ARTERIAL-VENOUS SWITCHING

• US 20080177245A1
• Filed: 01/16/2008
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Reviveflow Corporation
• Original Assignee: Reviveflow Corporation
• Inventors: Mesallum, Sameh
• Granted Patent: US 8,221,342 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/36 Other treatment of blood in a by-pass of the natural circulatory system, e.g. temperature adaptation, irradiation ; Extra-corporeal blood circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3613 Reperfusion, e.g. of the coronary vessels, e.g. retroperfusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/367 Circuit parts not covered by the preceding subgroups of group A61M1/3621

Abstract

Methods and devices are provided for switching fluid flow through a body part, such as all or portions of an organ or extremity. In general, fluid inflow and fluid outflow vessels to at least a portion of a body part can be switched such that all fluid in at least a portion of the inflow and outflow vessels flows in an opposite direction. In other words, the fluid inflow vessel (or at least a portion thereof) becomes the fluid outflow vessel that receives fluid from a body part, and the fluid outflow vessel (or at least a portion thereof) becomes the fluid inflow vessel that delivers fluid to a body part.

Claims

1. A method for switching fluid flow in a body part, comprising:

coupling a flow control system to a fluid inflow vessel and a fluid outflow vessel of a body part such that the flow control system causes all fluid from the fluid inflow and outflow vessels to flow into the body part through the fluid outflow vessel and to flow out of the body part through the fluid inflow vessel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the body part is selected from the group consisting of an organ and an extremity.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises oxygenated blood.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the flow control system forms blockages in the fluid inflow and outflow vessels and redirects all fluid on proximal and distal sides of the blockages.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the blockages in the fluid inflow and outflow vessels each include a distal side in fluid communication with the body part and a proximal side blocked from fluid communication with the body part, and wherein the flow control system redirects fluid from the proximal side of the fluid inflow vessel to the distal side of the fluid outflow vessel, and from the distal side of the fluid inflow vessel to the proximal side of the fluid outflow vessel.

6. The method of claim 1, the flow control system includes a housing for directing fluid into the body part through the fluid outflow vessel and out of the body part through the fluid inflow vessel.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising a pump coupled to the housing and configured to pump fluid through the housing.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the body part includes first and second fluid inflow vessels and first and second fluid outflow vessels, and fluid flows into the body part through the second fluid inflow vessel and fluid flows out of the body part through the second fluid outflow vessel, and wherein the flow control system is coupled to the first fluid inflow and outflow vessels such that all fluid from the first fluid inflow and outflow vessels flows into the body part through the first fluid outflow vessel and flows out of the body part through the first fluid inflow vessel.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating the step of coupling for at least one additional body part to cause all fluid from the fluid inflow and outflow vessels of the at least one additional body part to flow into the at least one additional body part through the fluid outflow vessel and to flow out of the least one additional body part through the fluid inflow vessel.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein coupling a flow control system comprises implanting a first balloon catheter in the fluid inflow vessel and a second balloon catheter in the fluid outflow vessel such that the first and second balloon catheters form blockages in the fluid inflow and outflow vessels and redirect all fluid flow through the fluid inflow and fluid outflow vessels.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first and second balloon catheters each include a proximal port positioned on a proximal side of a balloon forming the blockage, and a distal port positioned on a distal side of a balloon forming the blockage, the proximal ports being blocked from fluid communication with the body part and the distal ports being in fluid communication with the body part.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid inflow and outflow vessels comprise arterial and venous vessels.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the body part comprises the brain and the flow control system is coupled to the arterial and venous blood pathways coupled to the brain.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein coupling the flow control system includes:

advancing a first catheter through the femoral artery and forming a blockage within the internal carotid artery; and

advancing a second catheter through the femoral vein and forming a blockage within the internal jugular vein;

wherein blood flowing from the heart and into the internal carotid artery on a proximal side of the blockage flows through a first lumen in the first catheter and through a first lumen in the second catheter and is delivered to a distal side of the blockage in the internal jugular vein such that the blood flows into the brain from the internal jugular vein; and

