Transluminal devices, systems and methods for enlarging interstitial penetration tracts

• US 6,561,998 B1
• Filed: 04/07/1998
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: TransVascular, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Whitt, Jason Brian, Johnson, Adrian E., Flaherty, J. Christopher, Makower, Joshua, Roth, Alex T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Anhtuan T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAM, ANN Y
• Application Number:
  US09/056,589
• Time in Patent Office: 1,862 Days
• Field of Search: 606/192, 606/33, 606/41, 606/45-48, 606/50, 604/22, 604/107, 604/108, 604/500, 604/507, 604/508, 604/506, 604/510
• US Class Current: 604/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32075 Pullback cutting; combined forward and pullback cutting, e.g. with cutters at both sides of the plaque
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1482 having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/22 the beam being directed along or through a flexible conduit, e.g. an optical fibre; Couplings or hand-pieces therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/245 for removing obstructions in blood vessels or calculi
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00252 for by-pass connections, i.e. connections from heart chamber to blood vessel or from blood vessel to blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22069 Immobilising; Stabilising
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2266 with a lens, e.g. ball tipped
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2272 with reflective or refractive surfaces for deflecting the beam A61B2018/2261, A61B2018/2266 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/036 abutting on tissue or skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty

Abstract

Methods, apparatus and systems for enlarging interstitial penetration tracts which have been formed between blood vessels or elsewhere within the body of a mammalian patient. Included are debulking-type tract enlarging systems, dilation-type tract enlarging systems, tissue-slicing-type tract enlarging systems and two-catheter-type tract enlarging systems.

Claims

1. A method of enlarging a penetration tract formed between first and second anatomical structures in a human or veterinary patient, the method comprising the steps of:

forming a penetration tract that extends through a wall of the first anatomical structure, through a wall of the second anatomical structure and through any tissue located between the first and second anatomical structures;

passing a guidewire into the penetration tract;

providing an elongate, flexible tubular member having a hollow lumen extending therethrough sized to receive a guidewire, the tubular member having near its distal tip a debulking member including an electrode tip having at least one radio frequency-emitting electrode suitable for ablating tissue;

passing the tubular member over the guidewire and into the penetration tract; and

energizing the electrode tip to ablate tissue and enlarge the penetration tract.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrode tip is a monopolar electrode tip having just one electrode, and wherein the method further includes:

providing a second electrode;

contacting the second electrode to an extracorporeal location on the patient to complete an electrode tip circuit.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrode tip is a bipolar electrode tip that includes a pair of the electrodes, and wherein the method further includes energizing the pair of electrodes to generate a radio frequency energy field for ablating tissue.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the electrode tip includes a distal-most face on which the pair of electrodes are exposed.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the pair of electrodes are both annular, so that the exposed portions of the electrodes are circular on the distal-most face of the electrode tip.