Method and apparatus for removing blood clots and other objects
First Claim
1. An apparatus for removing objects from tubular structures in the human body comprising:
- a) a catheter having a longitudinal axis, a proximal portion and a distal portion;
b) said catheter having an inflation lumen extending longitudinally and at least partially therethrough with ports in the proximal and distal portions of the catheter;
c) an inflatable cuff having an inflation space, said cuff permanently attached near the distal portion of said catheter, said inflation space being in communication with the distal inflation lumen port;
d) means for inflating and deflating the cuff with inflation material;
e) a pouch attached to the inflatable cuff for deployment when said cuffs inflated so that objects may be received within said pouch; and
f) a filament disposed in the inflation space of the cuff, said filament having a portion extending out of the proximal portion of the catheter so that said cuff may be cinched and said pouch closed in a purse string fashion to capture objects within said pouch for removal from the human body.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter has a central lumen so that it may be positioned by a guidewire within a tubular structure of the human body. The catheter has attached to its distal end an inflatable cuff featuring an inflation space with a ring-like cross section. A pouch is circumferentially attached to the cuff The catheter features an inflation lumen that is in communication with the inflatable cuff. The proximal port of the inflation lumen receives a syringe so that the cuff may be inflated when the cuff and pouch are positioned within a tubular structure. A filament passes through the inflation space of the cuff and the inflation lumen and exits the proximal port of the inflation lumen. As a result, the cuff may be cinched so that the pouch is closed in a purse-string fashion to capture an object in the tubular structure. The object may then be removed from the patient'"'"'s body.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus for removing objects from tubular structures in the human body comprising:
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a) a catheter having a longitudinal axis, a proximal portion and a distal portion; b) said catheter having an inflation lumen extending longitudinally and at least partially therethrough with ports in the proximal and distal portions of the catheter; c) an inflatable cuff having an inflation space, said cuff permanently attached near the distal portion of said catheter, said inflation space being in communication with the distal inflation lumen port; d) means for inflating and deflating the cuff with inflation material; e) a pouch attached to the inflatable cuff for deployment when said cuffs inflated so that objects may be received within said pouch; and f) a filament disposed in the inflation space of the cuff, said filament having a portion extending out of the proximal portion of the catheter so that said cuff may be cinched and said pouch closed in a purse string fashion to capture objects within said pouch for removal from the human body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for removing objects from tubular structures in the human body comprising:
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a) a catheter having a longitudinal axis, a proximal portion and a distal portion; b) said catheter having an inflation lumen extending longitudinally and at least partially therethrough with ports in the proximal and distal portions of the catheter; c) an inflatable cuff having an inflation space, said cuff attached near the distal portion of said catheter, the inflation space of said cuff being in communication with the inflation lumen; d) means for inflating and deflating the cuff with inflation material via the proximal inflation lumen port; e) a pouch attached to the inflatable cuff for deployment when said cuff is inflated so that said objects may be received within said pouch; and f) a filament disposed within the inflation lumen and the inflation space of the cuff, said filament having a portion extending out of said proximal inflation lumen port of said catheter so that said cuff may be cinched and said pouch closed in a purse-string fashion to capture objects within said pouch for removal from the human body. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for removing objects from tubular structures in the human body comprising the steps of:
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a) inserting a catheter with a collapsed, inflatable cuff into the tubular structure, said inflatable cuff having a pouch attached thereto; b) inflating said cuff so that the pouch spans the tubular structure; c) moving said catheter so that the object to be removed is received in said pouch; d) deflating said cuff; e) cinching said cuff so that said pouch is closed with the object to be removed captured inside; and f) withdrawing said catheter, cuff and pouch from the tubular structure. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification