Through-wall catheter steering and positioning
First Claim
1. A method for controlling hemorrhage at a desired position in a vessel in an enclosed surgical arena, said method comprising the successive steps ofproviding a flexible catheter body configured for travel within said vessel and including an elongated tubular wall having a proximal end and a distal end, and having at least an inflation lumen and an optical fiber extending between said ends, said fiber being configured for coupling to receive light at the proximal end and guide it to the distal end, and said fiber being configured at said distal end as a beacon which emits said received light through a wall of the vessel as a precise position marker visible externally of a wall of the vessel for allowing positioning of said catheter distal end in the vessel, said catheter body further having an inflatable balloon secured to its distal end, said balloon being inflatable via said inflation lumen and being configured for travel with said flexible catheter along a blood vessel extending to said surgical arena, said inflation lumen having a distal opening to said inflatable balloon for providing a fluid for rapid inflation and deflation of said balloon,inserting said catheter body along the vessel,navigating said catheter body through said vessel by directly sensing the light emitted by said beacon externally of the vessel to determine a location where an inflation of said balloon occludes blood flow to said surgical arena, andinflating said balloon to occlude blood flow to said surgical arena, thereby controlling said hemorrhage.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of positioning a catheter, for example a balloon or treatment catheter. The catheter is inserted in a passage and sensed through the luminal wall to correctly determine its position. As applied to prevent hemorrhage during surgery the method involves inserting the catheter in a deflated configuration along a passage such as a blood vessel near to the operative site in a position determined by direct or video-assisted sensing from outside the passage. In the event a blood vessel is cut during surgery, the already-positioned catheter inflates a balloon to occlude the passage and stop blood flow into the injured site. In one aspect, a flow-directed catheter includes an inflatable balloon attached at its distal end and an optical fiber connected to one or more light emitting regions positioned at the tip or in the vicinity of the balloon. The light is divergent and is emitted at one or more points to provide beacons that are readily detected through the walls of a blood vessel and permit a direct determination of the exact location of the balloon within the vessel. Rather than a flow-directed balloon catheter, a drug-delivery or other catheter may be used. In that case the light emitting regions are located at or adjacent to one or more drug delivery ports or other active areas in the catheter. In another or further aspect, one or more magnetic elements are provided on the catheter, and an external magnet is used to feel and engage the catheter through the vessel wall, sense its position, steer and move it along branching vessels, and anchor the balloon in a desired position.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for controlling hemorrhage at a desired position in a vessel in an enclosed surgical arena, said method comprising the successive steps of
providing a flexible catheter body configured for travel within said vessel and including an elongated tubular wall having a proximal end and a distal end, and having at least an inflation lumen and an optical fiber extending between said ends, said fiber being configured for coupling to receive light at the proximal end and guide it to the distal end, and said fiber being configured at said distal end as a beacon which emits said received light through a wall of the vessel as a precise position marker visible externally of a wall of the vessel for allowing positioning of said catheter distal end in the vessel, said catheter body further having an inflatable balloon secured to its distal end, said balloon being inflatable via said inflation lumen and being configured for travel with said flexible catheter along a blood vessel extending to said surgical arena, said inflation lumen having a distal opening to said inflatable balloon for providing a fluid for rapid inflation and deflation of said balloon, inserting said catheter body along the vessel, navigating said catheter body through said vessel by directly sensing the light emitted by said beacon externally of the vessel to determine a location where an inflation of said balloon occludes blood flow to said surgical arena, and inflating said balloon to occlude blood flow to said surgical arena, thereby controlling said hemorrhage.
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11. A method for controlling hemorrhage at a position in a vessel in an enclosed surgical arena said method comprising the successive steps of
providing a flexible catheter having an inflatable balloon, securing to said balloon magnetic material for magnetic engagement and positioning of the balloon by manipulation of a magnet located outside the vessel, inserting said catheter along the vessel to a location where an inflation of said balloon occludes blood flow to said surgical arena, and inflating said balloon to occlude blood flow to said surgical arena to control the hemorrhage.
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19. A method for controlling hemorrhage in an enclosed surgical arena, such method comprising the steps of
inserting into a vessel extending to said surgical arena a balloon catheter, providing a directly sensible marker, selected from the group consisting of a magnetically engageable marker and a light emitting marker, on said catheter, directly sensing the marker carried by the catheter from outside the vessel, and positioning the balloon to a location where an inflation of said balloon occludes blood flow to a surgical arena, and inflating said balloon to occlude blood flow to the surgical arena.
Specification