Vascular catheter with expanded distal tip for receiving a thromboembolic protection device and method of use
First Claim
1. A method of retracting a catheter from an occluded and/or stenotic region of a blood vessel, comprising the steps of:
- receiving at least a portion of a thromboembolic protection device within an expanded distal tip of a catheter shaft, the shaft having a radially expandable segment disposed on the shaft spaced apart from the expanded distal tip;
removing the shaft from the occluded and/or stenotic region; and
retracting the shaft into a guiding sheath disposed about the shaft after removal of the shaft from the occluded and/or stenotic region.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vascular catheter including a radially expandable segment, such as an inflatable balloon, and an expanded distal tip having an increased storage volume is disclosed. The inflatable balloon segment of the catheter may be used to provide traditional balloon angioplasty to a portion of a blood vessel narrowed by stenosis, and the expanded distal tip of the catheter apparatus may be used to safely capture, store, and remove a thromboembolic protection device such as an embolic filter used to catch pieces of plaque and other embolic material dislodged during the balloon angioplasty procedure. The catheter of the present invention provides an effective means for dilating a narrowed portion of a blood vessel, as well as preventing the need for deploying a second catheter system to capture and retrieve the embolic filter. The present invention also greatly reduces the chance for plaque and other thromboembolic material to escape from the embolic filter and enter the patient'"'"'s bloodstream.
100 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method of retracting a catheter from an occluded and/or stenotic region of a blood vessel, comprising the steps of:
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receiving at least a portion of a thromboembolic protection device within an expanded distal tip of a catheter shaft, the shaft having a radially expandable segment disposed on the shaft spaced apart from the expanded distal tip;
removing the shaft from the occluded and/or stenotic region; and
retracting the shaft into a guiding sheath disposed about the shaft after removal of the shaft from the occluded and/or stenotic region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for capturing a thromboembolic protection device within a catheter, comprising the steps of:
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advancing a catheter shaft having an expanded distal tip and a radially expandable segment disposed on the shaft from a distal end of a guiding sheath disposed about the shaft, the radially expandable segment spaced apart from the expanded distal tip; and
receiving the thromboembolic protection device within the expanded distal tip of the catheter shaft when the catheter shaft is advanced from the distal end of the guiding sheath. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of removing a catheter from an occluded and/or stenotic region of a blood vessel, comprising the steps of:
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capturing a thromboembolic protection device within an expanded distal tip of a catheter shaft, the shaft including a radially expandable segment spaced apart from the expanded distal tip; and
retracting the expanded distal tip through the occluded and/or stenotic region while the expanded distal tip is exposed to the occluded and/or stenotic region. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of dilating blood vessels and protecting a patient from embolic material, the method comprising:
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inserting a guide wire including a thromboembolic protection device into a blood vessel and guiding the guide wire and the thromboembolic protection device past a stenotic section of the blood vessel;
expanding the thromboembolic protection device;
guiding a catheter into the blood vessel along the guide wire, wherein the catheter includes a shaft having an expanded distal tip and a radially expandable segment;
expanding the segment to dilate the stenotic portion of the blood vessel;
guiding the catheter further along the guide wire to receive at least a portion of the thromboembolic protection device within the expanded distal tip; and
removing the catheter and the thromboembolic protection device from the blood vessel. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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36. A method of dilating blood vessels and protecting a patient from embolic material, the method comprising:
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inserting a guide wire including a thromboembolic protection device into a blood vessel and guiding the guide wire and the thromboembolic protection device past a stenotic section of the blood vessel;
expanding the thromboembolic protection device;
guiding a catheter into the blood vessel along the guide wire, wherein the catheter includes a shaft having an expanded distal tip and a radially expandable segment;
expanding the segment to dilate the stenotic portion of the blood vessel;
retracting the guide wire until at least a portion of the thromboembolic protection device is received within the expanded distal tip; and
removing the catheter and the thromboembolic protection device from the blood vessel. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39)
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Specification