Emboli capturing device

• US 6,793,668 B1
• Filed: 01/17/2003
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MEDgenesis Inc.
• Original Assignee: John S. Fisher
• Inventors: Fisher, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): SIRMONS, KEVIN C
• Application Number:
  US10/248,418
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 606/200, 606/159, 606/181, 606/194, 606/198, 604/101, 604/104, 604/105, 604/194
• 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 or stenting apparatus includes a guide wire, a balloon catheter ensleeving the guide wire, and a guide catheter ensleeving the balloon catheter. The balloon catheter has slots formed in it to define 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 and away from one another causes the respective middle joints to displace radially outwardly and inwardly, respectively. A mesh that captures emboli while allowing blood perfusion partially overlies the jointed members is opened and closed when the jointed members are opened and closed. A guide wire having an outer coil and an inner rod slideably received within it has jointed members formed in the outer coil. The mesh is opened and closed by axially retracting and advancing the inner rod with respect to the outer coil, respectively.

Claims

1. An apparatus for performing balloon angioplasty, comprising:

an elongate, hollow guide wire having an outer structure;

an elongate inner rod slideably disposed within said outer structure;

a longitudinally-extending slot formed in said outer structure;

a slideably mounted first annular bushing disposed in encircling relation to said outer structure;

a second annular bushing disposed in encircling relation to said outer structure, said second annular bushing being secured to said outer structure;

a plurality of jointed members extending between said first and second annular bushings in circumferentially spaced apart relation to one another;

said jointed members having a position of repose where they are substantially flush with said outer structure;

each joint member of said plurality of joint 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 outer structure, when each distal joint is displaced toward its associated proximal joint;

a diametrically-extending pin connecting said slideably mounted first annular bushing to said elongate inner rod so that advancing and retracting said elongate inner rod closes and opens said jointed members, respectively;

a mesh structure of flexible and resilient construction, a first end of said mesh structure being secured to said outer structure at a location adjacent said jointed members;

a predetermined 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 form a balloon angioplasty procedure when said middle joints are displaced radially outwardly; and

said mesh structure returning to said position of repose when said middle joints are displaced radially inwardly.