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

• US 20050216030A1
• Filed: 01/28/2005
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Concentric Medical, Inc. (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Tran Ngo, Tiffany, Sepetka, Ivan, Vu, Emily, Miller, John, Pierce, Ryan, Fung, Norman, Nguyen, Dan
• Granted Patent: US 7,727,243 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/113
• 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 17/24 for use in the oral cavity, larynx, bronchial passages or nose for medical inspection of cavities or tubes in the body A61B1/00; Tongue scrapers
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/00 Dilators with or without means for introducing media, e.g. remedies instruments for performing visual medical inspections of cavities or tubes of the body A61B1/00

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

1-34. -34. (canceled)

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

providing an obstruction removing element which is movable from a collapsed position to an expanded position;

positioning the obstruction removing element in a catheter with the obstruction removing element in the collapsed position;

advancing the catheter through the obstruction;

moving a distal end of the obstruction engaging element out of the catheter after the advancing step so that the obstruction removing element expands distal to the obstruction, wherein at least part of the obstruction engaging element proximal to the distal end expands within the obstruction; and

removing the obstruction by moving the obstruction engaging element after the advancing step.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein:

the moving step is carried out with a proximal end of the obstruction engaging element expanding on a side of the obstruction opposite the distal end so that the obstruction is trapped between the expanded proximal and distal ends.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the obstruction removing element having coils, wherein the obstruction engaging element has a distal portion and a proximal portion, the distal and proximal portion having coils larger than an intermediate section between the distal and proximal portions.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the obstruction removing element having a distal portion and a proximal portion, the proximal portion having coils which wind distally, then wind proximally and then distally again toward the distal portion.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein:

the moving step is carried out with the proximal portion expanding on a side of the obstruction opposite the distal end of the obstruction removing element.

40. A method of removing an obstruction from a patient, comprising the steps of:

providing an obstruction removing device having an obstruction engaging portion movable from a collapsed position to an expanded position, the obstruction removing device also having a releasable connection;

introducing the obstruction removing device into a patient in the collapsed position;

engaging an obstruction with the obstruction engaging portion;

releasing the releasable connection of the obstruction engaging device after the engaging step.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein:

the releasing step is carried out with the releasable connection being an elongate element.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein:

the releasing step is carried out with the releasable connection being in tension during the engaging step.

43. The method of claim 40, wherein:

the releasing step is carried out with the releasable connection being in tension prior to release.

44. The method of claim 40, wherein:

the releasing step is carried out with the releasable connection being an electrolytically severable bond.

45. The method of claim 40, wherein:

the releasing step reduces the engagement between the device and the obstruction.

46. The method of claim 40, further comprising the step of:

disengaging from the obstruction after the moving step; and

removing the device from the patient without removing the obstruction with the device.

47. The method of claim 40, wherein:

the releasing step is carried out with the releasable connection automatically releasing.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein:

the releasing step is carried out with upon application of a threshold force of less than five lbs.

49. The method of claim 40, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the obstruction engaging portion being naturally biased toward the expanded position.

50. The method of claim 40, further comprising the step of:

releasing another releasable connection on the obstruction removing device.

51. The method of claim 40, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the releasable connection being part of a flexible filament having no predetermined shape.

52. The method of claim 40, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the releasable connection being positioned along a loop of material; and

the releasing step eliminates the loop.

53. An obstruction removing device, comprising:

an obstruction engaging portion movable from a collapsed position to an expanded position, the obstruction removing device also having a releasable connection which is selectively releasable by the user, the releasable connection being used to change a characteristic of the device inside the patient.

54. The obstruction removing device of claim 53, wherein:

the releasable connection is a tension element.

55. The obstruction removing device of claim 53, wherein:

the releasable connection is a filament

56. The obstruction removing device of claim 53, wherein:

the releasable connection is configured to be in tension when engaging an obstruction so that the tension is reduced when the releasable connection is released.

57. The obstruction removing device of claim 53, wherein:

the releasable connection automatically release at a threshold force.

58. The obstruction removing device of claim 57, wherein:

the releasable connection releases upon a threshold tensile load of less than five lbs.

59. The obstruction removing device of claim 53, wherein:

the releasable connection has an electrolytically severable bond.

60. The obstruction removing device of claim 53, wherein:

the releasing step reduces the number of interconnections in the device.

61. The obstruction removing device of claim 53, wherein:

the releasable connection is positioned along a loop of material, wherein releasing the releasable connection eliminates the loop.

62. The obstruction removing device of claim 53, wherein:

the obstruction removing device includes a plurality of releasable connections.

64. The obstruction removing device of claim 53, wherein:

the releasing step reduces the number of interconnections in the device.

65. The obstruction removing device of claim 53, wherein:

the obstruction engaging portion is naturally biased toward the expanded position.

63. The obstruction removing device of claim 72, wherein:

the plurality of releasable connections are each selectively releasable by the user.