wherein blood flowing from the brain and into the internal carotid artery on a distal side of the blockage flows through a second lumen in the first catheter and through a second lumen in the second catheter and is delivered to a proximal side of the blockage in the internal jugular vein such that the blood flows from the internal jugular vein toward the heart.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first and second catheters are coupled to a pump that pumps blood through the catheters.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the pump applies a negative pressure to the distal side of the first catheter such that a pressure of the arterial pathway to the brain is neutralized to cause all blood flow into the brain from the arterial pathway to flow out of the brain and into the brain through the venous pathway.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the body part comprises the heart and the flow control system is coupled to the heart such that blood flows from the left side of the heart to the right side of the heart.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the body part comprises the heart and the flow control system is coupled to the heart such that blood exits the heart through the coronary artery and blood enters the heart through the coronary sinus.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the body part comprises the lower extremity and the flow control system is coupled to the lower extremity such that blood exits the lower extremity through the femoral artery and blood enters the lower extremity through the femoral vein.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the body part comprises the upper extremity and the flow control system is coupled to the upper extremity such that blood exits the upper extremity through the brachial artery and blood enters the upper extremity through the brachial vein.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the body part comprises the upper extremity and the flow control system is coupled to the upper extremity such that blood exits the upper extremity through the subclavian arteries and blood enters the upper extremity through the subclavian veins.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid inflow vessel comprises an arterial vessel and fluid outflow vessel comprises a lymphatic vessel, and wherein the flow control system is coupled such that blood enters the body part through the lymphatic vessel and blood exits the body part through a venous vessel.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid inflow vessel comprises an arterial vessel and fluid outflow vessel comprises a lymphatic vessel, and wherein the flow control system is coupled such that blood enters the body part through the lymphatic vessel and a venous vessel and blood exits the body part through the arterial vessel.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the body part comprises the liver and the flow control system is coupled to the liver such that blood enters the liver through the hepatic veins and blood exits the liver through the hepatic artery and portal vein.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the body part comprises the lungs and the flow control system is coupled to the lungs such that blood enters the lungs through the pulmonary veins and blood exits the lungs through the pulmonary arteries.

26. A method for switching blood flow in a body part, comprising:

delivering oxygenated blood flowing into a body part to a blood outflow vessel of the body part and delivering oxygenated blood flowing out of the body part into a blood inflow vessel of the body part such that all oxygenated blood enters the body part through the blood outflow vessel and all oxygenated blood exits the body part through the blood inflow vessel.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein oxygenated blood is delivered using at least two catheters that are implanted to form blockages in the blood inflow and outflow vessels.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein a negative pressure is generated in at least one of the catheters to cause all oxygenated blood to enter the body part through the blood outflow vessel and all oxygenated blood to exit the body part through the blood inflow vessel.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein each blockage includes a distal side in fluid communication with the body part and a proximal side blocked from fluid communication with the body part, and wherein the at least two catheters redirect fluid from the proximal side of the blood inflow vessel to the distal side of the blood outflow vessel, and from the distal side of the blood inflow vessel to the proximal side of the blood outflow vessel.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein oxygenated blood is delivered using a pump mechanism.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the body part comprises the brain and blood enters the brain through the jugular vein and blood exits the brain through the carotid artery.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein the body part comprises the heart and blood flows from the left side of the heart to the right side of the heart.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein the body part comprises the heart and blood enters the heart through the coronary sinus and blood exits the heart through the coronary artery.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein the blood inflow vessel comprises an arterial vessel and the blood outflow vessel comprises a lymphatic vessel, and wherein blood enters the body part through the lymphatic vessel and blood exits the body part through a venous vessel.

35. The method of claim 26, wherein the blood inflow vessel comprises an arterial vessel and blood outflow vessel comprises a lymphatic vessel, and wherein the blood enters the body part through the lymphatic vessel and a venous vessel and blood exits the body part through the arterial vessel.

36. The method of claim 26, wherein the body part comprises the liver and blood enters the liver through the hepatic veins and blood exits the liver through the hepatic artery and portal vein.

37. The method of claim 26, wherein the body part comprises the lungs and blood enters the lungs through the pulmonary veins and blood exits the lungs through the pulmonary arteries.

