Method and apparatus for increasing blood flow through an obstructed blood vessel
First Claim
1. A method of increasing blood flow through an obstructed blood vessel, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing an expandable member substantially made of a mesh having a plurality of interstices, the expandable member having a proximal member end and a distal member end spaced longitudinally apart by a tubular member body, the expandable member being substantially closed at the distal member end;
inserting the expandable member into the blood vessel;
positioning the expandable member within the blood vessel with the proximal member end upstream of the distal member end and the member body located radially adjacent at least a portion of an obstruction;
expanding the expandable member to bring at least a portion of the member body into contact with the obstruction;
exerting an outward radial force on the obstruction to dislodge at least one fragment from the obstruction and to enhance blood flow through the blood vessel past the obstruction;
passing the at least one fragment through at least one interstice of the member body in the radial direction; and
selectively retaining the at least one fragment within the expandable member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of increasing blood flow through an obstructed blood vessel includes providing an expandable member substantially made of a mesh having a plurality of interstices. The expandable member has a proximal member end and a distal member end spaced longitudinally apart by a tubular member body. The expandable member is substantially closed at the distal member end. The expandable member is inserted into the blood vessel. The expandable member is positioned within the blood vessel with the proximal member end upstream of the distal member end and the member body located radially adjacent at least a portion of an obstruction. The expandable member is expanded to bring at least a portion of the member body into contact with the obstruction. An outward radial force is exerted on the obstruction to dislodge at least one fragment from the obstruction and to enhance blood flow through the blood vessel past the obstruction. The at least one fragment is passed through at least one interstice of the member body in the radial direction. The at least one fragment is selectively retained within the expandable member. An apparatus for increasing blood flow through an obstructed blood vessel is also provided.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method of increasing blood flow through an obstructed blood vessel, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an expandable member substantially made of a mesh having a plurality of interstices, the expandable member having a proximal member end and a distal member end spaced longitudinally apart by a tubular member body, the expandable member being substantially closed at the distal member end;
inserting the expandable member into the blood vessel;
positioning the expandable member within the blood vessel with the proximal member end upstream of the distal member end and the member body located radially adjacent at least a portion of an obstruction;
expanding the expandable member to bring at least a portion of the member body into contact with the obstruction;
exerting an outward radial force on the obstruction to dislodge at least one fragment from the obstruction and to enhance blood flow through the blood vessel past the obstruction;
passing the at least one fragment through at least one interstice of the member body in the radial direction; and
selectively retaining the at least one fragment within the expandable member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An expandable member, comprising:
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a proximal member end;
a distal member end, longitudinally spaced from the proximal member end;
a tubular member body extending between the proximal and distal member ends and adapted to selectively contact at least a portion of an obstruction within a blood vessel in a radial direction, to dislodge at least one fragment from the obstruction, and to enhance blood flow through the blood vessel past the obstruction;
at least one of the proximal and distal member ends being closed;
the member body being made of a first mesh having a plurality of first interstices, at least one of the first interstices being adapted to allow passage of at least one fragment therethrough in a radial direction into the member body; and
a closed one of the proximal and distal member ends being made of a second mesh having a plurality of second interstices, at least one of the second interstices being adapted to selectively allow passage of at least one fragment therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An apparatus for increasing blood flow through an obstructed blood vessel, the apparatus comprising:
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a delivery catheter, having proximal and distal catheter ends separated by a hollow catheter lumen and defining a longitudinal axis, the distal catheter end adapted for placement within the blood vessel adjacent an obstruction;
a guidewire, having proximal and distal guidewire ends longitudinally separated by a guidewire body, the guidewire being adapted for selective insertion through the catheter lumen; and
an expandable member removably attached to the guidewire adjacent the distal guidewire end, being selectively moveable between a first, collapsed condition and a second, expanded condition, and adapted for passage through the catheter lumen in the collapsed condition and selective release from the catheter lumen and placement into the expanded condition adjacent the obstruction, the expandable member including;
a proximal member end;
a distal member end, longitudinally spaced from the proximal member end;
a tubular member body extending between the proximal and distal member ends and adapted to selectively contact at least a portion of the obstruction in a radial direction, to dislodge at least one fragment from the obstruction and to enhance blood flow through the blood vessel past the obstruction, when the expandable member is in the expanded condition;
at least one of the proximal and distal member ends being closed;
the tubular member body being made of a first mesh having a plurality of first interstices, at least one of the first interstices being adapted to allow passage of the at least one fragment therethrough in a radial direction into the member body; and
a closed one of the proximal and distal member ends being made of a second mesh having a plurality of second interstices, at least one of the second interstices being adapted to selectively allow passage of the at least one fragment therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification