Apparatus and methods for clot dissolution
First Claim
1. A method for disrupting a clot over a luminal length of a blood vessel, the method comprising:
- positioning a catheter body in the luminal length of the blood vessel, the catheter body comprising a proximal end, a distal portion having at least one lumen allowing passage of a wire or agitator, the distal portion of the catheter body having at least one port formed therein so as to permit fluid flow from the lumen;
actuating an agitator disposed within the catheter body for mechanical disruption of a clot in the blood vessel, the agitator comprising a non-linear region disposed in the catheter body lumen such that the at least one port is positioned along a distal portion of the non-linear region;
infusing a fluid comprising a thrombolytic agent through the lumen of the catheter body such that the fluid passes through the at least one port of the distal portion positioned along the distal portion of the non-linear region and into the luminal length of the blood vessel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Clot disruption and dissolution are achieved using a catheter having the ability to infuse a thrombolytic agent, aspirate clot and fluid, and allow passage of a guidewire. Optionally, the catheter may also include a mechanical agitator for further disrupt clot in the presence of the thrombolytic agent. A flow resistor in the catheter provides for infusion and/or aspiration to be concentrated primarily at a clot treatment area in a blood vessel while also providing optional infusion and/or aspiration distal to the treatment area. In some embodiments, infusion, aspiration and guidewire passage occur through a common lumen. The thrombolytic agent, such as tPA, streptokinase, or urokinase, is directly released into the clot at the point where the agitator is engaging the clot. In this way, the thrombolytic activity of the agent is enhanced and the dissolution of the clot is improved.
101 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for disrupting a clot over a luminal length of a blood vessel, the method comprising:
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positioning a catheter body in the luminal length of the blood vessel, the catheter body comprising a proximal end, a distal portion having at least one lumen allowing passage of a wire or agitator, the distal portion of the catheter body having at least one port formed therein so as to permit fluid flow from the lumen; actuating an agitator disposed within the catheter body for mechanical disruption of a clot in the blood vessel, the agitator comprising a non-linear region disposed in the catheter body lumen such that the at least one port is positioned along a distal portion of the non-linear region; infusing a fluid comprising a thrombolytic agent through the lumen of the catheter body such that the fluid passes through the at least one port of the distal portion positioned along the distal portion of the non-linear region and into the luminal length of the blood vessel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification