Patent Grant
9539081
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates generally to a medical embolizing treatment method that utilizes a protection device to increase penetration of a treatment agent into targeted blood vessels and reduce reflux of the treatment agent into non-targeted vessels.
2. State of the Art
Embolization, chemo-embolization, and radio-embolization therapy are often clinically used to treat a range of diseases, such as hypervascular liver tumors, uterine fibroids, secondary cancer metastasis in the liver, pre-operative treatment of hypervascular menangiomas in the brain and bronchial artery embolization for hemoptysis. An embolizing agent may be embodied in different forms, such as beads, liquid, foam, or glue placed into an arterial vasculature. The beads may be uncoated or coated. Where the beads are coated, the coating may be a chemotherapy agent, a radiation agent or other therapeutic agent. When it is desirable to embolize a small blood vessel, small bead sizes (e.g., 10 μm-100 μm) are utilized. When a larger vessel is to be embolized, a larger bead size (e.g., 100 μm-900 μm) is typically chosen.
While embolizing agent therapies which are considered minimally or limited invasive have often provided good results, they have a small incidence of non-targeted embolization which can lead to adverse events and morbidity. An infusion microcatheter allows bi-directional flow. That is, the use of a microcatheter to infuse an embolic agent allows blood and the infused embolic agent to move forward in addition to allowing blood and the embolic agent to be pushed backward (reflux). Reflux of a therapeutic agent causes non-target damage to surrounding healthy organs. In interventional oncology embolization procedures, the goal is to bombard a cancer tumor with either radiation or chemotherapy. It is important to maintain forward flow throughout the entire vascular tree in the target organ in order to deliver therapies into the distal vasculature, where the therapy can be most effective. This issue is amplified in hypovascular tumors or in patients who have undergone chemotherapy, where slow flow limits the dose of therapeutic agent delivered and reflux of agents to non-target tissue can happen well before the physician has delivered the desired dose.
The pressure in a vessel at multiple locations in the vascular tree changes during an embolic infusion procedure. Initially, the pressure is high proximally, and decreases over the length of the vessel. Forward flow of therapy occurs when there is a pressure drop. If there is no pressure drop over a length of vessel, therapy does not flow downstream. If there is a higher pressure at one location, such as at the orifice of a catheter, the embolic therapy flows in a direction toward lower pressure. If the pressure generated at the orifice of a catheter is larger than the pressure in the vessel proximal to the catheter orifice, some portion of the infused embolic therapy travels up stream (reflux) into non-target vessels and non-target organs. This phenomenon can happen even in vessels with strong forward flow if the infusion pressure (pressure at the orifice of the catheter) is sufficiently high.
During an embolization procedure, the embolic agents clog distal vessels and block drainage of fluid into the capillary system. This leads to an increase in the pressure in the distal vasculature. With the increased pressure, there is a decrease in the pressure gradient and therefore flow slows or stops in the distal vasculature. Later in the embolization procedure, larger vessels become embolized and the pressure increases proximally until there is a system that effectively has constant pressure throughout the system. The effect is slow flow even in the larger vessels, and distally the embolic agent no longer advances into the target (tumor).
In current clinical practice, the physician attempts to infuse embolics with pressure that does not cause reflux. In doing this, the physician slows the infusion rate (and infusion pressure) or stops the infusion completely. The clinical impact of current infusion catheters and techniques is two fold: low doses of the therapeutic embolic is delivered and there is poor distal penetration into the target vessels.
Additionally, reflux can be a time-sensitive phenomenon. Sometimes, reflux occurs as a response to an injection of the embolic agent, where the reflux occurs rapidly (e.g., in the time-scale of milliseconds) in a manner which is too fast for a human operator to respond. Also, reflux can happen momentarily, followed by a temporary resumption of forward flow in the blood vessel, only to be followed by additional reflux.
Embolization agents 102 are continuously injected until reflux of contrast agent is visualized in the distal area of the hepatic artery. Generally, since embolization agents 102 can rarely be visualized directly, a contrast agent may be added to embolization agents 102. The addition of the contrast agent allows for a visualization of the reflux of the contrast agent (shown by arrow 108), which is indicative of the reflux of embolization agents 102. The reflux may, undesirably, cause embolization agents 102 to be delivered into a collateral artery 105, which is proximal to the tip of catheter 101. The presence of embolization agents 102 in collateral artery 105 leads to non-target embolization in a non-target organ 104, which may be the other lobe of the liver, the stomach, small intestine, pancreas, gall bladder, or other organ.
Non-targeted delivery of the embolic agent may have significant unwanted effects on the human body. For example, in liver treatment, non-targeted delivery of the embolic agent may have undesirable impacts on other organs including the stomach and small intestine. In uterine fibroid treatment, the non-targeted delivery of the embolic agent may embolize one or both ovaries leading to loss of menstrual cycle, subtle ovarian damage that may reduce fertility, early onset of menopause and in some cases substantial damage to the ovaries. Other unintended adverse events include unilateral deep buttock pain, buttock necrosis, and uterine necrosis.
Often, interventional radiologists try to reduce the amount and impact of reflux by slowly releasing the embolizing agent and/or by delivering a reduced dosage. The added time, complexity, increased x-ray dose to the patient and physician (longer monitoring of the patient) and potential for reduced efficacy make the slow delivery of embolization agents suboptimal. Also, reducing the dosage often leads to the need for multiple follow-up treatments. Even when the physician tries to reduce the amount of reflux, the local flow conditions at the tip of the catheter change too fast to be controlled by the physician, and therefore rapid momentary reflux conditions can happen throughout infusion.
According to one aspect of the invention, a deployable apparatus is provided that is useful in an embolization procedure and which enables substantially unrestricted forward flow of blood in a vessel and reduces or stops reflux (regurgitation or backward flow) of embolization agents which are introduced into the blood.
In some embodiments, the deployable apparatus includes a delivery catheter having a valve fixedly coupled to the distal end thereof. An outer catheter is provided which extends over the valve during introduction to maintain the valve in a collapsed cylindrical configuration until the valve is advanced through the patient to the desired vascular destination. Once at the destination, the outer catheter is retracted from over the valve to permit expansion of the valve into an open state, as discussed below.
In other embodiments, the deployable apparatus includes a delivery catheter and a valve introducer which delivers a valve to a valve seat at the distal end of the delivery catheter during the embolization procedure. No outer catheter is required. A valve introducer maintains the distal end of the valve in a closed configuration, and a push wire is abutted against the proximal end of the valve and used to push the valve out of the valve introducer and through the delivery catheter. The valve is advanced by the push wire to the valve seat located at the distal end of a delivery catheter. Once the valve seat captures a proximal portion of the valve to lock the valve at the distal end of the delivery catheter, the push wire is then withdrawn from the delivery catheter to provide an apparatus with enhanced fluid flow through the delivery catheter. In certain embodiments a pull member is coupled to the valve to release the lock between the valve and valve seat and permit retraction of the valve into the delivery catheter after the embolic agent has been dispensed.
The deployable valve includes a plurality of filaments which cross over each other (i.e., are braided) and which have a spring bias to assume a preferred crossing angle relative to each other. In a first state, the valve is preferably kept in a cylindrical arrangement with a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the delivery catheter. In a second state, the valve is free to open due to the spring bias in the filaments. In the second state, with the proximal end of the valve attached to the delivery catheter, in the bloodstream, if the blood is not flowing distally past the valve, the valve assumes a substantially frustoconical shape. The distal end of the valve is intended to make contact with the walls of the vessel in which it is deployed when blood is not flowing distally past the valve.
In some embodiments, the valve, while enabling substantially unrestricted forward flow in a vessel and reducing or stopping reflux of embolization agents, allows the reflux of blood or contrast agent. In other embodiments, the valve, while enabling substantially unrestricted forward flow in a vessel and reducing or stopping reflux of embolization agents, also reduces or stops backward flow of blood.
According to one aspect of the invention, the valve has a radial force of expansion when in the undeployed state of less than 40 mN.
According to another aspect of the invention, the valve has a time constant of expansion from the cylindrical arrangement to the fully-open position when in a static fluid having a viscosity of approximately 3.2 cP of between 1.0 and 0.01 seconds, and more preferably between 0.50 and 0.05 seconds.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the valve has a Young's modulus of elasticity that is greater than 100 MPa.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, the preferred crossing angle of the valve filaments is approximately 130 degrees.
