INTRACRANIAL BLOOD VESSEL DILATION DEVICE
First Claim
1. A method for re-establishing a blood flow channel in a blocked or constricted portion of an affected vessel within a patient'"'"'s body, the method comprising:
- selecting at least a first blood vessel dilation device including an elongated microwire having a expandable segment configured to transition from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, the expandable segment comprising at least two struts having a configuration allowing blood flow through the vessel and a pre-set outer diameter substantially equal to or less than an inner diameter of the vessel;
advancing a delivery catheter including at least one lumen to a position within the blocked or constricted portion of the vessel;
delivering the first blood vessel dilation device through the delivery catheter lumen to the blocked or constricted portion of the vessel, wherein the delivery catheter lumen is configured to retain the expandable segment in the collapsed configuration during delivery;
transitioning the expandable segment from the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration to dilate the blocked or constricted portion of the affected vessel;
evaluating blood flow through the vessel;
collapsing the expandable segment; and
removing the first blood vessel dilating device from the patient'"'"'s body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of treating cerebral vasospasm includes delivering at least a first blood vessel including an expandable segment to a position within a blocked or constricted portion of a vessel and transitioning the expandable segment from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration to dilate the vessel and to restore adequate blood flow through the vessel. The expandable segment has a pre-set outer diameter substantially equal to or less than an inner diameter of the vessel. Additionally, the expandable segment is configured to expand with a minimal amount of radial force necessary to contact and expand the inner walls of the vessel. After dilation of the vessel, the device is removed from the patient'"'"'s body. If necessary, additional blood vessel dilation devices each including an expandable segment having a pre-set outer diameter greater than the previous device'"'"'s expandable segment can be used in order of increasing pre-set outer diameter of the expanded segment to further dilate the blocked or constricted portion of the vessel and restore blood flow through the vessel. Once adequate blood flow through the vessel has been restored, the blood vessel dilation device is withdrawn.
41 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for re-establishing a blood flow channel in a blocked or constricted portion of an affected vessel within a patient'"'"'s body, the method comprising:
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selecting at least a first blood vessel dilation device including an elongated microwire having a expandable segment configured to transition from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, the expandable segment comprising at least two struts having a configuration allowing blood flow through the vessel and a pre-set outer diameter substantially equal to or less than an inner diameter of the vessel; advancing a delivery catheter including at least one lumen to a position within the blocked or constricted portion of the vessel; delivering the first blood vessel dilation device through the delivery catheter lumen to the blocked or constricted portion of the vessel, wherein the delivery catheter lumen is configured to retain the expandable segment in the collapsed configuration during delivery; transitioning the expandable segment from the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration to dilate the blocked or constricted portion of the affected vessel; evaluating blood flow through the vessel; collapsing the expandable segment; and removing the first blood vessel dilating device from the patient'"'"'s body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of dilating a blocked or constricted portion of an affected vessel within a patient'"'"'s body, the method comprising:
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delivering a blood vessel dilation device to the blocked or constricted portion of the blood vessel, the blood vessel dilation device comprising an elongated microwire including an expandable segment having a distal end and comprising at least two struts having a configuration for allowing blood flow through the vessel, and a tether coupled to the distal end of the expandable segment; moving the tether at least a first pre-determined distance in a proximal direction to expand the expandable segment to a first pre-set outer diameter to dilate the blocked or constricted portion of the vessel; and evaluating blood flow through the vessel. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A blood vessel dilation device for dilating a blocked or constricted portion of a vessel in a patient'"'"'s body, the device comprising:
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an elongated microwire having a proximal end and a distal end and including a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end and an expandable segment configured to transition from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, the expandable segment comprising at least two struts having a configuration allowing blood flow through the vessel extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the expandable segment and a maximum pre-set outer diameter substantially equal to or less than an inner diameter of the vessel; a tether coupled to the distal end of the expandable segment and extending within the lumen to a distance beyond the proximal end of the microwire; and a handle portion coupled to the proximal end of the microwire and including an incremental adjustment feature coupled to a proximal end of the tether for controllably expanding the expandable segment. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification