ASPIRATION CATHETERS FOR THROMBUS REMOVAL

• US 20120253313A1
• Filed: 05/09/2012
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Galdonik, Jason A., Anderson, Edward, Ganesan, Kavitha, Boldenow, Greg, Kirchgessner, John, Wlodarski, Grazyna
• Granted Patent: US 9,662,129 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/500
• 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

a proximal portion,

a connection port connected to the proximal portion,

a distal segment, and

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

wherein the distal segment has an average outer diameter 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, and,

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 proximal portion and the distal opening.

2. The aspiration catheter of claim 1 wherein the distal segment has an average outer diameter 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 distal segment has an outer diameter from about 0.015 inches to about 0.120 inches.

4. The aspiration catheter of claim 1 wherein the distal segment has an outer diameter from about 0.015 inches to about 0.100 inches.

5. The aspiration catheter of claim 1 wherein the distal segment comprises thermoplastic polymer with embedded metal wire.

6. The aspiration catheter of claim 5 wherein the polymer comprise polyamides or nylons, polyurethanes, polydimethyl siloxane, or polytetrafluoroethylene.

7. The aspiration catheter of claim 5 wherein the metal wire comprises Nitinol or stainless steel.

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

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

10. The aspiration catheter of claim 1 wherein the connection port is connected to an aspiration device.

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

12. 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 and the tube section of the catheter remains in a larger blood vessel connected to the small blood vessel.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the suction rate is no more than about 125 percent of the vessel flow.