According to even another aspect of the invention, the filaments of the valve are selected to be of a desired number and diameter such that in an open position, they are capable of trapping embolization agents. By way of example only, the filaments of the valve are selected so that in an open position they present a pore size of 500 μm and are thus capable of preventing reflux of embolizing agent such as beads having a size larger than 500 μm. As another example, the filaments of the valve are selected so that in an open position they present a pore size of 250 μm and are thus capable of preventing reflux of embolizing agent having a size larger than 250 μm.
In one embodiment, the valve filaments are coated with a filter which is formed and attached to the filaments according to any desired manner, such as by spraying, spinning, electrospinning, bonding with an adhesive, thermally fusing, melt bonding, or other method. The filter is preferably arranged to have a desired pore size, although it will be appreciated that the pore size may be non-uniform depending upon the technique in which the filter is formed and attached. By way of example, the pore size of the filter may be approximately 40 μm such that embolizing agents having a characteristic size of more than 40 μm are prevented from refluxing past the valve. By way of another example, the pore size of the filter may be approximately 20 μm such that embolizing agents having a characteristic size of more than 20 μm are prevented from refluxing past the valve. In both cases, blood cells (which have a characteristic size smaller than 20 μm), and contrast agent which has a molecular size smaller than 20 μm will pass through the filter and valve.
According to an additional aspect of the invention, when in a fully-open position where the filaments assume the preferred crossing angle, the valve is adapted to have a distal diameter which is at least twice the diameter of the delivery catheter, and preferably at least five times the diameter of the delivery catheter.
In one embodiment, the filaments are all formed from a polymer. In another embodiment, one or more of the filaments is formed from stainless steel, platinum or platinum-iridium.
In an embodiment where one or more filaments are formed from a polymer, the filaments that are formed from the polymer are preferably melted at their proximal end into the delivery catheter.
The valve may be deployed in any of several manners. Thus, by way of example only, in appropriate embodiments, an outer catheter or sleeve extending over the delivery catheter may be used to keep the valve in an undeployed state, and the outer catheter or sleeve may be pulled backward relative to the delivery catheter in order to deploy the valve. Where an outer catheter or sleeve is utilized, the valve may be captured and returned to its undeployed position by moving the delivery catheter proximally relative to the outer catheter or sleeves.
As another example, the distal end of the valve may be provided with loops which are adapted to engage a guidewire which extends through and distal the distal end of the delivery catheter and through the distal loops of the valve. When the guidewire is withdrawn proximally, the valve deploys.
As another example, a knitted sleeve with a control thread can be provided to cover the valve. The control thread, when pulled, causes the knitted sleeve to unravel, thereby releasing the valve.
As yet another example, when no outer catheter is provided, the valve may be deployed by advancement through the delivery catheter and engagement between a valve seat at the distal end of the delivery catheter and corresponding mating structure at the proximal end of the valve. When the valve is engaged in the valve seat, the valve filaments extend distally of the delivery catheter and without further constraint on dynamic operation of the valve.
In addition, the valve may be retracted in any of several manners. Where an outer catheter is provided, the outer catheter and delivery catheter are movable relative to each other to cause the outer catheter to collapse the valve. In some embodiment where no outer catheter is provided, the valve may be released from the distal end of the delivery catheter and withdrawn, either so that it is drawn completely into the delivery catheter or completely withdrawn from the proximal end of the delivery catheter. One or more pull wires, including a braided construct may be attached to the valve to aid in such withdrawal of the valve. It is also appreciated that the valve may be withdrawn from the patient in a deployed state, if necessary.
In operation, the deployable apparatus operates as a one-way infusion system which allows forward flow of blood and infusate, but dynamically blocks reverse flow of embolics and most of the fluid that would flow backward during a reflux condition. During infusion in high downstream flow conditions, the valve of the deployable apparatus collapses and allows flow into downstream vascular branches. Any time the pressure in the orifice of the catheter (inside the expandable valve) increases higher than the pressure in the blood vessel, the expandable valve immediately opens and seals to the blood vessel wall, thus blocking upstream reflux of embolics. It is important to note that pressure is communicated throughout the vasculature at the speed of sound in blood (1540 m/s). Since the expandable valve responds to pressure changes, it reacts far faster than the flow rates of embolics in the blood (0.1 m/s).
