Intravascular foreign object retrieval catheter

• US 6,517,551 B1
• Filed: 11/22/2000
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: George Mark Driskill
• Original Assignee: George Mark Driskill
• Inventors: Driskill, George Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/717,845
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 606/113, 606/114, 606/159, 606/198, 606/200, 604/104, 604/105
• US Class Current: 606/113
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22031 Gripping instruments, e.g. forceps, for removing or smashing calculi A61B17/221 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/221 Gripping devices in the form of loops or baskets for gripping calculi or similar types of obstructions surgical snare instruments A61B17/32056
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32056 Surgical snare instruments for removing or smashing calculi A61B2017/2212; tonsillotomes A61B17/26
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2215 having an open distal end

Abstract

The present invention discloses an intravascular foreign object retrieval catheter having an elongated, flexible first outer containment catheter having a second basket catheter contained therein and having a third microcatheter contained therein and having a fourth snare wire contained therein having a loop on the end thereof. The containment catheter, the basket catheter and the microcatheter work together as coaxial tubes. The basket catheter is slidable within the containment catheter, the microcatheter is slidable within the basket catheter, and the wire is slidable within the microcatheter. The basket catheter has a containment basket on its distal end which is used to surround a foreign object whereupon the innermost wire having a loop on its end is then placed around the foreign object. Thereafter, the microcatheter is advanced along the innermost wire in order to tighten the loop around the foreign object. The microcatheter and the loop with the object contained therein are retrieved into the containment basket. The containment basket is retrieved into the containment catheter where the object may or may not be partially crushed and then the containment catheter is removed from the patient having the foreign object contained therein.

Claims

1. An apparatus for a catheter for removing foreign objects from intravascular areas of a body, comprising:

a) a first outer catheter, said catheter being flexible, said catheter having a first proximate end and a second distal end;

b) a second catheter slidably disposed internal said first outer catheter;

c) means for a basket disposed on the distal end of said second catheter, whereby a foreign object may be contained therein and crushed upon retraction of the means for a basket into the first outer catheter;

d) a third microcatheter slidably disposed internal said second catheter;

e) a wire slidably disposed internal said third microcatheter;

f) a loop disposed on the distal end of said wire for capturing foreign objects; and

,

g) wherein said first outer catheter, said second catheter, said third microcatheter, said means for a basket, said wire, and said loop operate coaxially with each other.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first outer catheter, said second catheter, said third microcatheter, said basket, said wire, and said loop are complementarily sized to cooperate axially with each other.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first outer catheter further comprises flexible plastic.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second catheter further comprises stainless steel.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second catheter further comprises flexible plastic.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said third microcatheter further comprises flexible plastic.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for a basket further comprises flexible mesh material.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for a basket further comprises monofilament wire.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for a basket further comprises an elongated tubular mesh.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a grip member disposed on the proximate end of said second catheter.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a valve body disposed on the proximate end of said first outer catheter.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a means for a conduit connected to said valve body whereby fluid can be conveyed into said valve body.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a means for a radiopaque marker band disposed near the distal end of said first outer catheter whereby said first catheter can be observed by fluoroscopic imaging.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for a radiopaque marker band disposed near the distal end of said second inner catheter whereby said second catheter can be observed by fluoroscopic imaging.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a hub member disposed on the proximate end of said third microcatheter.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a hub member disposed on the proximate end of said second catheter.