Emboli capturing device

• US 6,527,791 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2001
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MEDgenesis Inc.
• Original Assignee: John S. Fisher
• Inventors: Fisher, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yuen, Henry C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUECHNER, PATRICK M
• Application Number:
  US09/837,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20020156456A1
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 604/96.01, 604/97.01, 604/104, 604/105, 604/509, 600/3, 606/159, 606/194, 606/198, 606/181, 606/200
• 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

A balloon angioplasty or stenting apparatus includes a guide wire, a balloon catheter ensleeving the guide wire, and a guide catheter ensleeving the balloon catheter. The balloon catheter has slots formed in it to define elongate members between the slots. A joint is formed at the proximal, distal, and mid-point of each elongate member. Displacing the proximal and distal joints toward and away from one another causes the respective middle joints to displace radially outwardly and inwardly, respectively. A mesh that captures emboli while allowing blood perfusion partially overlies the jointed members is opened and closed when the jointed members are opened and closed. A guide wire having an outer coil and an inner rod slideably received within it has jointed members formed in the outer coil. 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 capturing emboli produced by a balloon angioplasty procedure, comprising:

an elongate, hollow guide wire having a first flexible, coiled, outer structure;

an elongate inner rod slideably disposed within said first flexible, coiled outer structure;

a plurality of jointed members secured to a distal end of said first, flexible coiled outer structure;

said plurality of jointed members being formed of a preselected material different than the material of said hollow guide wire;

a second flexible, coiled outer structure secured to a distal end of said jointed members;

said inner rod being secured to said distal end of said jointed members;

said jointed members having a position of repose where they are substantially flush with said first and second coiled outer structures;

each jointed member of said plurality of jointed 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 coiled outer structure, 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;

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

a mesh structure of flexible and resilient construction, a first end of said mesh structure being secured to said second coiled outer structure at a location adjacent said jointed members;

said jointed members being at least partially ensleeved by said mesh structure;

a second 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 produced by a balloon angioplasty procedure when said middle joints are displaced radially outwardly; and

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

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said preselected material is a nickel-titanium alloy.