Cannula with associated filter and methods of use

• US 6,235,045 B1
• Filed: 12/06/1999
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• 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: Maahs, Tracy D., Barbut, Denise
• Primary Examiner(s): TRUONG, KEVIN THAO
• Application Number:
  US09/455,874
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 606/200, 606/194, 606/191, 606/195, 606/198, 128/898
• 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 steps of introducing a mesh into a blood vessel to entrap embolic material, and removing the mesh and the entrapped foreign matter from the blood vessel.

Claims

1. A method for surgery, comprising the steps of:

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

introducing a filter through a lumen of the cannula into the patient'"'"'s aorta, the filter being separately insertable into and removable from the cannula lumen;

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

removing the filter from the patient'"'"'s aorta.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of performing cardiac surgery on the patient.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of performing cardiopulmonary bypass on the patient.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of blocking the aorta upstream of the filter.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the filter is deployed before the step of blocking the aorta.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the filter is deployed after the step of blocking the aorta.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of unblocking the aorta.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of unblocking the aorta before the blood filter device is removed from the aorta.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of blocking the aorta includes clamping the aorta.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the lumen of the cannula receives blood from a bypass-oxygenator machine.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein embolic material is generated and filtered before the blood filter device is removed from the patient'"'"'s aorta.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of creating an incision in the aorta in order to deploy the filter.

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

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the filter is deployed while the heart is beating.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of manipulating the aorta while the filter is deployed.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of performing a vascular surgery on the patient.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of clamping the aorta upstream of the filter.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the clamp is applied to entirely block flow through the aorta.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of performing aneurysm repair surgery.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the cannula is introduced into a patient'"'"'s ascending aorta.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the filter is removed after completion of a surgery.

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