Fluid exchange system for controlled and localized irrigation and aspiration

• US 20050020973A1
• Filed: 07/30/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Foxhollow Technologies Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Foxhollow Technologies Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Goff, Thomas G., Courtney, Brian K., MacMahon, John M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,530,976 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/93.10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/67 Containers incorporating a piston-type member to create suction, e.g. syringes cupping glasses A61M1/08; with a flexible member creating suction A61M1/68
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/774 Handpieces specially adapted for providing suction as well as irrigation, either simultaneously or independently
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/81 Piston pumps, e.g. syringes

Abstract

The control of fluid introduction into and out of body conduits such as vessels, is of great concern in medicine. As the development of more particular treatments to vessels and organs continues it is apparent that controlled introduction and removal of fluids is necessary. Fluid delivery and removal from such sites, usually referred to as irrigation and aspiration, using fluid exchange devices that control also need to be considerate of potential volume and/or pressure in the vessel or organ are described together with catheter and lumen configurations to achieve the fluid exchange. The devices include several electrically or mechanically controlled embodiments and produce both controlled and localized flow with defined volume exchange ratios for fluid management. The applications in medicine include diagnostic, therapeutic, imaging, and uses for the introduction or removal of concentrations of emboli within body cavities.

Claims

1-24. -24. (canceled)

25. A method for achieving fluid exchange within a localized region of the body comprising:

introducing a catheter element into the body wherein the catheter element is comprised of an irrigation lumen terminating with at least one irrigation port at a distal end of the catheter element and an aspiration lumen terminating with at least one aspiration port;

advancing the distal end of the catheter element to the localized region of the body;

activating a trigger of a fluid exchange apparatus comprising an irrigation reservoir in fluid connection with the irrigation lumen and having means for controlled delivery of irrigant fluid from the irrigation reservoir through the irrigation lumen to the localized region and an aspiration lumen having means for controlled collection of aspirant fluid, wherein the activating step produces a controlled delivery of irrigant fluid from the irrigation reservoir through the irrigation lumen and wherein a mechanical linkage causes removal of aspirant fluid from the localized region through the aspiration lumen; and

wherein this step of activating the trigger produces turbulent fluid exchange at the target site from the simultaneous delivery of irrigant fluid and removal of aspirant fluid.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein irrigant fluid is contained in a cylinder with a dedicated piston and the activating step forces fluid from the cylinder through the irrigation lumen.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the activation step collects aspirant fluid from the target site through the aspiration lumen and passes the aspirant into a cylinder with a dedicated piston.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of providing irrigant fluid in a replaceable syringe.

29. The method of claim 25 further comprising inflating an occluding element proximal of the at least one irrigation port and the at least one aspiration port such that substantially all of the fluid exchange occurs distal of the occluding element.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the inflating step is comprised of inflating a balloon.

31. The method of claim 25 wherein the irrigant fluid is introduced through an irrigation chamber having an inflow line in fluid communication with the irrigation reservoir and an outflow line in fluid communication with the irrigation lumen.

32. The method of claim 25 wherein the aspirant fluid is removed through an aspiration chamber having an inflow line in fluid communication with the aspiration lumen and an outflow line in fluid communication with the aspiration reservoir.

33. The method of claim 25 wherein the trigger is activated by hand.

34. The method of claim 27 wherein the trigger is integrally connected to the cylinder and the dedicated piston.

35. The method of claim 25 wherein the aspirant fluid passes through at least one one-way valve in the fluid pathway of the aspiration lumen and the aspiration reservoir.

36. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of activating the trigger achieves a predetermined ratio of fluid volume exchange between irrigant fluid and aspirant fluid at the target site.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the predetermined ratio is approximately 1:

1.

38. The mechanical device of claim 36 wherein the predetermined ratio is between approximately 1:

2 and 2;

1.