Mechanical pump for removal of fragmented matter and methods of manufacture and use

• US 8,277,470 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2011
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Demarais, Denise M., Leeflang, Stephen A., Evans, Michael A., Watanabe, Gwendolyn A., Tanner, John C. III, Eversull, Christian S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mendez, Manuel
• Application Number:
  US13/278,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20120035594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 347 Days
• Field of Search: 606/159, 606/113, 606/114, 606/127, 606/128, 606/115
• US Class Current: 606/159
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320725 with radially expandable cutting or abrading elements A61B17/32075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00685 Archimedes screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320775 Morcellators, impeller or propeller like means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0023 by the form of the lumen, e.g. cross-section, variable diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/02 Dilators made of swellable material balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104

Abstract

Material transport catheters and methods for their use rely on rotation of an impeller within a catheter body and a clearing element for preventing buildup of materials at the opening of the catheter body. The impeller preferably comprises an inner tube or shaft having a helical rotor formed over an outer surface thereof. The clearing element may comprise a free end of a structure near the distal end of the catheter body for disrupting clot, wherein the free end of the structure extends into the distal opening of the catheter body to break up materials as the impeller is rotated. Alternatively, the clearing element may comprise a cutting member disposed at the distal opening of the catheter body.

Claims

1. A mechanical pump for use in a medical device comprising:

an elongate hollow, flexible inner tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen;

a first coiled rotor element having a distal end and a proximal end disposed over an outer surface of the inner tube; and

a jacket securing the coiled rotor element to the outer surface of the inner tube;

wherein a distal portion of the coiled rotor is unattached to the inner tube to provide a whip element as the pump is rotated.

2. The mechanical pump of claim 1, wherein the inner tube has an outer diameter in the range from 0.5 mm to 5 mm, and the coiled rotor has a pitch in the range from 1 to 50 turns/cm.

3. The mechanical pump of claim 1, further comprising a second coiled rotor element disposed within the central lumen of the inner tube.

4. The mechanical pump of claim 3, wherein the first and second coiled rotors are counterwound.

5. The mechanical pump of claim 3, wherein the first and second coiled rotors are co-wound.

6. The mechanical pump of claim 1, wherein the inner tube comprises a braided tube, a mesh tube, a coil, a stacked coil, or a coil-reinforced polymer tube.

7. The mechanical pump of claim 1, wherein the coiled rotor element comprises a single filament, a multi-filar, stacked filaments, or multiple filament cable.

8. The mechanical pump of claim 7, wherein the filaments comprise a round wire, a ribbon wire, or a wire having an irregular cross-section.