Method for increasing blood flow in vessels

• US 5,843,165 A
• Filed: 10/18/1996
• Issued: 12/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Synectic Ventures III LLC (Synectic Asset Management, Inc.), Synectic Ventures II LLC (Synectic Asset Management, Inc.), Synectic Ventures I LLC (Synectic Asset Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Endovascular Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Plaia, Mark, Nordgren, Gregory N., Reger, Vincent A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Prebilic, Paul B.
• Application Number:
  US08/731,786
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1, 606/159, 606/191, 606/194, 606/195, 128/898
• US Class Current: 606/191
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00008 Vein tendon strippers tube strippers A61M1/83
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320725 with radially expandable cutting or abrading elements A61B17/32075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32075 Pullback cutting; combined forward and pullback cutting, e.g. with cutters at both sides of the plaque
• 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 2017/22051 with an inflatable part, e.g. balloon, for positioning, blocking, or immobilisation A61B2017/22048, A61B2017/3486 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320741 for stripping the intima or the internal plaque from a blood vessel, e.g. for endarterectomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/062 penetration depth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/06 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/848 having means for fixation to the vessel wall, e.g. barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/86 Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/954 for placing stents or stent-grafts in a bifurcation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/065 Y-shaped blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/903 Blood vessel

Abstract

A method of restoring lost blood flow capacity to an artery is disclosed. The artery is enlarged by enlarging the flow path of a plaque-ridden segment of the artery using a plaque-removing instrument. The instrument is introduced through a small arteriotomy located remote from the segment. Next, a vascular lining is inserted through the small arteriotomy to a position co-extensive with the segment where the lining is secured.

Claims

1. A low invasive method of restoring lost blood flow capacity to an artery of a medical patient, comprising the steps of:

enlarging the flow path size of a plaque-ridden segment of an artery using a plaquere-moving instrument introduced through a small arteriotomy located remote from the segment;

clamping a vascular lining to a clamping instrument such that the lining is compressively secured by the clamping instrument and at least a substantial portion of an exterior surface of the lining is exposed apart from the clamping instrument;

thereafter jointly inserting the exposed lining and the clamping instrument into the artery through the remote small arteriotomy and thence to a position at least in part co-extensive with a portion of the segment;

securing the vascular lining within said artery at said position.

2. A low invasive method according to claim 1 wherein the enlarging step comprises enlarging the flow path within the artery by performing plaquere-moving angioplasty remote from the small arteriotomy.

3. A low invasive method according to claim 1 wherein the enlarging step comprises first loosening, remote from the small arteriotomy, and thereafter removing plaque through the small remote arteriotomy.

4. A low invasive method according to claim 1 wherein the enlarging step comprises cutting plaque remote from the small arteriotomy.

5. A low invasive method according to claim 1 wherein the enlarging step comprises chipping plaque remote from the small arteriotomy.

6. A low invasive method according to claim 1 wherein the enlarging step comprises grinding plaque remote from the small arteriotomy.

7. A low invasive method according to claim 1 wherein the enlarging step comprises applying laser energy to the plaque remote from the small arteriotomy.

9. A low invasive method according to claim 1 wherein the enlarging step comprises applying ultrasound energy to disconnect plaque from the segment remote from the small arteriotomy.

10. A low invasive method according to claim 1 wherein the enlarging step comprises excising pieces of plaque, obtained at the segment remote from the arteriotomy, from the artery through the small arteriotomy.

11. A low invasive method according to claim 1 wherein the enlarging step comprises grasping and tearing pieces of plaque from the artery remote from the small arteriotomy.

12. A low invasive method according to claim 1 wherein the enlarging step comprises diametrally expanding the plaque-ridden segment of the artery remote from the small arteriotomy.

8. A low invasive method of restoring lost blood flow capacity to an artery of a medical patient, comprising the steps of:

providing a small access passageway into the artery;

enlarging the flow path size of a plaque-ridden segment of the artery comprising axially cutting longitudinally away from the passageway and removing both plaque and a portion of the interior of the artery through the passageway;

placing a vascular lining into the artery through the passageway to a location at least in part co-extensive with a portion of the segment;

securing the vascular lining within said artery at said location.