Particle-removing medical device and method

• US 20050124931A1
• Filed: 01/14/2005
• Published: 06/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Artemis Medical, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Artemis Medical, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Fulton, Richard E., Dubrul, William R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,232,432 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/93.10
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/416 Anti-neoplastic or anti-proliferative or anti-restenosis or anti-angiogenic agents, e.g. paclitaxel, sirolimus
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/16 Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L29/048 takes precedence
• 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 2025/1052 for temporarily occluding a vessel for isolating a sector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1081 having sheaths or the like for covering the balloon but not forming a permanent part of the balloon, e.g. retractable, dissolvable or tearable sheaths
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1011 Multiple balloon catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/306 Arrangements where at least part of the apparatus is introduced into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/327 for enhancing the absorption properties of tissue, e.g. by electroporation

Abstract

A particle-removing medical device includes an outer, hollow tube having a tube distal a porous braided structure having a distal part and a proximal part. Structure, housed he tube and having a distal end positioned distally of the tube distal end, is used to move the structure from a contracted condition to an expanded condition by moving the distal ends of and the structure towards one another. The braided structure is constructed to inhibit from moving completely through the braided structure when in the expanded condition.

Claims

1. A method for acting on plaque within a vascular conduit of a body for treatment of cardiovascular disease comprising:

obtaining a removable therapy device comprising a radially-expandable element within a multi-stranded tubular braid;

positioning the removable therapy device at a target site within the vascular conduit of the body;

expanding the tubular braid against the plaque by the radially-expandable element within the tubular braid causing the tubular braid to make intimate contact with the plaque;

creating micro-fractures within the plaque;

contracting the removable therapy device; and

removing the removable therapy device from the body.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the obtaining step comprises obtaining a removable therapy device having a contact-dispensable agent in contact with the tubular braid;

and further comprising dispensing the agent from the tubular braid into the micro-fractures within the plaque.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the dispensing step is carried out as a result of the expanding step.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the creating step is carried out as a result of the obtaining and expanding steps.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the expanding step is carried out using a balloon.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the obtaining step further comprises:

selecting an absorbent multi-stranded tubular braid;

selecting the agent; and

applying the agent to the absorbent multi-stranded tubular braid.

7. A method for acting on plaque within a vascular conduit of a body for treatment of cardiovascular disease comprising:

obtaining a removable therapy device comprising a radially-expandable balloon within a multi-stranded tubular braid, the multi-stranded tubular braid having a contact-dispensable agent in contact therewith;

the obtaining step further comprising;

selecting a multi-stranded tubular braid;

selecting the agent; and

applying the agent to the multi-stranded tubular braid;

positioning the removable therapy device at a target site within the vascular conduit of the body;

expanding the tubular braid against the plaque by the radially-expandable balloon within the tubular braid causing the tubular braid to make intimate contact with the plaque;

creating micro-fractures within the plaque;

dispensing the agent from the tubular braid into the micro-fractures within the plaque;

contracting the removable therapy device; and

removing the removable therapy device from the body.