Micro-motor actuated therapeutic device

• US 6,375,609 B1
• Filed: 05/03/2000
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Berman, Michael, Hastings, Roger, Larson, Kenneth, Lafontaine, Daniel M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US09/563,326
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 128/899, 601/04, 601/06, 601/15, 601/16, 601/37, 601/83
• US Class Current: 600/104
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3207 Atherectomy devices working by cutting or abrading; Similar devices specially adapted for non-vascular obstructions A61B17/32037 takes precedence; endoscopic cutting instruments A61B17/320016
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00345 Micromachines, nanomachines, microsystems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10 Balloon catheters A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02; inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 ; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/135 inside a blood vessel, e.g. using grafting
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/274 the inlet and outlet being the same, e.g. para-aortic counter-pulsation blood pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/295 Balloon pumps for circulatory assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/31 for enhancement of in vivo organ perfusion, e.g. retroperfusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/449 generated by a solenoid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/497 for balloon pumps for circulatory assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/538 Regulation using real-time blood pump operational parameter data, e.g. motor current
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/865 Devices for guiding or inserting pumps or pumping devices into the patient's body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/878 Electrical connections within the patient's body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/894 Passive valves, i.e. valves actuated by the blood

Abstract

An in vivo source of mechanical energy is provided in close proximity to its load. In the disclosed embodiments, the mechanical energy source is a miniaturized motor (“micromotor”) and the load is a miniaturized perfusion pump located at the distal end of a transluminal catheter. The motor is powerful enough to provide the electrical energy needed by the perfusion pump to fluid, and yet small enough to fit inside a body vessel. A position sensor may be provided for automatically controlling the motor'"'"'s driving current so that it is corresponds to the applied load. An embodiment of the perfusion pump is also provided in which an external energy source is used. Another embodiment is provided wherein a balloon/pump/miniaturized-motor configuration is provided on a distal end of a catheter.

Claims

1. A system for performing a vascular therapy comprising:

a catheter having a distal end and an axis;

a micromotor attached to the catheter;

a power source coupled to the catheter but distant from the distal end of the catheter; and

a therapeutic device actuated by the micromotor and connected to the catheter adjacent the distal end of the catheter and actuated by the micromotor.

2. The micromotor of claim 1 wherein the therapeutic device further comprises a piston actuated by the motor.

3. The piston of claim 2 wherein the piston reciprocates along the axis of the catheter.

4. The system for performing a vascular therapy of claim 1 wherein the therapeutic device is a balloon catheter.

5. The system for performing a vascular therapy of claim 1 wherein the therapeutic device is a atherectomy device.

6. The system for performing a vascular therapy of claim 1 wherein the therapeutic device is a dottering device.

7. The system for performing a vascular therapy of claim 1 wherein the therapeutic device is a perfusion catheter.

8. The micromotor of claim 1 comprising reciprocating magnets aligned with the axis of the catheter.

9. The power source of claim 1 coupled to the micromotor via electrical leads.

10. An in-vivo therapy device comprising:

an elongate member having a distal end;

a motor mounted near the distal end of the elongate member;

a power source coupled to the motor; and

a therapeutic device mounted on the elongate member and actuated by the motor.

11. The in-vivo therapy device of claim 10 wherein the power source is coupled to the motor via electrical lead leads.

12. The in-vivo therapy device of claim 10 wherein the therapeutic device comprises a balloon.

13. The in-vivo therapy device of claim 11 wherein the therapeutic device comprises an atherectomy device.

14. The in-vivo therapy device of claim 11 wherein the therapeutic device comprises a dottering device.

15. The in-vivo therapy device of claim 11 wherein the therapeutic device comprises a perfusion device.

16. A vascular therapy device comprising:

a catheter having a distal end;

a therapeutic device attached to the distal end of the catheter; and

a means for actuating the therapeutic device.

17. The vascular therapy device of claim 16 wherein the means for actuating the therapeutic device comprises a micromotor.

18. The vascular therapy device of claim 17 wherein the means for actuating the therapeutic device further comprises a power source coupled to the micromotor.

19. The vascular therapy device of claim 18 wherein the power source is located near a proximal end of the catheter.

20. The vascular therapy device of claim 18 wherein the power source is coupled to the micromotor via electrical leads.

21. The vascular therapy device of claim 17 wherein the micromotor is located adjacent the distal end of the catheter.

22. The vascular therapy device of claim 16 wherein the therapeutic device is selected from the group consisting of balloons, atherectomy devices, dottering devices, and perfusion devices.