Rotational markers

• US 20050113686A1
• Filed: 11/21/2003
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Corporation, Stryker European Operations Holdings, LLC (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Stryker Corporation, Stryker Nv Operations Limited (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Peckham, John Eric
• Granted Patent: US 8,014,849 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/431
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/06 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30617 Visible markings for adjusting, locating or measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0097 Visible markings, e.g. indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0108 using radio-opaque or ultrasound markers

Abstract

A medical device includes a rotational marker. A marker may be viewable under an imaging device, such as a fluoroscope or an MRI system. A rotational marker allows the rotational orientation of a medical device to be determined with respect to the surrounding environment. A medical device including a rotational marker may comprise an implantable medical device, a delivery system for delivery of an implantable medical device, and the like.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a medical device and a marker wire coupled to said medical device, the medical device having a longitudinal axis, the marker wire extending such that a first portion of the marker wire extends in a circumferential direction about the longitudinal axis of the medical device and a second portion of the marker wire extends in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the medical device, wherein the rotational orientation of the marker wire may be determined using an imaging device when the medical device is positioned within a bodily lumen.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the marker wire further comprises a third portion, the marker wire extending such that the third portion of the marker wire extends in a circumferential direction about the longitudinal axis of the medical device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the marker wire further comprises a fourth portion, the marker wire extending such that the fourth portion of the marker wire extends in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the medical device.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the marker wire is continuous.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the marker wire comprises a closed circuit.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises a catheter.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises a catheter sheath.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises a device that may be implanted within a bodily lumen.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the medical device comprises a stent.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the stent is self expanding.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the stent includes a graft portion.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises an expansion balloon.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the marker wire comprises an MRI marker.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the marker wire comprises a radiopaque marker.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the marker wire further comprises a first directional indicator.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the directional indicator forms a symbol when viewed at a proper rotational orientation using an imaging device.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the symbol is an arrow.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the symbol is viewable over a rotational range of 30°

or less.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a second directional indicator.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first directional indicator and the second directional indicator combine to form a symbol when viewed at a proper rotational orientation using an imaging device.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the symbol is an arrow.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the symbol is viewable over a rotational range of 10°

or less.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the symbol is viewable over a rotational range of 5°

or less.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a lumen and a port.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the lumen is arranged to carry away bodily material.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said marker wire extends about a rim of the port.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a rotational ablation device.

28. A medical device comprising:

a medical device having a longitudinal axis;

a first marker coupled to said medical device, the first marker comprising a marker strip being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the medical device; and

a second marker coupled to said medical device, the second marker comprising a marker strip being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the medical device;

wherein the first marker appears more visible than the second marker.

29. The medical device of claim 28, wherein the first marker and the second marker comprise MRI markers.

30. The medical device of claim 28, wherein the first marker and the second marker comprise radiopaque markers.

31. The medical device of claim 28, wherein the medical device comprises a stent.

32. The medical device of claim 31, wherein the stent includes a graft portion.

33. The medical device of claim 28, further comprising a lumen and a port.

34. The medical device of claim 33, wherein the lumen is arranged to carry away bodily material.

35. The medical device of claim 28, further comprising a rotational ablation device.

36. An apparatus comprising:

a medical device having a length and a longitudinal axis; and

a marker wire coupled to said medical device;

the marker wire having a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end being offset from one another along the length of the device, the first end and the second end being offset from one another in a circumferential direction about the longitudinal axis of the device, wherein the rotational orientation of the marker wire may be determined using an imaging device when the medical device is positioned within a bodily lumen.

37. A method of positioning an implantable medical device within a bodily lumen comprising:

a) providing a medical device having a rotational marker;

b) inserting the medical device into a bodily lumen and maneuvering the device to a worksite;

c) viewing the worksite and the device through an imaging device, the rotational marker being visible upon the imaging device;

d) positioning the medical device to a proper rotational orientation using the rotational marker as viewed upon the imaging system.