THROMBECTOMY DEVICE WITH DISTAL PROTECTION

• US 20140121672A1
• Filed: 10/31/2012
• Published: 05/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: FOLK, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 9,456,834 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/127
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/221 Gripping devices in the form of loops or baskets for gripping calculi or similar types of obstructions surgical snare instruments A61B17/32056
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22034 for gripping the obstruction or the tissue part from inside
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2212 having a closed distal end, e.g. a loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/013 Distal protection devices, i.e. devices placed distally in combination with another endovascular procedure, e.g. angioplasty or stenting
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/016 made from wire-like elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/018 made from tubes or sheets of material, e.g. by etching or laser-cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak

Abstract

A vascular device is provided that includes a frame attached to a distal end of a delivery wire. The frame includes a cylindrical body formed of a plurality of interconnecting members, the interconnecting members being configured to exert a first radial force against an inner wall of an anatomical lumen. The vascular device further includes a protector having a proximal end, a distal end, and a profile that tapers distally from a proximal cross-sectional dimension to a reduced distal cross-sectional dimension. The protector is coupled to a distal end of the frame via a plurality of connecting members, each of the members extending from a distal end of a corresponding interconnecting member and converging distally to form a taper. The connecting members are configured to exert a second radial force, less than the first radial force, against the inner wall of the lumen.

Claims

1. A vascular device, comprising:

a frame attached to a distal end of a delivery wire, the frame comprising a cylindrical body formed of a plurality of interconnecting members, the interconnecting members being configured to exert a first radial force against an inner wall of an anatomical lumen; and

a protector having a proximal end, a distal end, and a profile that tapers distally from a proximal cross-sectional dimension to a reduced distal cross-sectional dimension, the protector being coupled to a distal end of the frame via a plurality of connecting members, each of the members extending from a distal end of a corresponding interconnecting member and converging distally to form a taper, the connecting members being configured to exert a second radial force, less than the first radial force, against the inner wall of the lumen.

2. The vascular device of claim 1, wherein a proximal portion of the plurality of connecting members form a greater cross-sectional dimension than does the cylindrical body.

3. The vascular device of claim 1, wherein a proximal end of the connecting members tapers proximally radially inward without converging to a central longitudinal axis of the frame.

4. The vascular device of claim 1, wherein each of the connecting members comprise a curve having a positive slope, negative slope, and an apex.

5. The vascular device of claim 4, wherein the positive and negative slopes are configured to facilitate deflection of the protector as the protector is advanced in the anatomical lumen.

6. The vascular device of claim 4, wherein the interconnecting members of the frame radially expand to a first diameter, and the connecting members radially expand to a second diameter, greater than the first diameter, wherein the second diameter is formed of apexes of each of the connecting members.

7. The vascular device of claim 1, wherein each of the connecting members comprise a pivot, the pivot having a reduced cross section that permits the protector to radially expand independent of a radial expansion of the frame.

8. The vascular device of claim 1, wherein the protector is coupled to the frame by a chain comprising a plurality of links that permit the protector to radially expand independently of a radial expansion of the frame.

9. The vascular device of claim 8, wherein the links are non-ridgidly joined to each other so that the chain is highly laterally flexible but strong in longitudinal tension.

10. The vascular device of claim 8, wherein the chain is micromachined.

11. The vascular device of claim 1, wherein the protector further comprises a mesh.

12. The vascular device of claim 11, wherein the mesh comprises a plurality of pores sized such that the mesh is configured to capture emboli without preventing blood flow past the mesh.

13. The vascular device of claim 12, wherein the plurality of pores each have a pore size of about 70-200 μ

m.

14. The vascular device of claim 11, wherein the protector further comprises a collapsible hoop coupled to the mesh and the plurality of connecting members and disposed substantially perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis of the frame.

15. The vascular device of claim 14, wherein the hoop is coupled to the connecting members at a radial apex of the connecting members.

16. The vascular device of claim 11;

wherein each of the connecting members comprise a curvature providing a sloped surface proximal of the mesh, the sloped surface being configured to assist the protector in conforming to the inner wall of the anatomical lumen as the vascular device is advanced in the lumen.

17. A method for restricting downstream travel of secondary emboli during thrombus retrieval, the method comprising:

advancing a microcatheter through a distal end of a guide catheter positioned in an anatomical lumen;

advancing a vascular device through the microcatheter such that a distal portion of the device is located adjacent a treatment site in the lumen, the device comprising;

a frame attached to a distal end of a delivery wire, the frame comprising a cylindrical body formed of a plurality of interconnecting members, the interconnecting members being configured to exert a first radial force against an inner wall of the lumen; and

a protector coupled to a distal end of the frame via a plurality of connecting members, each of the members extending from a distal end of a corresponding interconnecting member and converging distally to form a taper, the connecting members being configured to exert a second radial force, less than the first radial force, against the inner wall of the lumen;

withdrawing the microcatheter relative to the device to expose the device, thereby permitting the frame to expand against a length of the thrombus and engage the thrombus;

retrieving the thrombus by moving the device relative to the guide catheter until the guide catheter covers a portion of the frame; and

restricting downstream travel of secondary emboli during the expanding of the frame and the retrieval of the thrombus by capturing the secondary emboli in the protector.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the connecting members comprise a sloped surface that permits the protector to conform to the inner wall of the lumen as the device is moved in the lumen.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the sloped surface comprises a curve having a positive slope, negative slope, and an apex.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising minimizing gaps from forming between the inner wall of the lumen and the protector by radially expanding the protector to a diameter larger than a greatest diameter of the frame.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the protector radially expands independent of the frame.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the protector is coupled to the frame by a chain.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the chain comprises a plurality of links that are non-ridgidly joined to each other.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the restricting downstream travel comprises capturing the secondary emboli with a mesh attached to the protector, the mesh comprising a plurality of pores sized to capture the secondary emboli without preventing blood flow in the lumen past the protector.

25. The method of claim 17, further comprising collapsing the protector by moving the device relative to the guide catheter until the guide catheter covers a portion of the protector, wherein the guide catheter deflects the connecting members, thereby causing the protector to collapse.