Thus, the expandable valve provides a mechanism for the physician to increase pressure at the distal end of the catheter without risking reflux. This allows the physician to drive greater distal penetration of embolics than would be possible with a standard catheter. The apparatus may be used to either infuse a greater amount of therapy, enhance distal penetration of the therapy, or both. The device may also be used to infuse a small bolus of therapy, and then a larger infusion of saline to create greater distal penetration of the relatively small dose of therapy.
The design of the expandable valve filter may also be such that proteins in the blood almost immediately fill the pores of the filter valve once the valve is deployed into the vessel. The coatings provide a safety feature of the valve, such that while the pores can be filled with the blood proteins at pressures at or greater than the safe blood vessel pressures. However, once the pressure in the vessel exceeds a threshold pressure the coating facilitates release of the proteins from at the pores such that the pores are opened to thereby reduce intravessel pressure to a safe level. With the pores opened, blood can regurgitate through the pores of the filter valve, but the embolic agent continues to be contained at the high pressure side of the filter valve, as the embolic agent is too large to pass through the pores.
Prior art
A first exemplary embodiment of the invention is seen in
As seen in
It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the catheter 201 can be any catheter known in the art. Typically, the catheter will be between two and eight feet long, have an outer diameter of between 0.67 mm and 3 mm (corresponding to catheter sizes 2 French to 9 French), and will be made from a liner made of fluorinated polymer such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), a braid made of metal such as stainless steel or titanium, or a polymer such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or liquid crystal polymer, and an outer coating made of a polyether block amide thermoplastic elastomeric resin such as PEBAX®, polyurethane, polyamide, copolymers of polyamide, polyester, copolymers of polyester, fluorinated polymers, such as PTFE, FEP, polyimides, polycarbonate or any other suitable material, or any other standard or specialty material used in making catheters used in the bloodstream. Sleeve or outer catheter 202 is comprised of a material capable of holding valve braid 203 in a cylindrical configuration and capable of sliding over the valve braid 203 and the catheter 201. Sleeve or outer catheter 202 can be comprised of polyurethane, polyamide, copolymers of polyamide, polyester, copolymers of polyester, fluorinated polymers, such as PTFE, FEP, polyimides, polycarbonate or any other suitable material. The sleeve or outer catheter may also contain a braid composed of metal such as stainless steel or titanium, or a polymer such as PET or liquid crystal polymer, or any other suitable material. The wall thickness of sleeve or outer catheter 202 is preferably in the range of 0.05 mm to 0.25 mm with a more preferred thickness of 0.1 mm-0.15 mm.
The valve 203 is composed of one, two, or more metal (e.g., stainless steel or Nitinol) or polymer filaments, which form a substantially frustoconical shape when not subject to outside forces. Where polymeric filaments are utilized, the filaments may be composed of PET, polyethylene-napthalate (PEN), liquid crystal polymer, fluorinated polymers, nylon, polyamide or any other suitable polymer. If desired, when polymeric filaments are utilized, one or more metal filaments may be utilized in conjunction with the polymeric filaments. According to one aspect of the invention, where a metal filament is utilized, it may be of radio-opaque material such that it may be tracked in the body. The valve is capable of expanding in diameter while reducing in length, and reducing in diameter while expanding in length. The valve is preferably composed of shape memory material that is formed and set in a large diameter orientation. As previously mentioned, the valve is preferably held in a small diameter orientation until it is released, and when released by removing the sleeve or other restricting component 202, the distal end of the valve expands to a larger diameter. Where the valve is comprised of multiple filaments, it is preferred that the filaments not be bonded to each other along their lengths or at their distal ends so to enable the valve to rapidly automatically open and close in response to dynamic flow conditions.
In the preferred embodiment, the valve is constrained only at its proximal end where it is coupled to the catheter body, while the remainder of the valve can either be constrained (retracted state) by a sleeve or catheter, or partially unconstrained (partially deployed state) or completely unconstrained (completely deployed state). When in the partially or completely unconstrained conditions, depending upon the flow conditions in the vessel, the valve may either reach the walls of the vessel or it may not.
