Cannula with associated filter and methods of use during cardiac surgery

• US 5,989,281 A
• Filed: 04/16/1997
• Issued: 11/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
• Original Assignee: Embol X Inc (Edwards Lifesciences Corporation)
• Inventors: Barbut, Denise, Root, Jonathan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRUONG, KEVIN THAO
• Application Number:
  US08/842,727
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 606/200, 606/191, 606/195, 606/198, 128/898, 604/96
• US Class Current: 606/200
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/011 Instruments for their placement or removal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/018 made from tubes or sheets of material, e.g. by etching or laser-cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0006 circular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0067 conical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0003 having an inflatable pocket filled with fluid, e.g. liquid or gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/127 Aorta

Abstract

Devices and methods for filtering blood. The devices generally comprise: a mesh for filtering blood flowing within a blood vessel, particularly within an artery such as the aorta; a structure adapted to open and close the mesh within the blood vessel; and a means to actuate the structure. The methods generally include the following steps: introducing a mesh into a blood vessel to entrap embolic material; adjusting the mesh, if necessary, during the course of filtration; and removing the mesh and the entrapped foreign matter from the blood vessel. Additionally, visualization techniques are used to ensure effective filtration.

Claims

1. A method for protecting a patient from embolization during cardiopulmonary bypass, comprising the steps of:

providing a cannula having a lumen, said cannula adapted to receive a separately insertable blood filter device having a filter adapted to operate at a site within the aorta of the patient, and to be removed thereafter;

introducing the cannula into the patient'"'"'s aorta;

introducing the blood filter device through said cannula into the patient'"'"'s aorta;

deploying the filter at the site within the patient'"'"'s aorta;

blocking the aorta in a region upstream of the site within the patient'"'"'s aorta; and

removing the blood filter device from the patient'"'"'s aorta after the step of blocking the aorta,

wherein embolic material is generated and filtered before the blood filter device is removed from the patient'"'"'s aorta.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the filter is deployed before the step of blocking the aorta.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of unblocking the aorta, and wherein the filter is deployed before the step of unblocking the aorta.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the blood filter device is introduced through the lumen of said cannula.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the embolic material comprises atheromatous material.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the embolic material comprises gaseous bubbles.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of blocking the aorta includes clamping the aorta.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of performing coronary artery bypass surgery on the patient.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the lumen of the cannula delivers blood to the aorta during cardiopulmonary bypass.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the filter is deployed in the ascending aorta between the heart and carotid arteries.

11. A method for protecting a patient from embolization during cardiopulmonary bypass, comprising the steps of:

providing a cannula having a lumen, said cannula adapted to receive a separately insertable blood filter device having a filter adapted to operate at a site within the aorta of the patient, and to be removed thereafter;

introducing the cannula into the patient'"'"'s aorta;

introducing the blood filter device through said cannula into the patient'"'"'s aorta;

blocking the aorta in the region upstream of the site within the patient'"'"'s aorta;

deploying the filter at the site within the patient'"'"'s aorta;

unblocking the aorta; and

removing the blood filter device from the patient'"'"'s aorta after the step of unblocking the aorta,

wherein embolic material is generated and filtered before the blood filter device is removed from the patient'"'"'s aorta.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the filter is deployed before the step of blocking the aorta.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of blocking the aorta includes clamping the aorta.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the filter is deployed before the step of unblocking the aorta.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the blood filter device is introduced through the lumen of said cannula.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the embolic material comprises atheromatous material.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the embolic material comprises gaseous bubbles.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of performing coronary artery bypass surgery on the patient.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the lumen of the cannula delivers blood to the aorta during cardiopulmonary bypass.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the filter is deployed in the ascending aorta between the heart and carotid arteries.

21. A method for protecting a patient from embolization during cardiopulmonary bypass, comprising the steps of:

providing a cannula having a lumen, said cannula adapted to receive a separately insertable blood filter device having a filter adapted to operate at a site within the aorta of the patient, and to be removed thereafter;

introducing the cannula into the patient'"'"'s aorta;

introducing the blood filter device through said cannula into the patient'"'"'s aorta;

deploying the filter at the site within the patient'"'"'s aorta;

placing the patient on cardiopulmonary bypass;

manipulating the aorta or heart in a region upstream of the site within the patient'"'"'s aorta;

removing the patient from cardiopulmonary bypass; and

removing the blood filter device from the patient'"'"'s aorta after the step of manipulating the aorta,

wherein embolic material is generated and filtered before the blood filter device is removed from the patient'"'"'s aorta.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the filter is deployed before the step of manipulating the aorta.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the filter is deployed before the step of placing the patient on cardiopulmonary bypass.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of manipulating the aorta includes the step of blocking the aorta.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of manipulating the aorta includes the step of unblocking the aorta.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the blood filter device is introduced through the lumen of said cannula.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the embolic material comprises atheromatous material.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the embolic material comprises gaseous bubbles.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of blocking the aorta includes clamping the aorta.

30. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of performing coronary artery bypass surgery on the patient.

31. The method of claim 21, wherein the lumen of the cannula delivers blood to the aorta during cardiopulmonary bypass.

32. The method of claim 21, wherein the filter is deployed in the ascending aorta between the heart and carotid arteries.