Systems, methods and devices for removing obstructions from a blood vessel

• US 20050085849A1
• Filed: 10/25/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Concentric Medical, Inc. (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Sepetka, Ivan, Miller, John, Pierce, Ryan, Gia, Son, Aboytes, Maria, Ngo, Tiffany Tran
• Application Number:
  US10/973,638
• Publication Number:
  US 20050085849A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/200
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22031 Gripping instruments, e.g. forceps, for removing or smashing calculi A61B17/221 takes precedence
• 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 17/3207 Atherectomy devices working by cutting or abrading; Similar devices specially adapted for non-vascular obstructions A61B17/32037 takes precedence; endoscopic cutting instruments A61B17/320016
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320725 with radially expandable cutting or abrading elements A61B17/32075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22034 for gripping the obstruction or the tissue part from inside
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2217 single wire changing shape to a gripping configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320716 comprising means for preventing embolism by dislodged material
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00898 Alarms or notifications created in response to an abnormal condition

Abstract

Devices and methods for removing an obstruction from a blood vessel are described. The devices are deployed in a collapsed condition and are then expanded within the body. The devices are then manipulated to engage and remove the obstruction.

Claims

1. A method of removing an obstruction from a blood vessel, comprising the steps of:

providing an obstruction removal device having an obstruction engaging portion, the obstruction engaging portion being movable from a collapsed shape to an expanded shape, the obstruction engaging portion being naturally biased toward the expanded shape, the obstruction removal device also having at least one flexible filament which is coupled to the obstruction removal device at a proximal location and a distal location, the flexible filament being slidably coupled to the obstruction removal device at the proximal location;

advancing the obstruction removal device through a patient'"'"'s vascular system to the obstruction;

introducing the obstruction engaging portion into the obstruction;

permitting the obstruction engaging portion of the obstruction removal device to expand; and

removing the obstruction with the obstruction removal device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the obstruction removal device being a single filament extending to a free end.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the obstruction engaging portion forming a helical coil.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the obstruction engaging portion forming a number of coils.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the flexible filament being connected to a non-expanding portion of the obstruction removal device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with a plurality of filaments slidably coupled to the obstruction removal device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the advancing step is carried out by advancing a distal end of the obstruction removal device through the obstruction with the obstruction removal device in the collapsed position; and

the permitting step is carried out with part of the obstruction removal device expanding distal to the obstruction and part of the obstruction removal device expanding within the obstruction.

8. A device for removing an obstruction from a vascular location, comprising:

an elongate wire having an obstruction engaging portion which is movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position, the obstruction engaging portion being naturally biased toward the expanded position; and

a filament coupled to the wire at a proximal location and a distal location, the filament being slidably coupled to the elongate wire at the proximal location.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein:

a plurality of filaments are coupled to the elongate wire, wherein each of the plurality of filaments is coupled to elongate wire at proximal and distal locations, the filaments being independently slidable on the elongate wire.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein:

the obstruction engaging portion of the wire forms a coiled section near the distal end when in the expanded position;

the filament being coupled to the wire proximal to the coiled section at the proximal location.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein:

the filament is coupled to the wire distal to the coiled section at the distal location.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein:

one wire is provided along the obstruction engaging portion, the wire extending to a free end.

13-28. -28. (canceled)

29. A method of removing an obstruction from a blood vessel, comprising the steps of:

providing an obstruction engaging element and a catheter having an interlocking structure, the obstruction engaging element being movable from a position within the catheter to a position outside the catheter;

advancing the catheter into an obstruction;

withdrawing the catheter after the advancing step so that the interlocking structure remains within the obstruction; and

moving the element so that the element becomes entangled with the obstruction and the interlocking structure.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the interlocking structure being a loose, flexible structure;

the withdrawing step being carried out with the loose, flexible interlocking structure being held by the obstruction so that the loose, flexible structure remains within the obstruction.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein:

the advancing step is carried out with the interlocking structure being a loose, flexible structure which lies loosely against an outer wall of the catheter.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the flexible structure including at least one filament.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the filament forming at least one closed loop.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the interlocking structure including at least four closed loops.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with a plurality of closed loops having different sizes.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the filament having at least one radiopaque material attached thereto.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the radiopaque material being formed as discrete beads, tubes or coils on the filament.

38. The method of claim 29, wherein:

the moving step is carried out by moving the element proximally into engagement with the obstruction after the withdrawing step.

39. The method of claim 29, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the obstruction engaging element being naturally biased to an expanded position.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the obstruction engaging element extending through a lumen in the catheter.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein:

the moving step is carried out by permitting the obstruction engaging element to expand.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein:

the moving step is carried out by rotating the obstruction engaging element so that the element becomes entangled with the interlocking structure.

43. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of:

exposing part of the obstruction engaging element before completing the withdrawing step.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein:

the exposing step is carried out before beginning the withdrawing step.

45. The method of claim 29, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the interlocking structure being a tube of material.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the tube having a plurality of slots therein.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein:

the moving step is carried out with the element extending into the slots in the tube.

48-80. -80 (canceled)