As previously mentioned, the valve diameter should automatically change in response to local pressure conditions so as to permit forward flow when the pressure proximal of the valve is higher than the pressure within and distal of the valve, but capture embolic agents during brief or prolonged periods of when the pressure within and distal of the valve is higher than proximal of the valve. For simplicity, the valve can be considered to exist in two conditions. In a “closed” condition, the valve is not sealed against the vessel wall and blood may flow around in at least a proximal to distal direction. In an “open” condition, the valve expands against the vessel wall and blood must pass through the valve if it is to flow past the valve within the vessel in either direction; in the “open” condition embolic agent is prevented from passing downsteam (or in a distal to proximal direction) of the valve.
Three parameters help define the performance and novel nature of the valve: the radial (outward) force of the valve, the time constant over which the valve changes condition from closed to open, and the pore size of the valve.
In a preferred embodiment, the valve expands fully to the vessel wall (i.e., reaches an open condition) when the pressure at the orifice of the catheter and within the valve is greater than the blood pressure (
The radial force of expansion of a braid is described by Jedwab and Clerc (Journal of Applied Biomaterials, Vol. 4, 77-85, 1993) and later updated by DeBeule (DeBeule et al., Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, 2005) as:
where K1, K2, K3 are constants given by:
and I and Ip are the surface and polar moments of inertia of the braid filaments, E is the Young's modulus of elasticity of the filament, and G is the shear modulus of the filament. These material properties along with the initial braid angle (β0), final braid angle (β), stent diameter (D0), and number of filaments (n) impact the radial force of the braided valve.
In one embodiment, with a valve arrangement as shown in
According to one aspect of the invention, the valve opens and closes sufficiently quickly to achieve high capture efficiency of embolic agents in the presence of rapidly changing pressure conditions. More particularly, any time the pressure at the distal opening of the catheter (inside the expandable valve) increases higher than the pressure in the blood vessel, the expandable valve substantially immediately opens and seals to the blood vessel wall, thus blocking refluxing embolics. It is important to note that pressure is communicated throughout the vasculature at the speed of sound in blood (1540 m/s) and that the valve opens and closes in in response to pressure changes within the blood vessel. Since the expandable valve responds to pressure changes, it reacts far faster than the flow rates of embolics in the blood (0.1 m/s) thereby preventing reflux of any embolics.
In one embodiment, when subject to the infusion pressure at the catheter distal end, the valve moves from a fully closed (undeployed) position to a fully open position in a static fluid (e.g., glycerin) having a viscosity approximately equal to the viscosity of blood (i.e., approximately 3.2 cP) in 0.067 second. For purposes herein, the time it takes to move from the fully closed position to the fully open position in a static fluid is called the “time constant”. According to another aspect of the invention, the valve is arranged such that the time constant of the valve in a fluid having the viscosity of blood is between 0.01 seconds and 1.00 seconds. More preferably, the valve is arranged such that the time constant of the valve in a fluid having the viscosity of blood is between 0.05 and 0.50 seconds. The time constant of the valve may be adjusted by changing one or more of the parameters described above (e.g., the number of filaments, the modulus of elasticity of the filaments, the diameter of the filaments, etc.).
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the braid geometry and material properties are intimately related to the radial force and time constant of the valve. Since, according to one aspect of the invention, the valve is useful in a variety of arteries of different diameters and flow conditions, each implementation can have a unique optimization. By way of example only, in one embodiment, the valve has ten filaments, whereas in another embodiment, the valve has forty filaments. Preferably, the filament diameter is chosen in the range of 0.025 mm to 0.127 mm, although other diameters may be utilized. Preferably, the pitch angle (i.e., the crossing angle assumed by the filaments in the fully open position—the shape memory position) is chosen in the range of 100° to 150°, although other pitch angles may be used. Preferably, the Young's modulus of the filament is at least 100 MPa, and more preferably at least 200 MPa.
According to another aspect of the invention, the valve is chosen to have a pore size which is small enough to capture (filter) embolic agents in the blood stream as the blood passes through the valve. Where large embolic agents (e.g., 500 μm) are utilized, it may be possible for the filaments of the valve to act directly as a filter to prevent embolic agents from passing through the valve (provided the filaments present pores of less than, e.g., 500 μm). Alternatively, a filter may be added to the filament structure. Such a separate filter is particularly useful where smaller embolic agents are utilized.
