Method for thermal treatment of type II endoleaks in arterial aneurysms

• US 6,748,953 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2002
• Issued: 06/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lifeshield Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Sauvageau, David J., Sherry, John
• Primary Examiner(s): PEFFLEY, MICHAEL F
• Application Number:
  US10/170,043
• Publication Number:
  US 20030229340A1
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 128/898, 606/27, 606/28, 606/41, 606/42, 606/48-50, 604/21, 604/22, 604/14
• US Class Current: 128/898
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0022 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00267 having a basket shaped structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00422 Angioplasty

Abstract

A method and apparatus that facilitates the prevention of type II endoleaks in stent-graft treated arterial aneurysmal sacs comprising a catheter having an elongate tubular body with a balloon or wire mesh basket attached to the body adjacent its distal end. The balloon preferably comprising a plurality of energy conducting elements attached thereto for transmitting RF energy to tissue to be treated. In operation, the catheter is inserted into the femoral artery of a patient and then advanced through the femoral artery into the aorta until the balloon or basket is positioned within an aneurysmal sac. Once in place, the balloon or basket is expanded to compress the clot material within the aneurysmal sack under a pressure in the range of about 2-5 atmospheres. While compressed, the clot material is then heated by transmitting RF energy to the wire basket or the conducting elements on the balloon until the clot material is cauterized and collateral blood flow channels in the clot material are occluded. The balloon or basket is then returned to an unexpanded state and the catheter is removed from the aorta. Once the catheter is removed, a stent-graft may be placed within the aorta in accordance with conventional procedures.

Claims

1. A method for treating an aneurysmal sac with a catheter having a wire basket and an articulating wire extending from a distal end of the wire basket, comprising:

introducing the wire basket into the aneurysmal sac;

pulling the articulating wire to longitudinally compress the wire basket, wherein the wire basket is radially expanded to compress a clot material within the aneurysmal sac, and

heating the compressed clot material.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the clot material is cauterized by the heating step.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the clot material is compressed under about two to five atmospheres of pressure.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the compressed clot material is heated by transmitting RF energy to the clot material.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the RF energy is transmitted to the clot material via the wire basket.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the clot material is heated by transmitting heat through the wire basket.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising percutaneously introducing the catheter through a blood vessel.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the aneursymal sac is located in the abdominal aorta.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising installing a stent-graft along the inner surface of the aneurysmal sac.

10. A method for treating an aneurysmal sac, comprising:

compressing a clot material within the aneurysmal sac;

heating the compressed clot material; and

installing a stent-graft along the inner surface of the aneurysmal sac.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the clot material is cauterized by the heating step.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the clot material is compressed under about two to five atmospheres of pressure.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the compressed clot material is heated by transmitting RF energy to the clot material.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the aneursymal sac is located in the abdominal aorta.

15. A method for preventing type II endoleaks within an aneurysmal sac, the aneurysmal sac containing a clot material with collateral pathways, the method comprising:

compressing the clot material, wherein the blood flow through the collateral pathways is blocked;

heating the compressed clot material; and

installing a stent-graft along the inner surface of the aneurysmal sac.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the clot material is cauterized by the heating step.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the clot material is compressed under about two to five atmospheres of pressure.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the compressed clot material is heated by transmitting RF energy to the clot material.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the aneursymal sac is located in the abdominal aorta.