Aspiration method

• US 6,805,692 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2002
• Issued: 10/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Ave Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Muni, Ketan P., Zadno-Azizi, Gholam Reza, Bagaoisan, Celso
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Han, Mark K
• Application Number:
  US10/214,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20030009146A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 604/96.01, 604/103.05, 604/109, 604/164.13, 604/506, 604/507, 604/508, 604/509, 604/510, 604/915, 604/916, 604/917, 604/918, 604/919, 604/920, 604/921, 606/192, 606/193, 606/194, 606/195, 606/196, 606/197, 606/198, 606/199, 606/200, 600/434, 600/585
• US Class Current: 604/509
• 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 18/245 for removing obstructions in blood vessels or calculi
• 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 2017/320716 comprising means for preventing embolism by dislodged material
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09183 having tools at the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1015 having two or more independently movable balloons where the distance between the balloons can be adjusted, e.g. two balloon catheters concentric to each other forming an adjustable multiple balloon catheter system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1052 for temporarily occluding a vessel for isolating a sector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/109 having balloons for removing solid matters, e.g. by grasping or scraping plaque, thrombus or other matters that obstruct the flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1093 having particular tip characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty

Abstract

A method for the treatment of a stenosis or an occlusion in a blood vessel in which an occlusive device is first delivered and activated at a site distal to the occlusion to at least partially occlude the vessel. A therapy catheter is then introduced to treat the occlusion and a debris removal device is delivered to aspirate debris from the vessel. The present invention eliminates the need for a separate irrigation catheter and irrigation fluid which allows the procedure to be performed quickly and efficiently, and is especially useful in the removal of occlusion from saphenous vein grafts, the coronary and carotid arteries, arteries above the aortic arch and vessels of similar size and pressure.

Claims

1. A method for the evacuation of emboli from a blood vessel, comprising:

delivering a guidewire into the blood vessel, the guidewire having a proximal end and a distal end and an expandable device disposed near its distal end, the expandable device being actuatable between a nonexpanded state and an expanded state;

actuating said expandable device at a location distal to a treatment site within said vessel to expose said expandable device to blood flowing within said vessel to prevent emboli in said vessel from moving past said expandable device;

advancing an aspiration catheter over the guidewire to a position near said emboli, said aspiration catheter having a lumen in fluid communication with an aspiration opening in said catheter; and

drawing blood from the vessel into the aspiration opening while said blood vessel is occluded only by said expandable device, whereby emboli are carried by said blood from said vessel into said aspiration opening and through said lumen of said catheter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the guidewire is hollow.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the expandable device is an inflatable balloon.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the expandable device is a filter.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to drawing blood into the aspiration opening of the catheter, performing therapy within said blood vessel, the performing of therapy resulting in emboli within said vessel.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein therapy is performed by a therapy catheter delivered over the guidewire.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising withdrawing the therapy catheter from the vessel prior to drawing blood.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising advancing the aspiration catheter over the guidewire after withdrawing the therapy catheter from the vessel.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the expandable device partially occludes the vessel.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the expandable device fully occludes the vessel.

11. A method for the evacuation of emboli from a blood vessel, comprising:

delivering a guidewire into the blood vessel, the guidewire having a proximal end and a distal end and an expandable device disposed near its distal end, the expandable device being actuatable between a nonexpanded state and an expanded state;

actuating said expandable device at a location distal to a treatment site within said vessel to expose said expandable device to blood flowing within said vessel to prevent emboli in said vessel from moving past said expandable device;

advancing an aspiration catheter over the guidewire to a position near said emboli, said aspiration catheter having a lumen in fluid communication with an aspiration opening in said catheter;

delivering a therapy catheter to the treatment site over said guidewire;

performing therapy within said blood vessel, the performing of therapy resulting in emboli within said vessel;

withdrawing said therapy catheter from said vessel; and

drawing blood from the vessel into the aspiration opening after performing therapy and after withdrawing said therapy catheter from said vessel, whereby emboli are carried by said blood from said vessel into said aspiration opening and through said lumen of said catheter.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein actuating said expandable device results in the vessel being partially occluded.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the expandable device is a filter.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said expandable device is an inflatable balloon.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein actuating said expandable device results in the vessel being fully occluded.