According to one aspect of the invention, the filter 301 has a characteristic pore size between 10 μm and 500 μm. More preferably, the filter 301 has a characteristic pore size between 15 μm and 100 μm. Even more preferably, the filter 301 has a characteristic pore size of less than 40 μm and more preferably between 20 μm and 40 μm. Most desirably, the filter 301 is provided with a characteristic pore size that will permit pressurized blood and contrast agent to pass therethrough while blocking passage of embolizing agent therethrough. By allowing regurgitating blood and contrast agent to pass through the filter in a direction from distal the valve toward the proximal end of the valve, the contrast agent may be used to indicate when the target site is fully embolized and can serve to identify a clinical endpoint of the embolization procedure. Therefore, according to one aspect of the invention, the valve allows the reflux of the contrast agent as an indicator of the clinical endpoint while preventing the reflux of the embolization agents at the same time. In addition, by allowing blood to flow back through the filter material, even at a relatively slow rate, backpressure on the distal side of the valve can be alleviated.
The filter 301 is also preferably provided with a hydrophilic coating, hydrophobic coating, or other coating that affects how proteins within blood adhere to the filter and specifically within the pores of the filter. More specifically, the coating is resistant to adhesion of blood proteins. One coating that has been used successfully is ANTI-FOG COATING 7-TS-13 available from Hydromer, Inc. of Branchburg, N.J., which can be applied to the filter by, e.g., dipping, spraying, roll or flow coating.
By appropriate design of the pore size and use of an appropriate coating, proteins in the blood will almost immediately fill the pores during use. The proteins on the coated porous filter operate as a pressure safety valve, such that the pores are filled with the proteins when subject to an initial fluid pressure greater than the blood vessel pressure, but the proteins are displaced from the pores and the pores are opened to blood flow at higher pressures such as a designated threshold pressure. The designated threshold pressure is determined to prevent damage to the tissue and organs, and injury to the patient. Thus, this system allows a pressure greater than the vessel pressure while limiting very high pressures which may be unsafe to the patient. As such, the system provides pressure regulation which is not possible with other occlusive devices, including balloons. Notwithstanding the advantage of the above, it is not a requirement of the invention that the filter be constructed to allow either blood or contrast agent to pass through in the upstream ‘reflux’ direction under any determined pressure.
According to one aspect of the method of the invention, the valve is capable of endovascular deployment. The valve is preferably coupled to the distal end of a catheter. When the distal end of the catheter is in the correct location for treatment, the valve is deployed. Preferably, with the valve deployed, embolization agents are delivered under pressure distally through the catheter and into the vessel. As discussed above, delivery of the embolization agents in this manner will result in a pressure change that initially causes higher pressure within the valve than upstream of the valve, thereby resulting in the valve rapidly expanding to assume an open position. During such expansion, the valve expands from an initial diameter (non-deployed or non-pressured position) to a final diameter (its open position) which is preferably at least twice, and more typically four to ten times the outer diameter of the catheter. In its open position, the valve stops embolization agents from traveling upstream past the valve (between the catheter wall and the vessel wall) in a proximal ‘reflux’ direction. According to one aspect of the invention, the valve is preferably capable of being retracted into its closed position after the embolization treatment procedure is completed.
It is important to note that the valve is a dynamic element that opens and closes based on local pressure conditions. In normal blood flow conditions when no fluid is infused through the catheter, the pressure within the valve and downstream of the valve is lower than the vascular pressure upstream of the valve. This pressure differential is sufficient to overcome the weak biasing force of the valve, thereby forcing the valve into a partially closed position such that it does not contact the vascular wall and thereby permits fluid to flow in the downstream direction around the outside of the valve. When the fluid pressure inside and outside of the valve is substantially the same, as may occur during the cyclic blood pressure and related flow conditions as the heart beats, the biasing force of the valve filaments causes the valve to expand into a partially expanded, but still ‘closed’ position; i.e., the valve does not reach the vessel wall. In addition, this may occur, e.g., when a priming fluid is infused through the catheter and valve at a similar pressure to the blood pressure. When higher pressure is generated through the distal end of the catheter and inside of the valve, such as may occur when the embolic infusate is injected under pressure into the catheter, the valve rapidly enters a fully open position in which it is in full contact with the vascular wall, thereby preventing reflux of embolizing agents.
