted to filter particulate matter from fluid within the tubular body conduit while in the deployed state; and (b) a locking member comprising one or more electroactive polymer actuators which switch the locking member between (i) a locking state wherein the locking member securely engages the guidewire and (ii) a release state wherein the locking member is movable along the length of the guidewire. According to a second aspect of the invention, a connector apparatus is provided for use in making an anastomotic connection between first and second tubular fluid conduits in a patient. The connector apparatus comprises: (a) a locking member, which further comprises one or more electroactive polymer actuators that switch the locking member between a locking state and a release state; and (b) a connector body that is configured to permit flow of bodily fluid between the first and second tubular fluid conduits. The connector body has a first portion configured for insertion into an axial end of the first tubular fluid conduit and a second portion configured for insertion through a sidewall of the second tubular fluid conduit. The second portion of the connector body is further configured to securely engage the locking member when the locking member is in the locking state.

Claims

1. A connector apparatus for use in making an anastomotic connection between first and second tubular fluid conduits in a patient comprising:

(a) a locking member comprising one or more electroactive polymer actuators that are configured to switch said locking member between a locking state and a release state; and

(b) a connector body configured to permit flow of bodily fluid between said first and second tubular fluid conduits, said connector body having a first portion configured for insertion into an axial end of said first tubular fluid conduit and a second portion configured for insertion through a sidewall of said second tubular fluid conduit, said second portion further configured to securely engage said locking member when said locking member is switched to said locking state.

2. The connector apparatus of claim 1, wherein said locking member comprises a radially expandable and contractible annular member.

3. The connector apparatus of claim 1, wherein said locking member comprises one or more radially expandable and contractible arms.

4. The connector apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second portion of said connector body and said locking member are configured such that (a) said second portion can be inserted into said locking member when said locking member is in said release state and (b) said locking member securely engages said second portion when said locking member is in said locking state.

5. The connector apparatus of claim 4, wherein said connector body is a tubular connector body comprising a circumferential groove in an outer surface.

6. The connector apparatus of claim 5, wherein said locking member comprises a radially expandable and contractible annular member.

7. The connector apparatus of claim 5, wherein said locking member comprises one or more radially expandable and contractible arms.

8. The connector apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a delivery catheter that (a) is adapted to deliver said locking member to a location within said second tubular fluid conduit where said connector body is inserted through the sidewall of said second tubular fluid conduit and (b) is adapted to switch said locking member between said release state and said locking state.

9. The connector apparatus of claim 8, wherein said delivery catheter comprises first and second jaws configured to grasp said locking member.

10. The connector apparatus of claim 9, wherein said locking member is provided with first and second electrical contacts corresponding to a grasping position of said first and second jaws, and wherein a voltage is applied to said contacts through said first and second jaws.

11. The connector apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a tubular sheath adapted to receive said delivery catheter and said locking member.

12. A method of making an anastomotic connection between first and second tubular fluid conduits in a patient comprising:

(a) providing the connector apparatus of claim 1;

(b) inserting said first portion of said connector body into an axial end of said first tubular fluid conduit;

(c) inserting said second portion of said connector body through a sidewall of said second tubular fluid conduit;

(d) advancing said locking member to a position within said second tubular fluid conduit that is adjacent said second portion of said connector body; and

(e) switching said locking member from said release state to said locking state thereby engaging said locking member with said second portion.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said tubular fluid conduits are tubular blood conduits.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said first tubular blood conduit is a tubular graft and wherein said second tubular blood conduit is the aorta.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said locking member is radially expandable and contractible.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said second portion of said connector body is inserted into said locking member while said locking member is in a radially expanded configuration and wherein said locking member is subsequently switched to a radially contracted position to securely engage said locking member and said second portion.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein said connector apparatus further comprises a delivery catheter adapted to advance said locking member and to switch said locking member between said release state and said locking state.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said delivery catheter comprises jaws, wherein said locking member is grasped by said jaws during advancement of said locking member, and wherein an voltage is applied to said locking member via said jaws.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said connector apparatus further comprises a tubular sheath within which said locking member and said delivery catheter are advanced.

20. A connector apparatus for use in making an anastomotic connection between first and second tubular fluid conduits in a patient comprising:

(a) a connector body configured to permit flow of bodily fluid between said first and second tubular fluid conduits, said connector body having a first portion configured for insertion into an axial end of said first tubular fluid conduit and a second portion configured for insertion through a sidewall of said second tubular fluid conduit, and

(b) a locking member configured for engagement with said second portion of said connector body,

wherein one of said connector body and said locking member comprises one or more electroactive polymer actuators that are configured to switch between a first state where said locking member and said connector body are securely engaged with one another and a second state where said locking member and said connector body are releasable from one another.

21. A filter apparatus for delivery over a guidewire within a tubular body conduit comprising:

(a) a filter element transformable between a collapsed state and an deployed state, said filter element adapted to filter particulate matter from fluid within said tubular body conduit while in said deployed state; and

(b) a locking member comprising one or more electroactive polymer actuators that switch said locking member between (i) a locking state wherein said locking member securely engages said guidewire and (ii) a release state wherein said locking member is movable along the length of said guidewire.

22. The filter apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a plurality of expandable and collapsible struts coupled to said filter element.

23. The filter apparatus of claim 21, wherein said locking member comprises a radially expandable and contractible annular member.

24. The filter apparatus of claim 21, wherein said locking member comprises one or more radially expandable and contractible arms.

25. The filter apparatus of claim 24, wherein said arms engage a guidewire indentation upon radial contraction of said arms.

26. The filter apparatus of claim 25, wherein said indentation is a circumferential groove.

27. The filter apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a delivery catheter that is adapted to apply a voltage to said locking member to switch said locking member between locking and release states.

28. The filter apparatus of claim 27, wherein said delivery catheter is provided with electrical contacts that correspond to complementary electrical contacts associated with said locking member.

29. The filter apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a tubular sheath adapted to receive said filter element when in said collapsed state.

30. A method of deploying a filter element within a tubular body conduit in a patient comprising:

(a) providing the filter apparatus of claim 21;

(b) advancing said filter apparatus over a guidewire within said tubular body conduit to a deployment position within said tubular body conduit, wherein said filter element is advanced while in said collapsed state;

(c) switching said locking member from said release state to said locking state thereby engaging said locking member with said guidewire; and

(d) expanding said filter element to said deployed state within said tubular body conduit.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said locking member is a radially expandable and contractible member.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said filter assembly is advanced over said guidewire while said locking member is in a radially expanded configuration and wherein said locking member is subsequently switched to a radially contracted position to securely engage said filter assembly to said guidewire.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein said tubular fluid conduit is a blood vessel.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising conducting a procedure to treat said blood vessel upstream of said deployment position, wherein said filter element filters particulate matter dislodged by said procedure.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein said filter apparatus further comprises a delivery catheter slidably disposed along said guidewire, said delivery catheter being adapted to switch said locking member between said release state and said locking state.

36. The method of claim 30, wherein said filter assembly further comprises a tubular sheath slidably disposed along said guidewire and within which said filter element is delivered to said deployment position while in a collapsed state, whereupon said filter element reverts to said deployed state upon removal from said sheath.