Thrombolysis device

• US 6,547,754 B1
• Filed: 02/15/2000
• Issued: 04/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Bacchus Vascular Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Evans, Michael, Dubrul, Will R.
• Primary Examiner(s): MENDEZ, MANUEL A
• Application Number:
  US09/504,162
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 604/22,20,96,500,101 601/2 606/191-194,169-171
• US Class Current: 604/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22 Implements for squeezing-off ulcers or the like on the inside of inner organs of the body; Implements for scraping-out cavities of body organs, e.g. bones; Calculus removers; Calculus smashing apparatus; Apparatus for removing obstructions in blood vessels, not otherwise provided for dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22012 in direct contact with, or very close to, the obstruction or concrement for removing obstructions in blood vessels by laser A61B18/245
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22067 Blocking; Occlusion A61B2017/22054 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22084 stone- or thrombus-dissolving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1052 for temporarily occluding a vessel for isolating a sector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1093 having particular tip characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty

Abstract

The present invention describes a catheter suitable for introduction into a tubular tissue for dissolving blockages in such tissue. The catheter is particularly useful for removing thrombi within blood vessels. In accordance with the preferred embodiments, a combination of vibrating motion and injection of a lysing agent is utilized to break up blockages in vessels. The vessels may be veins, arteries, ducts, intestines, or any lumen within the body that may become blocked from the material that flows through it. As a particular example, dissolution of vascular thrombi facilitated by advancing a catheter through the occluded vessel, the catheter causing a vibrating, stirring action in and around the thrombus usually in combination with the dispensing of a thrombolytic agent such as urokinase into the thrombus. The catheter has an inflatable or expandable member near the distal tip which, when inflated or expanded, prevents the passage of dislodged thrombus around the catheter. The dislodged portions of thrombus are directed through a perfusion channel in the catheter, where they are removed by filtration means housed within the perfusion channel before the blood exists the tip of the catheter. Catheters that allow both low frequency (1-100 Hz) vibratory motion and delivery of such agents to a blockage and a method for using such catheters are disclosed.

Claims

1. A device for insertion into a body lumen useful for dissolution of obstructive material, the device comprising:

a source of mechanical motion;

an elongated member having a proximal end, a distal portion, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, wherein the proximal end is matingly engageable with the source of mechanical motion; and

an expandable member axially offset from the distal portion of said elongate member

wherein at least the distal portion of said elongate member is caused to vibrate by said source of mechanical motion, enabling said elongate member to mix or dissolve said obstructive material while said expandable member inhibits movement of the obstructive material along the body lumen.

2. A device of claim 1, the body lumen comprising a blood vessel, wherein said elongated member is introduceable into the blood vessel.

3. A device of claim 1, wherein said source of mechanical motion is adapted to mix or otherwise dissolve a blood clot.

4. A device of claim 1, wherein said elongate member includes at least one port located at the proximal end of said elongate member.

5. A device of claim 4, wherein said port is adapted to deliver a diagnostic or therapeutic agent.

6. A device of claim 4, wherein said at least one port is and is in fluid communication with openings at the distal portion of said elongate member for the infusion of fluid therethrough.

7. A device of claim 1, wherein said elongate member comprises a wire.

8. A device of claim 1, wherein said source of mechanical motion delivers at least one motion selected from a group consisting of rotational motion and translational motion.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein motion delivered by the source of motion comprises rotational and translational motion.

10. A device of claim 1, wherein said expandable member comprises a balloon.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the expandable member is disposed distally of the distal portion.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the expandable member is disposed proximally of the distal portion.

13. The device of claim 1, further comprising a tubular body extending along the axis, the expandable member being carried by the tubular member.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising first and second expandable members, the distal portion being disposed therebetween.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the source of mechanical motion effects vibration of the distal portion at a frequency of less than 1000 Hz.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the distal portion has a surface, and wherein the outer surface is moved by the source of mechanical motion and is radially exposed to the surrounding body lumen so that movement of the outer surface effects mixing of fluid in contact with the occlusive material.

17. A device for insertion into a body lumen useful for dissolution of obstructive material, the device comprising:

a source of mechanical motion; and

an elongated member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, wherein the proximal end is matingly engageable with the source of mechanical motion, wherein at least the distal end of said elongate member is caused to vibrate by said source of mechanical motion at a frequency below 1,000 Hertz, enabling said elongate member to mix or otherwise dissolve said obstructive material.

18. A device for insertion into a body lumen useful for dissolution of obstructive material, the device comprising:

a source of rotational and/or translational mechanical motion having a frequency below 1,000 Hertz; and

an elongated member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, wherein the proximal end is matingly engageable with the source of mechanical motion, wherein at least the distal end of said elongate member is caused to vibrate by said source of mechanical motion, enabling said elongate member to mix or otherwise dissolve said obstructive material.