METHODS OF TREATING VENOUS VALVE RELATED CONDITIONS WITH A FLOW-MODIFYING IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE
First Claim
1. A method of treating a venous valve-related condition by reducing blood flow in a retrograde direction away from a heart in a subject, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. inserting a flow-modifying medical device into a body vessel within the deep venous system, the peripheral venous system or the perforating venous system, the flow-modifying medical device including a fluid flow channel extending longitudinally through the flow-modifying device between an inlet and an outlet and configured to restrict a rate of fluid flow therethrough in a retrograde direction from the outlet to the inlet more than a restriction of the rate of fluid flow through the fluid flow channel in an antegrade direction from the inlet to the outlet; and
b. deploying the flow-modifying medical device within the body vessel at a point of treatment to provide a first reduction in the rate of blood flow within the body vessel through the fluid flow channel in the retrograde direction away from the heart while providing a second reduction in the rate of blood flow within the body vessel through the fluid flow channel in the antegrade direction toward the heart that is less than the first reduction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Implantable medical devices adapted to modify fluid flow within a body vessel are provided herein. The medical devices may include a fluid flow restricting channel configured to reduce longitudinal fluid flow in a retrograde direction or in an antegrade direction. Preferably, the medical devices are flow-modifying devices that reduce fluid flow through the medical device to a greater extent in a retrograde direction than in an antegrade direction. Methods of treatment comprising the step of implanting a flow-modifying medical device within a body vessel are also provided. Flow-modifying devices are useful, for example, in treating venous valve related conditions.
106 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of treating a venous valve-related condition by reducing blood flow in a retrograde direction away from a heart in a subject, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. inserting a flow-modifying medical device into a body vessel within the deep venous system, the peripheral venous system or the perforating venous system, the flow-modifying medical device including a fluid flow channel extending longitudinally through the flow-modifying device between an inlet and an outlet and configured to restrict a rate of fluid flow therethrough in a retrograde direction from the outlet to the inlet more than a restriction of the rate of fluid flow through the fluid flow channel in an antegrade direction from the inlet to the outlet; and
b. deploying the flow-modifying medical device within the body vessel at a point of treatment to provide a first reduction in the rate of blood flow within the body vessel through the fluid flow channel in the retrograde direction away from the heart while providing a second reduction in the rate of blood flow within the body vessel through the fluid flow channel in the antegrade direction toward the heart that is less than the first reduction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of treating a venous valve-related condition comprising the steps of:
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a. inserting a flow-modifying medical device within a body vessel, the flow-modifying medical device having a longitudinal axis, the flow-modifying medical device comprising an annular bi-directional fluid flow restricting channel extending along the longitudinal axis from an inlet to an outlet, the fluid flow restricting channel including i. an orifice having a thickness that is less than 10% of a maximum diameter of the orifice, the orifice being substantially parallel to and positioned longitudinally between the inlet and the outlet, the orifice having a first cross-sectional area oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and the inlet having a second cross-sectional area that is greater than the first cross-sectional area; and
ii. an antegrade flow receiving surface extending from the inlet to the orifice, joined at the orifice to a retrograde flow receiving surface extending from the orifice to the outlet, the antegrade flow receiving surface having a frustoconical cross section in a first hypothetical radial bisecting plane containing the longitudinal axis;
the retrograde flow receiving surface having a curved cross section in the hypothetical first radial bisecting plane containing the longitudinal axis;
iii. the rate of fluid flow in an antegrade direction from the inlet through the flow restricting channel toward the outlet being reduced by less than the rate of fluid flow in a retrograde direction from the outlet through the flow restricting channel toward the inlet; and
b. deploying the flow-modifying medical device within the body vessel at a point of treatment to provide a first reduction in the rate of blood flow in the antegrade direction toward a heart that is less than a second reduction in the rate of blood flow in the retrograde direction away from the heart. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of treating a venous valve-related condition comprising the steps of implanting a first flow-modifying medical device within a first vein and having a body vessel diameter;
- implanting a second flow-modifying medical device within a blood vessel in fluid flow communication with the first vein;
the first flow-modifying medical device and the second flow-modifying medical device each including a fluid flow restricting channel extending between an inlet and an outlet and having a diameter that is less than the body vessel diameter, the flow-modifying medical device being configured to restrict the rate of fluid flow in an antegrade direction from the inlet to the outlet through the fluid flow restricting channel by less than a restriction of fluid flow in an retrograde direction from the outlet to the inlet through the fluid flow restricting channel, whereina. the minimum diameter of the flow restricting channel is an orifice having a first diameter that is substantially invariant to changes in fluid flow direction from the antegrade direction to the retrograde direction;
b. the fluid flow restricting channel includes an antegrade flow receiving surface extending form the inlet to the orifice and including an arcuate longitudinal cross section with a radius of curvature;
c. the ratio of the of the radius of curvature to the first diameter of the orifice being between about 0.5 and 0.8.
- implanting a second flow-modifying medical device within a blood vessel in fluid flow communication with the first vein;
Specification