Apparatus and methods for closing septal defects and occluding blood flow
First Claim
1. A plug for closing an aperture in a wall of a patient'"'"'s body cavity, said plug comprising:
- a frame having a central axis comprising;
a first plurality of fingers configured to engage an interior surface of said wall of said body cavity;
a second plurality of fingers attached to said first plurality, wherein said second plurality is configured to engage an exterior surface of said wall of said body cavity, and wherein said pluralities of fingers are positioned substantially circumferentially with respect to said axis; and
a plugging structure that spans said aperture when said plug is inserted in said aperture, wherein said plugging structure is attached to said frame, and wherein any cross-section of said frame that lies in a plane substantially perpendicular to said axis is discontinuous.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Plugs and methods for plugging septal defects and blood vessels are provided. Plugs are delivered via catheter to a septal defect or a location where it is desired to occlude blood flow in a blood vessel. The plugs are positioned and expanded at the treatment site. The expansion of the plugs can be accomplished passively by using a heat-treated elastic frame or actively by using a balloon to deform a plastically-deforming frame. Plugging structures mounted to the frame span the defect or lumen and prevent blood flow. The plugs described herein have small profiles, and are more reliable than preceding intraluminal transcatheter methods.
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Citations
153 Claims
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1. A plug for closing an aperture in a wall of a patient'"'"'s body cavity, said plug comprising:
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a frame having a central axis comprising;
a first plurality of fingers configured to engage an interior surface of said wall of said body cavity;
a second plurality of fingers attached to said first plurality, wherein said second plurality is configured to engage an exterior surface of said wall of said body cavity, and wherein said pluralities of fingers are positioned substantially circumferentially with respect to said axis; and
a plugging structure that spans said aperture when said plug is inserted in said aperture, wherein said plugging structure is attached to said frame, and wherein any cross-section of said frame that lies in a plane substantially perpendicular to said axis is discontinuous. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A plug comprising:
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a perforated tubular portion having a longitudinal passage, wherein any cross-section of said perforated tubular portion in a plane perpendicular to said passage is discontinuous;
a plurality of fingers attached to said tubular portion and extending from an axial end of said perforated tubular portion, wherein any cross-scction of said plurality of fingers in a plane perpendicular to said passage is discontinuous; and
a plugging structure substantially occluding said passage. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132)
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133. A method for plugging an aperture in a wall of a patient'"'"'s body cavity comprising:
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positioning in said aperture a conformable plug having a first plurality of fingers, a second plurality of fingers, and a central axis, wherein said pluralities are arranged about said axis at opposite axial ends, and wherein said plug also has a plugging structure;
conforming said plug to said aperture; and
securing said plug in said aperture. - View Dependent Claims (134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144)
extending said fingers in a direction substantially parallel to said central axis; and
inserting said plug into a sleeve.
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137. The method of claim 136 wherein said positioning further comprises engaging at least one of said fingers with a locking pin.
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138. The method of claim 137 wherein said positioning further comprises releasing at least one finger from a locking pin.
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139. The method of claim 135 wherein said positioning further comprises inserting said delivery structure through an insertion aperture in a patient'"'"'s body tissue.
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140. The method of claim 135 wherein said positioning further comprises shifting said delivery structure relative to said plug and said aperture so that (1) said delivery structure is removed from said aperture but said plug extends through said aperture;
- (2) said fingers extend out from said axis, wherein each of said first and second pluralities on opposite sides of said wall; and
(3) said plugging structure substantially occludes said aperture.
- (2) said fingers extend out from said axis, wherein each of said first and second pluralities on opposite sides of said wall; and
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141. The method of claim 140 wherein said positioning further comprises allowing said fingers to engage said respective opposite sides of said wall.
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142. The method of claim 140 wherein said conforming comprises allowing said plug to elastically expand in said aperture until said plug substantially conforms to a perimeter of said aperture.
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143. The method of claim 140 wherein said positioning further comprises allowing said plug to elastically contract longitudinally to cause said fingers to engage said respective opposite sides of said wall.
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144. The method of claim 143 wherein said allowing further comprises allowing said plug to substantially center itself with respect to said wall in a direction along said longitudinal passage.
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145. A method for occluding blood flow in a tube of a patient'"'"'s circulatory system, said method comprising:
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positioning in said tube a conformable plug having a first plurality of fingers, a tubular portion, a plugging structure, and a central axis, wherein said plurality of fingers is arranged circumferentially about said central axis and wherein said plugging structure spans across said tubular portion;
conforming said plug to said tube; and
securing said plug in said tube. - View Dependent Claims (146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153)
inserting said delivery balloon in said tubular portion; and
delivering said plug through the patient'"'"'s body tissue to said tube.
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149. The method of claim 148 wherein said delivering further comprises inserting said balloon and said plug through an insertion aperture in a patient'"'"'s body tissue.
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150. The method of claim 148 wherein said positioning further comprises moving said plug mounted on said balloon through a patient'"'"'s existing body tubing so that said plug is positioned in said tube at a desired location.
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151. The method of claim 150 wherein said conforming comprises:
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expanding said balloon; and
radially enlarging said tubular portion until said tubular portion until said plurality of fingers engages with an inside surface of said tube, wherein said plugging structure substantially occludes said tube.
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152. The method of claim 151 wherein said enlarging comprises plastically deforming said plug.
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153. The method of claim 151 wherein said positioning further comprises allowing said plug to substantially center itself with respect to said wall in a direction along said longitudinal passage.
Specification