Emboli capturing device

• US 6,530,940 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2001
• Issued: 03/11/2003
• 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): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUECHNER, PATRICK M
• Application Number:
  US09/837,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20020156457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 604/509, 604/96.01, 604/97.01, 604/104, 604/105, 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 apparatus includes a guide wire, a balloon catheter, and a guide catheter. The balloon catheter has 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 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 mesh that captures emboli overlies the jointed members and opens and closes with them. The guide catheter is used to close the joined members and the emboli-capturing mesh at the conclusion of the angioplasty procedure. In a second embodiment, the jointed members are formed in a delivery catheter. In a third embodiment, the jointed members are formed in a guide wire.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a delivery catheter;

an inner catheter slideably received within said delivery catheter;

a guide wire of elongate, flexible construction, said guide wire slideably received within said inner catheter;

a plurality of jointed members formed in said inner catheter;

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

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 inner 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 a stop means carried by said guide wire near a distal end thereof;

said stop means having a breadth than an interior diameter of said inner catheter so that an initial displacement of said guide wire in a distal-to-proximal direction causes said stop means to abut a distal end of said inner catheter and continued displacement causes said middle joints to displace radially outwardly;

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

a mesh structure of flexible construction, said mesh structure having a generally cylindrical configuration when in repose;

a first end of said mesh structure being secured to said inner catheter at a location adjacent said jointed members;

an extent of said jointed members being 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 when said middle joints 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 inner catheter has an increased diameter part and wherein said plurality of jointed members is formed in said increased diameter part, said jointed members having a position of repose where they are substantially flush with said increased diameter part.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said stop means is a bead formed on said guide wire, said bead having a diameter greater than said interior diameter of said inner catheter.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mesh structure has a generally frusto-conical shape when said jointed members are deployed, a first end thereof having a first diameter, a second end having a diameter greater than said first diameter, and a generally conical body that extends between said first and second ends.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second positive displacement means is said delivery catheter, said delivery catheter ensleeving said inner catheter and said delivery catheter being displaced in a proximal-to-distal direction to urge said jointed members to return to said position of repose.