THROMBUS REMOVAL APPARATUS

• US 20140214059A1
• Filed: 03/06/2013
• Published: 07/31/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies, LLC (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies, LLC (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Andersen, Torben Peter
• Granted Patent: US 9,629,654 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/159
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22012 in direct contact with, or very close to, the obstruction or concrement for removing obstructions in blood vessels by laser A61B18/245
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3207 Atherectomy devices working by cutting or abrading; Similar devices specially adapted for non-vascular obstructions A61B17/32037 takes precedence; endoscopic cutting instruments A61B17/320016
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320758 with a rotating cutting instrument, e.g. motor driven A61B17/320725, A61B17/32075 and A61B17/320783 take precedence; for removing intra-ocular material A61F9/00763; endoscopic rotatable cutting instruments A61B17/32002
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00415 having power generation near the working tip of the tool
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22021 electric leads passing through the catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320028 with reciprocating movements

Abstract

A thrombus removal apparatus (10) includes a catheter (12) having at its distal end (14) a solenoid coil section (16) within which there is disposed a piercing element (20) made of electromagnetic material. Within the solenoid coil section (16) there is provided a solenoid coil (26) which can be powered to generate an electromagnetic field which causes the piercing element (20) to reciprocate into and out of the coil section (16), in practice to pierce into and fragment a thrombus disposed in a patient'"'"'s vessel. An aspiration unit may be provided for aspirating thrombus fragments into the assembly (10) for removal from the patient'"'"'s vasculature. The apparatus (10) is able to remove dense thrombus material from within a patient, which cannot be otherwise removed by means of thrombolytic agents.

Claims

1. Thrombus removal apparatus including a catheter having a distal end, a proximal end and an internal lumen;

a solenoid coil of conductive material located at or proximate the distal end of the catheter;

electrical couplings being connected to the coil; and

a piercing element disposed in the internal lumen at the distal end of the catheter;

the piercing element being movable in the catheter by application of electrical energy to the solenoid coil.

2. Thrombus removal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the piercing element is hollow.

3. Thrombus removal apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the piercing element includes a lumen extending therethrough coaxial with a lumen of the catheter.

4. Thrombus removal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the piercing element includes spaced piercing points.

5. Thrombus removal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the piercing element is formed from a ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material.

6. Thrombus removal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the piercing element is formed from iron, an iron alloy or a rare earth metal or alloy.

7. Thrombus removal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the piercing element is encapsulated in a biocompatible material.

8. Thrombus removal apparatus according to claim 1, including a tether coupled to the piercing unit, the tether being attached to the catheter or other part of the apparatus, the tether allowing limited movement of the piercing element in the catheter.

9. Thrombus removal apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the tether is a wire or catheter.

10. Thrombus removal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the catheter is an aspiration catheter and the apparatus includes an aspiration unit connectable to the catheter.

11. Thrombus removal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the solenoid coil is disposed within a coil section fitted to or disposed at the distal end of the catheter.

12. Thrombus removal apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the coil section is integral with the catheter.

13. Thrombus removal apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the coil section is bonded to the distal end of the catheter.

14. Thrombus removal apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the coil section is bonded by one of:

a bonding agent, laser welding or friction welding.

15. Thrombus removal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coil section includes one or more of the components forming the catheter.

16. Thrombus removal apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the coil is wound around a part of the distal end of the catheter.

17. Thrombus removal apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the solenoid coil is disposed within a wall of the catheter.

18. Thrombus removal apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the catheter is provided with inner and outer catheter layers and the solenoid coil is sandwiched within the inner and outer catheter layers.

19. Thrombus removal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the solenoid coil is formed as a plurality of layers of coil.

20. Thrombus removal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the solenoid coil is provided with electrical insulation.