Emboli capturing device

• US 6,264,672 B1
• Filed: 10/25/1999
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Biopsy Sciences LLC
• Original Assignee: Biopsy Sciences LLC
• Inventors: Fisher, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Seidel, Richard K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/426,438
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 604/101, 604/105, 604/104, 604/194, 604/500, 128/344, 128/898, 600/3, 606/194, 606/200, 606/159, 606/198, 606/181
• US Class Current: 606/200
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2212 having a closed distal end, e.g. a loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/013 Distal protection devices, i.e. devices placed distally in combination with another endovascular procedure, e.g. angioplasty or stenting
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• 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 2230/0078 hyperboloidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/008 paraboloidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0004 having two or more concentrically arranged tubes for forming a concentric catheter system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty

Abstract

An apparatus used in balloon angioplasty and/or stenting in a first embodiment includes a guide wire, a balloon catheter that ensleeves the guide wire, and a guide catheter that ensleeves the balloon catheter. The balloon catheter has a plurality of longitudinally-extending, circumferentially spaced apart slots formed in it to define a plurality of elongate members between the slots. A joint is formed at the proximal, distal, and mid-point of each elongate member. Displacing the respective proximal and distal joints toward one another causes the respective middle joints to displace radially outwardly, and radial inward travel of the middle joints is caused by increasing the distance between the proximal and distal joints. A bead is formed in the distal end of the guide wire and retraction of the guide wire causes the bead to abut the distal end of the balloon catheter and displace it in a distal-to-proximal direction, opening the elongate, jointed members. A mesh that captures emboli while allowing blood perfusion partially overlies the jointed members and is opened when the jointed members are opened and closed when they are closed. The guide catheter is used to close the jointed members and the emboli-capturing mesh at the conclusion of the angioplasty procedure. In a second embodiment, the jointed members are formed in an inner lumen received with a delivery catheter. In a variation of the second embodiment, a predetermined extent of the inner lumen is enlarged to facilitate the formation of the jointed members. In a third embodiment, a guide wire having an outer coil and an inner rod that is slideably received within it is modified so that the jointed members are formed in the outer coil and the mesh is opened and closed by axially retracting and advancing the inner rod with respect to the outer coil, respectively.

Claims

1. An apparatus for performing balloon angioplasty and stenting, comprising:

a guide wire of elongate, flexible construction;

a balloon catheter that slideably receives said guide wire;

a guide catheter that slideably receives said balloon catheter;

a plurality of jointed members formed in said balloon catheter near a distal end thereof;

said jointed members having a position of repose where they are substantially flush with said balloon catheter;

each joint member of said plurality of joint members having a proximal joint, a distal joint that is longitudinally spaced apart from said proximal joint, and a middle joint that is substantially half-way between said proximal and distal joints;

said jointed members having a deployed configuration where each middle joint is displaced radially outwardly, with respect to a longitudinal axis of said balloon catheter, when each distal joint is displaced toward its associated proximal joint;

first positive displacement means for selectively displacing each of said distal joints toward their respective proximal joints;

said first positive displacement means including an enlargement means formed on a distal end of said guide wire, said enlargement means having a breadth greater than an inner diameter of said balloon catheter so that displacement of said guide wire in a distal-to-proximal direction causes each of said middle joints to displace radially outwardly with respect to said longitudinal axis of said balloon catheter;

second positive displacement means for selectively displacing each of said distal joints away from their respective proximal joints;

said second positive displacement means including said guide catheter, said guide catheter collapsing said jointed members and returning them to said position of repose when said guide catheter is displaced in a proximal-to-distal direction;

a mesh structure of flexible construction disposed in ensleeving relation to said balloon catheter;

a first, distal end of said mesh structure being secured to said balloon catheter at a preselected location just slightly distal of said jointed members;

a second, proximal end of said mesh structure extending to a preselected point just slightly proximal of said middle joints of said jointed members;

said second, proximal end of said mesh structure being enlarged in diameter when said middle joints are displaced radially outwardly;

said mesh structure allowing blood to flow therethrough;

said mesh structure capturing and retaining emboli from a balloon angioplasty procedure when said middle joints are displaced radially outwardly; and

said mesh structure returning to a position of repose when said middle joints are displaced radially inwardly.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first, distal end of said mesh structure is woven with a relatively loose mesh structure.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said second, proximal end of said mesh structure is woven with a relatively tight mesh structure.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein a transition between said relatively loose mesh structure and said relatively tight mesh structure occurs about mid-length between said first, distal end and said second, proximal end of said mesh structure.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first, distal end of said mesh structure is adhered to said balloon catheter at said preselected position distal of said jointed members.