Prosthesis Deployment Apparatus and Methods

• US 20080172119A1
• Filed: 01/12/2007
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Bzostek, Andrew, Yamasaki, Dwayne S., Mciff, Greg
• Application Number:
  US11/622,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20080172119A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/105 Modelling of the patient, e.g. for ligaments or bones
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0833 involving detecting or locating foreign bodies or organic structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0841 for locating instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/954 for placing stents or stent-grafts in a bifurcation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/065 Y-shaped blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0001 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0096 Markers and sensors for detecting a position or changes of a position of an implant, e.g. RF sensors, ultrasound markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0097 Visible markings, e.g. indicia

Abstract

The position of a prosthesis (e.g., a stent-graft) is monitored using non-ionizing energy during deployment and/or sheath pull-back after the prosthesis has been positioned at a desired location in a vessel.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring prosthesis deployment in a patient comprising:

positioning a prosthesis delivery catheter, having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, and a prosthesis having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion disposed in the catheter distal end portion and at least one marker provided on the prosthesis with the prosthesis proximal end portion at a desired location in the vasculature of the patient;

subjecting the marker to electromagnetic energy;

deploying the prosthesis from the catheter; and

monitoring prosthesis movement in real time based on a reaction that results from subjecting the at least one marker to the electromagnetic energy.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring prosthesis movement is based on a reaction that results from subjecting the marker to a plurality of electromagnetic fields.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the reaction is the generation of signals from the marker.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the at least one marker is an electromagnetic field sensing coil.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the reaction is the at least one marker'"'"'s modification of the electromagnetic fields.

6. A method of monitoring prosthesis deployment in a patient comprising:

positioning a prosthesis delivery catheter, having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, and a prosthesis having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion disposed in the catheter distal end portion and at least one electromagnetic field generating marker provided on one of the prosthesis and prosthesis delivery catheter with the prosthesis proximal end portion at a desired location in the vasculature of the patient;

deploying the prosthesis from the catheter; and

monitoring prosthesis movement based on the electromagnetic field generated by the at least one marker in response to an electromagnetic field.

7. A method of monitoring prosthesis deployment in a patient comprising:

positioning a prosthesis delivery catheter, having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, and a prosthesis having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion disposed in the catheter distal end portion and at least one non-ionizing photon radiation marker provided on one of the prosthesis and prosthesis delivery catheter with the prosthesis proximal end portion at a desired location in the vasculature of the patient;

deploying the prosthesis from the catheter; and

monitoring prosthesis movement based on generation of non-ionizing radiation reflected by the at least one marker an external source of radiation in the elctromagntic spectrum in the range form the infared to the ultraviolet.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the marker generates electromagnetic spectrum radiation in the frequency of ultraviolet.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the at least one marker generates electromagnetic spectrum radiation in the frequency of infared.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one marker is an optical LED.

11. A method of monitoring prosthesis deployment in a patient comprising:

positioning a prosthesis delivery catheter, having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, and a prosthesis having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion disposed in the catheter distal end portion and at least one marker adapted to modify non-ionizing photon radiation provided on one of the prosthesis and prosthesis delivery catheter with the prosthesis proximal end portion at a desired location in the vasculature of the patient;

subjecting the marker to non-ionizing photon radiation;

deploying the prosthesis from the catheter; and

monitoring prosthesis movement based on the at least one marker'"'"'s modification of the non-ionizing photon radiation.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one marker is subjected to radio frequency radiation.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the at least one marker is a radio frequency reflector.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one marker is an optical reflector.

15. A method of monitoring prosthesis deployment in a patient comprising:

positioning a prosthesis delivery catheter, having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, and a prosthesis having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion disposed in the catheter distal end portion and at least one marker adapted to generate pressure waves provided on one of the prosthesis and prosthesis delivery catheter with the prosthesis proximal end portion at a desired location in the vasculature of the patient;

energizing the marker with an ultrasound source;

deploying the prosthesis from the catheter; and

monitoring prosthesis movement based on pressure waves generated at the least one marker when energized.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein prosthesis movement is based on ultrasound energy generated by at least one marker when energized.

17. A prosthesis delivery system comprising:

a tubular sheath having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;

a distal tip extending from the tubular sheath distal end portion;

a tubular prosthesis slidably disposed in said sheath and positioned along said sheath distal end portion; and

a marker provided on the prosthesis and adapted to provide measurable data when subjected to non-ionizing energy.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said marker is an electromagnetic sensing coil.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said marker is and optical LED.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein said marker is a radio frequency beacon.

21. The system of claim 18 wherein said marker is an optical reflector.

22. The system of claim 18 wherein said marker is a radio frequency reflector.

23. The system of claim 18 wherein said marker is a pressure wave beacon.

24. The system of claim 19 wherein said marker is an ultrasound beacon.

25. The system of claim 18 wherein a said prosthesis has a proximal end and a distal end and said marker is positioned adjacent to said proximal end.

26. The system of claim 18 wherein a said prosthesis has a distal end and a generally annular proximal end and said marker is positioned along said proximal end.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein a plurality of said markers are positioned along said proximal end.

28. The system of claim 18 wherein said prosthesis has a proximal end and a distal end and a plurality of said markers are positioned adjacent to said proximal end.

29. The system of claim 18 wherein said prosthesis is a stent.

30. The system of claim 18 wherein said prosthesis is a stent-graft.