Aspiration catheters for thrombus removal

• US 9,662,129 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2012
• Issued: 05/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Boldenow, Greg, Galdonik, Jason A., Ganesan, Kavitha, Wlodarski, Grazyna, Kirchgessner, John, Anderson, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAY, PHILLIP A
• Application Number:
  US13/467,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20120253313A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,847 Days
• Field of Search: 604500-532, 604 9601, 60416401, 604 9501- 9505
• 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 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 17/2833 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2909 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22079 with suction of debris
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/292 connection of actuating rod to handle, e.g. ball end in recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• 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: A61M 2025/0008 having visible markings on its surface, i.e. visible to the naked eye, for any purpose, e.g. insertion depth markers, rotational markers or identification of type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0108 using radio-opaque or ultrasound markers

Abstract

Systems for less invasive medical procedures comprise a filter device mounted on an integrated guiding structure and an aspiration catheter. These components can be used together or separately, and the system can be used with other medical devices that are designed for less invasive procedures, such as procedures in a patient'"'"'s vasculature. The catheter can have a radiopaque band that is held in place under metal wire embedded within the polymer forming the tube of the catheter. In some embodiments, the aspiration catheter has a small diameter distal portion that can access into small diameter vessels in which the distal portion has a smaller average diameter than the remaining tube of the catheter.

Claims

1. An aspiration catheter comprising:

an aspiration device,

a proximal portion,

a connection port connected to the proximal portion, wherein the connection port is connected to the aspiration device,

a distal segment wherein the distal segment comprises a single lumen and wherein the distal segment comprises one or more polymers including at least one thermoplastic polymer forming a tubular element and metal wire reinforcement embedded in the polymer tubular element and extending around the tubular element, and

a tube section connected between the distal segment and the proximal portion,

wherein the distal segment has a constant outer diameter with a value that is from about 25 percent to about 95 percent of the average outer diameter of the tube section and comprises a distal opening at the distal end of the catheter,

wherein the catheter comprises a continuous lumen extending from the proximal portion through the tube section and the distal segment to the distal opening that provides fluid communication between the aspiration device and the distal opening, and the portion of the continuous lumen inside the distal segment has a smaller diameter relative to the diameter of the portion of the continuous lumen inside the tube section, wherein the diameter of the distal segment is not extendible.

2. The aspiration catheter of claim 1 wherein the constant diameter of the distal segment is from about 45 percent to about 85 percent of the average outer diameter of the tube section.

3. The aspiration catheter of claim 1 wherein the constant diameter of the distal segment is from about 0.015 inches to about 0.120 inches.

4. The aspiration catheter of claim 1 wherein the constant diameter of the distal segment is no more than 0.040 inches.

5. The aspiration catheter of claim 1 wherein the polymer comprise polyamides or nylons, polyurethanes, polydimethyl siloxane, or polytetrafluoroethylene and wherein the distal segment further comprises one or more radiopaque markers.

6. The aspiration catheter of claim 1 wherein the metal wire comprises Nitinol or stainless steel.

7. The aspiration catheter of claim 1 further comprising radiopaque marker on the distal segment of the catheter.

8. The aspiration catheter of claim 1 further comprising exterior visual marker on the proximal portion of the catheter.

9. The aspiration catheter of claim 1 wherein the connection port is connected to a syringe.

10. A method of using the catheter of claim 1 in a thrombectomy procedure, the method comprising,

tracking the aspiration catheter along a guide structure to place the distal segment into a small blood vessel with the distal opening of the catheter close to thrombus deposits within the vessel, and

applying suction through the proximal portion to effect aspiration at the distal opening of the catheter to aspirate the thrombus deposits from the vessel,

wherein the small blood vessel is an artery of the brain.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the suction rate is no more than about 125 percent of the vessel flow.

12. The aspiration catheter of claim 1 further comprising wherein the distal portion of the distal segment is a curved distal tip.

13. The aspiration catheter of claim 12 wherein the angle of the curved tip relative to a straight tip is from about 10 degrees to about 60 degrees.

14. The aspiration catheter of claim 12 further comprising a guide structure deflecting the curved distal tip.

15. The aspiration catheter of claim 1 wherein the tip of the distal end of the catheter is beveled.

16. The aspiration catheter of claim 1 wherein the length of the distal segment is at least 1.0 centimeters.

17. The aspiration catheter of claim 1 wherein the distal portion segment comprises a rapid exchange segment.