Thrombus removal system and process

• US 8,449,566 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2011
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nexgen Medical Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nexgen Medical Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Finitsis, Stephanos
• Primary Examiner(s): Severson, Ryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): EASTWOOD, DAVID C
• Application Number:
  US13/151,954
• Publication Number:
  US 20110230908A1
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 606/200, 606/127, 606/113, 606/159, 606/192
• US Class Current: 606/159
• 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: A61B 17/32056 Surgical snare instruments for removing or smashing calculi A61B2017/2212; tonsillotomes A61B17/26
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3207 Atherectomy devices working by cutting or abrading; Similar devices specially adapted for non-vascular obstructions A61B17/32037 takes precedence; endoscopic cutting instruments A61B17/320016
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2212 having a closed distal end, e.g. a loop

Abstract

A device captures and assists in the removal of a thrombus in arteries, even in small arteries. The device uses a soft coil mesh to engage the surface of a thrombus, and a guidewire is used to retract the soft coil mesh with the captured thrombus. The soft coil is formed by an elongated microcoil element that forms the helical elements of a macrocoil element. The microcoil element provides a relatively elastic effect to the helical element forming the macrocoil and allows for control of gripping forces on the thrombus while reducing non-rigid contact of the device with arterial walls.

Claims

1. A medical device for removing a thrombus from a blood vessel, comprising:

a catheter having a first lumen;

within the first lumen of the catheter is a macrocoil thrombus engaging component having a length with a proximal end and a distal end, the length of the macrocoil comprising microcoils that allow the length of the macrocoil to be extendable;

within the first lumen is a first wire capable of providing force on the distal end of the macrocoil;

within the first lumen is a second wire capable of providing force on the proximal end of the macrocoil;

the macrocoil being capable of completely retracting within the first lumen of the catheter to a maximum thickness that is less than one half of a diameter of the macrocoil when extended out of the first lumen of the catheter by the first wire and the second wire being pulled from within the first lumen, and the microcoil being expandable to a width of at least 0.002 mm when distended by relative movement between the first wire and second wire, wherein the medical device has only a single lumen.

2. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the macrocoil and the microcoil comprise non-thrombogenic compositions.

3. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the first wire on the proximal end of the macrocoil has a different thickness than the second wire on the distal end of the macrocoil and the medical device has only a single lumen.

4. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the first wire on the proximal end of the macrocoil and the second wire on the distal end of the macrocoil have the same thickness and the device has only a single lumen.

5. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the macrocoil and first and second wire are located within the catheter having a diameter enabling the catheter'"'"'s insertion into an artery of a human being.

6. The medical device of claim 2 wherein the macrocoil and first and second wire are located within the catheter having a diameter enabling the catheter'"'"'s insertion into an artery of a human being.

7. The medical device of claim 3 wherein the macrocoil and first and second wire are located within the catheter having a diameter enabling the catheter'"'"'s insertion into an artery of a human being.

8. The medical device of claim 1 wherein when the macrocoil has been removed from within the catheter, the microcoils are adjacent equal size coils forming an elongate element and the elongate element outside of the catheter is formed into loops.

9. The medical device of claim 2 wherein when the macrocoil has been removed from within the catheter, the microcoils are adjacent equal size coils forming an elongate element and the elongate element outside of the catheter is formed into loops.

10. The medical device of claim 3 wherein when the macrocoil has been removed from within the catheter, the microcoils are adjacent equal size coils forming an elongate element and the elongate element outside of the catheter is formed into loops.

11. The medical device of claim 4 wherein when the macrocoil has been removed from within the catheter, the microcoils are adjacent equal size coils forming an elongate element and the elongate element outside of the catheter is formed into loops.

12. The medical device of claim 5 wherein when the macrocoil has been removed from within the catheter, the microcoils are adjacent equal size coils forming an elongate element and the elongate element outside of the catheter is formed into loops.

13. The medical device of claim 6 wherein when the macrocoil has been removed from within the catheter, the microcoils are adjacent equal size coils forming an elongate element and the elongate element outside of the catheter is formed into loops.

14. The medical device of claim 1 wherein when the macrocoil has been extended outside of the catheter, the macrocoil is configured to surround a thrombus and the microcoils are extended to conform the macrocoil to the thrombus and the device has only a single lumen.

15. The medical device of claim 4 wherein when the macrocoil has been extended outside of the catheter, the macrocoil is configured to surrounded a thrombus and the microcoils are extended to conform the macrocoil to the thrombus.

16. The medical device of claim 8 wherein when the macrocoil has been extended outside of the catheter, the macrocoil is configured to surrounded a thrombus and the microcoils are extended to conform the macrocoil to the thrombus.

17. The medical device of claim 10 wherein when the macrocoil has been extended outside of the catheter, macrocoil is configured to surrounded a thrombus and the microcoils are extended to conform the macrocoil to the thrombus.

18. The medical device of claim 12 wherein when the macrocoil has been extended outside of the catheter, and the macrocoil is configured to surrounded a thrombus and the microcoils are extended to conform the macrocoil to the thrombus.

19. A medical device for removing a thrombus from a blood vessel, comprising:

a catheter having a first lumen;

within the first lumen of the catheter is a macrocoil thrombus engaging component having a length with a proximal end and a distal end, the length of the macrocoil comprising microcoils that allow the length of the macrocoil to be extendable;

within the first lumen is a first wire capable of providing force on the distal end of the macrocoil;

within the first lumen is a second wire capable of providing force on the proximal end of the macrocoil;

the macrocoil being capable of completely retracting within the first lumen of the catheter to a maximum thickness that is less than one half of a diameter of the macrocoil when extended out of the first lumen of the catheter by the first wire and the second wire being pulled from within the first lumen, and the microcoil loops being expandable to a width of at least 0.002 mm when distended by relative movement between the first wire and second wire, the medical device being free of resistive heating elements on the first wire and the second wire.