Transluminal thrombectomy apparatus

• US 5,695,507 A
• Filed: 03/18/1996
• Issued: 12/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Corporation Northwest Technology Center Inc.
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Corporation Northwest Technology Center Inc.
• Inventors: Gordon, Lucas S., Auth, David C., Clement, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): RASCHE, PATRICK WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US08/617,259
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 606/159, 606/170, 606/180, 604/96
• US Class Current: 606/159
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22031 Gripping instruments, e.g. forceps, for removing or smashing calculi A61B17/221 takes precedence
• 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 17/320783 through side-hole, e.g. sliding or rotating cutter inside catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22084 stone- or thrombus-dissolving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320733 with a flexible cutting or scraping element, e.g. with a whip-like distal filament member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0183 Rapid exchange or monorail catheters

Abstract

The invention is an apparatus for breaking up a thrombus by introducing a tating core wire into the thrombus whereby the fibrin of the thrombus will be withdrawn from the thrombus into the rotating core wire, thereby breaking up the network of the thrombus which prevents blood flow. The apparatus includes a drive shaft housing which can be used to withdraw fluid from the area of the thrombus or to introduce medicines, such as streptokinase which will further break up the thrombus or other chemicals such as contrast agents for visualizing the vascular anatomy. The apparatus also includes a shaft housing which is provided with an expanded catheter funnel at the distal end and a venturi insert immediately proximal to the distal end. The apparatus further includes a prime mover which, in addition to rotating the drive shaft, allows for axial motion of the drive shaft relative to the drive shaft housing.

Claims

1. A transluminal thrombectomy apparatus comprising:

(a) a flexible catheter with proximal and distal ends and defining first and second elongated lumens each having an axis, the axis of each of said elongated lumens being spaced apart, said first lumen having an open proximal end, a closed distal end, a lateral opening proximal to its closed distal end and said second lumen having open proximal and distal ends;

(b) a flexible, shaped wire extending through said first lumen and having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the shaped wire extending distally to at least the lateral opening in said first lumen;

(c) a drive means to which the proximal end of the shaped wire is attached;

(d) suction means attached to the proximal end of said catheter and in communication with said first lumen; and

(e) a guidewire with proximal and distal ends extending through said second lumen, the distal end of the guidewire extending distally of the distal end of said second lumen and the proximal end of the guidewire extending proximally of the proximal end of said second lumen.

2. The transluminal thrombectomy apparatus of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the shaped wire extends distally to the distal end of the first lumen.

3. The transluminal thrombectomy apparatus of claim 1, wherein said shaped wire is a helical coil.

4. The transluminal thrombectomy apparatus of claim 3, wherein said helical coil is comprised of a metal resistant to corrosion in aqueous solutions.

5. The transluminal thrombectomy apparatus of claim 3, wherein said helical coil is comprised of radiopaque material.

6. The transluminal thrombectomy apparatus of claim 3, wherein the pitch of said helical coil is from about 1 to 8 times the mean diameter of said helical coil.

7. The transluminal thrombectomy apparatus of claim 6, wherein the pitch of said helical coil is about 4 times the mean diameter of said helical coil.

8. The transluminal thrombectomy apparatus of claim 1, wherein said drive means includes a drive shaft means and a seal means, said drive shaft means extending through said seal means and connecting to said shaped wire, said seal means being adapted to permit rotational, axial, or rotational and axial movement of said drive shaft.

9. The transluminal thrombectomy apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said catheter is made of a radiopaque material.

10. The transluminal thrombectomy apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second lumen is shorter than said first lumen and wherein the distal end of the second lumen is located adjacent the distal end of said catheter and the proximal end of the second lumen is located a substantial distance distal to the proximal end of said catheter.

11. The transluminal thrombectomy apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shaped wire is capable of being driven mechanically either proximally or distally, either synchronously with rotation or without.

12. The transluminal thrombectomy apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shaped wire is capable of being driven mechanically proximally and distally in an axial oscillatory fashion with a predetermined excursion amplitude either with or without simultaneous rotation.

13. A transluminal thrombectomy apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drive is capable of both rotating and oscillating.

14. A transluminal thrombectomy apparatus according to claim 1, whereby thrombus is drawn into the lateral opening by the movement of the shaped wire.

15. A transluminal thrombectomy apparatus according to claim 1, whereby thrombus is drawn into the lateral opening by vacuum created by the suction means.

16. A transluminal thrombectomy apparatus according to claim 1, whereby thrombus is drawn into the lateral opening by a combination of the movement of the shaped wire and vacuum created by the suction means.

17. A transluminal thrombectomy apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drive means is capable of rotating the shaped wire.

18. A transluminal thrombectomy apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drive means is capable of oscillating the shaped wire.