FLEXIBLE MEMBER FOR RESISTING RETROGRADE FLOW

• US 20160193457A1
• Filed: 01/05/2016
• Published: 07/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Arnholt, Devon N., Fettig, Jonathan P., Eggert, Joel T.
• Granted Patent: US 10,238,791 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/01 Filters implantable into blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0105 Open ended, i.e. legs gathered only at one side
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0004 having two or more concentrically arranged tubes for forming a concentric catheter system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0096 being laterally outward extensions or tools, e.g. hooks or fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/2433 Valve comprising a resilient or deformable element, e.g. flap valve, deformable disc
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0082 Catheter tip comprising a tool
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/04 in the body, e.g. expansible A61M25/10, A61M16/0488 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/005 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14 Infusion devices, e.g. infusing by gravity; Blood infusion; Accessories therefor

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a valve structure that comprises a flexible structure having a distal portion configured for attachment to a first member and a proximal portion configured for attachment to a second member. The flexible structure is configured such that when the first member is extended distally relative to the second member, the flexible structure adopts a reduced width profile and such that when the first member is retracted proximally relative to the second member to a point of maximal retraction, the flexible structure adopts an expanded width profile, which is more resistant to deformation due to fluid pressure in a proximal direction than it is to deformation due to fluid pressure in a distal direction. The present disclosure is also directed to devices and methods pertaining to such a valve structure.

Claims

1. A device configured for insertion in a lumen, said device comprising:

(a) an outer elongated member, (b) an inner elongated member disposed within the outer elongated member and axially movable with respect to the outer elongated member, and (c) a flexible structure having a distal portion attached to the inner elongated member and a proximal portion attached to the outer elongated member and configured such that when the inner elongated member is extended distally relative to the outer elongated member, the flexible structure adopts a reduced width profile and such that when the inner elongated member is retracted proximally relative to the outer elongated member to a point of maximal retraction, the flexible structure adopts an expanded width profile that is more resistant to deformation due to fluid pressure in a proximal direction than it is to deformation due to fluid pressure in a distal direction.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a stop to establish the point of maximal retraction.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein a resting shape of the flexible structure has a width that increases from a proximal end of the flexible structure towards a center of the flexible structure.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein a resting shape of the flexible structure comprises a first partial conical, partial pyramidal or partial spheroidal structure which has a width that increases from a proximal end of the flexible structure toward a center of the flexible structure.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the proximal portion comprises a free proximal portion and an attached proximal portion that is attached to the outer elongated member, and wherein the distal portion comprises a free distal portion and an attached proximal portion that is attached to the inner elongated member.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein when the inner elongated member is at the point of maximal retraction, the free proximal portion has a width that increases in a proximal-to-distal direction.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein when the inner elongated member is at the point of maximal retraction, the free proximal portion comprises a first partial conical, partial pyramidal or partial spheroidal structure which has a width that increases in a proximal-to-distal direction.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the flexible structure further comprises a free distal portion and wherein a resting shape of the flexible structure is such that the free distal portion comprises a second partial conical, partial pyramidal, or partial spheroidal structure which has a width that increases in a distal-to-proximal direction.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein upon retraction of the inner elongated member proximally relative to the outer elongated member, the second partial conical, partial pyramidal or partial spheroidal structure at least partially inverts and at least partially nests within the first partial conical, partial pyramidal or partial spheroidal structure

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the free proximal portion comprises a first conical frustum.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the free distal portion comprises a second conical frustum.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the flexible member has a resting shape in which a width of the first conical frustum increases in a proximal-to-distal direction and in which a width of the second conical frustum increases in a distal-to-proximal direction.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein when the inner elongated member is retracted to the point of maximal retraction, the second conical frustum has a configuration in which the width of the second conical frustum increases in a proximal-to-distal direction and in which the second conical frustum is at least partially nested within the first conical frustum.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the second conical frustum is provided with a plurality of apertures thereby rendering the second conical frustum more flexible than the first conical frustum.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the apertures in the distal portion form a plurality of elongated members that are positioned between fixed distal portion and the free proximal portion.

16. The device of claim 11, wherein the second conical frustum is thinner than the first conical frustum thereby rendering the second conical frustum more flexible than the first conical frustum.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a catheter.

18. A method comprising (a) inserting a device into a lumen , the device comprising:

(i) an outer elongated member, (ii) an inner elongated member disposed within the outer elongated member and axially movable with respect to the outer elongated member, and (iii) a flexible structure having a distal portion attached to the inner elongated member and a proximal portion attached to the outer elongated member and configured such that when the inner elongated member is extended distally relative to the outer elongated member, the flexible structure adopts a reduced width profile and such that when the inner elongated member is retracted proximally relative to the outer elongated member to a point of maximal retraction, the flexible structure adopts an expanded width profile that is more resistant to deformation due to fluid pressure in a proximal direction than it is to deformation due to fluid pressure in a distal direction, said device being inserted into the lumen while the flexible structure is in the reduced width profile, (b) retracting the inner elongated member proximally relative to the outer elongated member to the point of maximal retraction, such that the flexible structure adopts the expanded width profile which engages an inner surface of the lumen and creates a check valve in which the expanded width profile is more resistant to deformation due to fluid pressure in the proximal direction than it is to deformation due to fluid pressure in the distal direction.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the lumen is a blood vessel, wherein the device is a catheter, and wherein a therapeutic agent is delivered from the catheter at a point that is distal to the flexible member.

20. A valve structure comprising a flexible structure having a distal portion configured for attachment to a first member and a proximal portion configured for attachment to a second member, wherein the flexible structure is configured such that when the first member is extended distally relative to the second member, the flexible structure adopts a reduced width profile and such that when the first member is retracted proximally relative to the second member to a point of maximal retraction, the flexible structure adopts an expanded width profile that is more resistant to deformation due to fluid pressure in a proximal direction than it is to deformation due to fluid pressure in a distal direction.