Embolic protection system

• US 7,846,176 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2007
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Salviac Ltd. (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Salviac Ltd. (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Brady, Eamon, Vale, David, Taylor, Charles, Gilson, Paul, Gilvarry, Michael, Griffin, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Anhtuan T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Houston; Elizabeth
• Application Number:
  US11/669,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20070123931A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,406 Days
• Field of Search: 606/127, 606/128, 606/159, 606194-200, 606/108, 604104-107, 128/898, 623/1.11, 623/1.12, 623/903
• US Class Current: 606/200
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/221 Gripping devices in the form of loops or baskets for gripping calculi or similar types of obstructions surgical snare instruments A61B17/32056
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0095 Packages or dispensers for prostheses or other implants for intraocular lenses A61F2/1691; for dental surgery A61C19/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/011 Instruments for their placement or removal
• 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 2/9522 Means for mounting a stent or stent-graft onto or into a placement instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/015 Stop means therefor
• 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

Abstract

An assembly for loading a collapsible embolic protection filter 1 into a catheter 2, comprises a catheter 2 defining a reception space at a distal end of the catheter 2 for receiving a collapsed embolic protection filter 1; and a separate removable pushing device 8 for delivering the embolic protection filter 1 into the reception space. The pushing device 8 comprises an elongate stem 71 with a proximal stop 72 for engagement with the filter 1. A separate loading device 7 to collapse the embolic protection filter 1 is also provided. The loading device 7 defines an inlet end and an outlet end, the outlet end being configured for co-operative alignment with the reception space.

Claims

1. A method of providing embolic protection, comprising:

delivering a guidewire through a vascular system of a patient;

delivering a filter element on the guidewire to a location within a blood vessel that is distal to a treatment location, the filter element being delivered in a collapsed stored position for movement through the vascular system;

expanding the filter element to an expanded position in which the filter element at least partially contacts a wall of the blood vessel such that blood passing through the blood vessel is delivered through the filter element but embolic material in the blood is retained in the filter element, and the guidewire is slidable relative to the entire filter element when the filter element is in the expanded position;

delivering an interventional device to the treatment location while the filter is in the expanded position, the interventional device being directly engaged with the guidewire in vivo;

performing an interventional procedure at the treatment location;

advancing a retrieval catheter over the filter element;

at least partially collapsing the filter element; and

withdrawing the retrieval catheter and filter element from the blood vessel,

wherein the filter element comprises a collapsible filter body and a collapsible filter support frame, the filter body having a proximal inlet end and a distal outlet end, the inlet end of the filter body having one or more large inlet openings, and the outlet end of the filter body having a plurality of small outlet openings sized to allow through passage of blood but to retain undesired embolic material within the filter body.

2. The method of providing embolic protection of claim 1, further comprising delivering lytic agents within the blood vessel.

3. The method of providing embolic protection of claim 2, wherein the lytic agents are delivered after the retrieval catheter and the filter element have been withdrawn.

4. The method of providing embolic protection of claim 2, wherein the lytic agents are delivered while the filter element is deployed at the location distal to a treatment location.

5. The method of providing embolic protection of claim 1, wherein the interventional procedure is an angioplasty procedure.

6. The method of providing embolic protection of claim 1, wherein the interventional procedure is an arthrectomy procedure.

7. The method of providing embolic protection of claim 1, wherein the interventional procedure is a stenting procedure.

8. The method of providing embolic protection of claim 2, wherein the interventional procedure is an angioplasty procedure.

9. The method of providing embolic protection of claim 2, wherein the interventional procedure is an arthrectomy procedure.

10. The method of providing embolic protection of claim 2, wherein the interventional procedure is a stenting procedure.