38. A method for switching blood flow in an arterial-venous system, comprising:

forming a first blockage in a blood inflow vessel that delivers blood to a body part to prevent blood flow between a distal side of the first blockage in fluid communication with the body part and a proximal side of the first blockage blocked from communication with the body part;

forming a second blockage in a blood outflow vessel that drains blood from the body part to prevent blood flow between a distal side of the second blockage in fluid communication with the body part and a proximal side of the second blockage blocked from communication with the body part; and

redirecting blood from the proximal side of the first blockage into the distal side of the second blockage, and from the distal side of the first blockage into the proximal side of the second blockage such that blood flow through the body part is switched.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein forming the first blockage comprises positioning a first catheter within the blood inflow vessel and inflating a balloon on the first catheter to form the first blockage, and wherein forming the second blockage comprises positioning a second catheter within the blood outflow vessel and inflating a balloon on the second catheter to form the second blockage, and wherein the first and second catheters each include at least one lumen formed therein that redirects blood.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein blood flows from the body part into a first lumen of the first catheter and out of a second lumen of the second catheter and into the blood outflow vessel, and from the blood inflow vessel into a second lumen of the first catheter and out of a first lumen of the second catheter and into the body part.

41. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

forming a third blockage in a second blood inflow vessel that delivers blood to a body part to prevent blood flow between a distal side of the third blockage in fluid communication with the body part and a proximal side of the third blockage blocked from communication with the body part; and

forming a fourth blockage in a second blood outflow vessel that drains blood from the body part to prevent blood flow between a distal side of the fourth blockage in fluid communication with the body part and a proximal side of the fourth blockage blocked from communication with the body part.

42. The method of claim 38, further comprising activating a pumping mechanism to redirect blood flow.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein the blood inflow and outflow vessels comprise arterial and venous vessels.

44. The method of claim 38, wherein the body part comprises the brain and the blood inflow vessel comprises the carotid artery and the blood outflow vessel comprises the jugular vein.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the first blockage is formed by advancing a first catheter through the femoral artery to position a balloon on the first catheter within the carotid artery, and inflating the balloon to form the first blockage within the carotid artery, and the second blockage is formed by advancing a second catheter through the femoral vein to position a balloon on the second catheter within the jugular vein, and inflating the balloon to form the second blockage within the carotid artery.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein blood flowing from the heart and into the carotid artery on a proximal side of the first blockage flows through a first lumen in the first catheter and through a first lumen in the second catheter and is delivered to a distal side of the second blockage in the jugular vein such that the blood flows into the brain from the jugular vein, and wherein blood flowing from the brain and into the carotid artery on a distal side of the first blockage flows through a second lumen in the first catheter and through a second lumen in the second catheter and is delivered to a proximal side of the second blockage in the jugular vein such that the blood flows from the jugular vein toward the heart.

47. The method of claim 38, wherein the body part comprises the heart and the first and second blockages are formed such that blood flows from the left side of the heart to the right side of the heart.

48. The method of claim 38, wherein the body part comprises the heart and the first and second blockages are formed such that blood exits the heart through the coronary artery and enters the heart through the coronary sinus.

49. The method of claim 38, wherein the blood inflow vessel comprises an arterial vessel and the blood outflow vessel comprises a lymphatic vessel, and wherein the first and second blockages are formed such that blood enters the body part through the lymphatic vessel and blood exits the body part through a venous vessel.

50. The method of claim 38, wherein the blood inflow vessel comprises an arterial vessel and blood outflow vessel comprises a lymphatic vessel, and wherein the first and second blockages are formed such that blood enters the body part through the lymphatic vessel and a venous vessel and blood exits the body part through the arterial vessel.

51. The method of claim 38, wherein the body part comprises the liver and the first and second blockages are formed such that blood enters the liver through the hepatic veins and blood exits the liver through the hepatic artery and portal vein.

52. The method of claim 38, wherein the body part comprises the lungs and the first and second blockages are formed such that blood enters the lungs through the pulmonary veins and blood exits the lungs through the pulmonary arteries.

53. A method for switching blood flow, comprising:

forming a blockage in an artery, wherein blood normally flows toward the blockage on a first side of the blockage and blood normally flows away from the blockage on a second side of the blockage;

forming a blockage in a vein, wherein blood flows toward the blockage on a first side of the blockage and blood flows away from the blockage on a second side of the blockage;

delivering blood from the first side of the blockage in the artery to the first side of the blockage in the vein and delivering blood from the second side of the blockage in the artery to the second side of the blockage in the vein such that blood flow on the second side of the artery and the first side of the vein is switched to flow toward the blockage on the second side of the artery and to flow away from the blockage on the first side of the vein.