Catheter for removal of clots in blood vessels
First Claim
1. A method of removing a thrombus from a blood vessel, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) advancing a two-part catheter to a position proximal to the thrombus, the two-part catheter including a delivery catheter and a receiving catheter, both the delivery catheter and the receiving catheters having distal ends, both the delivery catheter and the receiving catheter having balloons at their distal ends, the delivery catheter and receiving catheter being separable from each other, the balloon of the receiving catheter being permanently positioned at the distal end of the receiving catheter so that the balloon of the receiving catheter does not move longitudinally relative to the receiving catheter,b) advancing the delivery catheter to a position distal to the thrombus,c) inflating the balloons such that both balloons occupy substantially an entire cross-sectional area of the vessel,d) withdrawing the delivery catheter so as to pull the thrombus into the inflated balloon of the receiving catheter, wherein the thrombus is substantially encapsulated between the balloons of the delivery catheter and the receiving catheter,e) at least partially deflating the balloons, andf) removing the delivery catheter and the receiving catheter, with both balloons, from the vessel, the removing step being performed without inserting the delivery catheter and the receiving catheter into any other catheter.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A thrombectomy catheter includes a delivery catheter and a receiving catheter, both having balloons at their distal ends. The balloons are made of a material which, when inflated, assumes the shape of a receptacle. The thrombectomy catheter is inserted, as a unit, into a vessel, and advanced to the vicinity of a clot. Then, the delivery catheter is advanced, while the receiving catheter remains fixed, until the balloons of the two catheters are disposed on opposite sides of the clot. The balloons are inflated to occupy substantially the entire cross-section of the vessel, and the delivery catheter is withdrawn, causing its balloon to draw the clot into the receiving catheter. The clot therefore becomes encased between the balloons. The balloons are partially deflated, and the catheters are withdrawn as a unit, bringing with them the encased clot material.
206 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A method of removing a thrombus from a blood vessel, the method comprising the steps of:
-
a) advancing a two-part catheter to a position proximal to the thrombus, the two-part catheter including a delivery catheter and a receiving catheter, both the delivery catheter and the receiving catheters having distal ends, both the delivery catheter and the receiving catheter having balloons at their distal ends, the delivery catheter and receiving catheter being separable from each other, the balloon of the receiving catheter being permanently positioned at the distal end of the receiving catheter so that the balloon of the receiving catheter does not move longitudinally relative to the receiving catheter, b) advancing the delivery catheter to a position distal to the thrombus, c) inflating the balloons such that both balloons occupy substantially an entire cross-sectional area of the vessel, d) withdrawing the delivery catheter so as to pull the thrombus into the inflated balloon of the receiving catheter, wherein the thrombus is substantially encapsulated between the balloons of the delivery catheter and the receiving catheter, e) at least partially deflating the balloons, and f) removing the delivery catheter and the receiving catheter, with both balloons, from the vessel, the removing step being performed without inserting the delivery catheter and the receiving catheter into any other catheter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. A method of removing clot material from a blood vessel, the method comprising the steps of:
-
a) surrounding the clot material by a pair of uninflated balloons, b) inflating the balloons, c) moving one of the balloons within the vessel towards the clot material and towards the other balloon, so as to dislodge the clot material from the vessel, and so as to encase at least some of the clot material between the balloons, d) at least partially deflating the balloons, and e) withdrawing the pair of balloons, with the encased clot material, from the vessel, wherein one of the balloons is connected to a receiving catheter and wherein another of the balloons is connected to a delivery catheter, the receiving catheter having a distal end, wherein the balloon of the receiving catheter is permanently positioned at the distal end of the receiving catheter so that the balloon of the receiving catheter does not move longitudinally relative to the receiving catheter, and wherein step (e) comprises the step of withdrawing the delivery catheter and the receiving catheter from the vessel, the withdrawing step being performed without inserting the delivery catheter and the receiving catheter into any other catheter. - View Dependent Claims (5)
-
- 6. A device for removal of a thrombus in a vessel, the device comprising a delivery catheter and a receiving catheter, the delivery catheter and receiving catheters being provided as a unit but being separable from each other, both the delivery catheter and the receiving catheter having distal ends, the distal end of the delivery catheter having a balloon, the device including means for deflating the balloons, the balloon of the receiving catheter being permanently positioned at the distal end of the receiving catheter so that the balloon of the receiving catheter does not move longitudinally relative to the receiving catheter, wherein the balloon of the receiving catheter includes means for forming a cup-shaped receptacle when the balloon of the receiving catheter is inflated, and wherein the receiving catheter and the deflating means comprise means for withdrawing the balloon of the receiving catheter, from the vessel, without insertion of said balloon into any other catheter.
- 11. A device for removal of a thrombus in a vessel, the device comprising a delivery catheter and a receiving catheter, the delivery catheter being located inside and slidable relative to the receiving catheter, both catheters having distal ends, each catheter having a balloon at its distal end, the device including means for deflating the balloons, the balloon of the receiving catheter being permanently positioned at the distal end of the receiving catheter so that the balloon of the receiving catheter does not move longitudinally relative to the receiving catheter, wherein the balloon of the receiving catheter includes means for forming a cup-shaped receptacle when the balloon of the receiving catheter is inflated, and wherein the receiving catheter and the deflating means comprise means for withdrawing the balloon of the receiving catheter, from the vessel, without insertion of said balloon into any other catheter.
-
16. A device for removal of a thrombus in a vessel, the device comprising a delivery catheter and a receiving catheter, the delivery catheter and receiving catheters being provided as a unit but being separable from each other, both the delivery catheter and the receiving catheter having distal ends, the distal end of the delivery catheter having a balloon, the distal end of the receiving catheter having a balloon, wherein the balloon of the receiving catheter includes means for forming a cup-shaped receptacle when the balloon of the receiving catheter is inflated, wherein the delivery catheter and the receiving catheter are threaded over a single guide wire, and wherein the guide wire passes first through the receiving catheter, then out of the receiving catheter, and then into a distal end portion of the delivery catheter.
-
17. A device for removal of a thrombus in a vessel, the device comprising a delivery catheter and a receiving catheter, the delivery catheter being located inside and slidable relative to the receiving catheter, both catheters having distal ends, each catheter having a balloon at its distal end, wherein the balloon of the receiving catheter includes means for forming a cup-shaped receptacle when the balloon of the receiving catheter is inflated, wherein the delivery catheter and the receiving catheter are threaded over a single guide wire, and wherein the guide wire passes first through the receiving catheter, then out of the receiving catheter, and then into a distal end portion of the delivery catheter.
Specification