By way of example, referring to
In addition, because the valve opens to prevent reflux of the embolic agent, significantly higher pressures can be applied at the catheter. At such higher infusion pressures, (1) a larger bolus of embolic agent can be infused, (2) the embolic agent can be driven downstream with greater distal penetration than otherwise possible with a standard catheter, and (3) or both. This effect is clearly shown in the results of an animal study in which one exemplar organ, pig kidneys, were infused with 40 μm tantalum beads (which are visible under X-rays) by each of a standard catheter and with the system of the invention. The kidney vasculature is hierarchical toward the cortex; i.e., larger vessels are located toward the center and smaller distal vessels branch outward toward the periphery. After infusion, the kidneys were imaged under Micro CT, which has a resolution of 50 μm and is highly sensitive to the tantalum beads. Referring to
It is recognized that in the open state, proteins in the blood may rapidly fill the pores of the filter valve. However, as discussed above, should a threshold pressure be reached, the filter valve is designed to permit the blood to reflux through the pores of the filter valve while still blocking the passage of the embolic agent. An exemplar threshold pressure is 180 mmHg on the distal surface of the filter valve, although the device can be designed to accommodate other threshold pressures. Such can be effected, at least in part, by the use of an appropriate coating on the filter that facilitates removal of the blood proteins from within the filter pores when subject to threshold pressure. This prevents the vessel in which the device is inserted from being subject to a pressure that could otherwise result in damage. Nevertheless, it is not necessary that blood and contrast agent be permitted to reflux through the valve.
According to one aspect of the invention, deployment of the valve is controlled from the proximal end of the catheter. In some embodiments, a control wire or a set of two or more control wires extending from the proximal end of the catheter to the distal end of the catheter may be used and controlled by the practitioner to deploy and optionally retract the valve. In some embodiments, a control thread extending from the proximal end of the catheter to the distal end of the catheter is used to unravel fabric covering the valve in order to deploy the valve. In some embodiments, an outer catheter that extends the length of the catheter to which the valve is coupled, covers the valve and during deployment is pulled backward to allow the valve to expand. In some embodiments, an outer sleeve that is coupled to a control element that extends the length of the catheter, covers the valve and during deployment is pulled backward by the control element to allow the valve to expand. In some embodiments, the valve is coupled to a guidewire, and removal of the catheter guidewire initiates deployment of the valve. The control wires, threads, sleeves, etc. may be of standard length, ranging, for example, from 60 cm to 240 cm long.
As previously mentioned, the deployment of the valve can be achieved in a variety of manners. As was described in
Turning now to
According to one aspect of the invention, the valve of any embodiment of the invention is attached to the distal end of the catheter in any of several manners. As seen in
In one preferred embodiment, the valve is fused into the catheter. More particularly, as seen in
Turning now to
Turning now to
The delivery catheter 801 is preferably a 3 French microcatheter or a 4 or 5 French catheter. The delivery catheter 801 is constructed of one, two or more than two layers. In one embodiment, the delivery catheter 801 includes an inner liner made of, e.g., FEP or PTFE, a central braid made of one or more of metal, polymer or liquid crystal polymer, and an outer polymeric cover made of, e.g., a polyether block amide thermoplastic elastomeric resin such as PEBAX®, polyetheretherketone (PEEK), or another suitable polymer.
The delivery catheter 801 has a distal end 805 provided with a valve seat 814 and a radiopaque marker band 816 located proximal to, distal of, or about the valve seat 814. The valve seat 814 is preferably defined by a circumferential inner groove located at the distal end 805 of the delivery catheter 801. The valve seat 814 may be defined directly on the delivery catheter, or be bonded or fused into the delivery catheter or to the distal end 805 of the delivery catheter. When the valve seat 814 is defined directly on the delivery catheter 801 and the delivery catheter is made from a multilayer construct, the valve seat 814 may be defined through one or two layers, or two layers and a partial depth of a third outer layer.
The valve 803 is generally as described in any of the embodiments above. The valve 803 may be a polymer braid coated with a polymer surface, a metal braid coated with a polymer surface, or a combination of polymer and metal braid coated with a polymer surface. The polymer surface may be a sheet, a sheet with holes drilled into it, or a mesh. The valve may be permeable or impermeable to blood. Regardless of the construct, the valve is a dynamic element that opens and closes based on local blood flow conditions. The proximal portion of the valve 803 includes mating structure 818 that can engage with the valve seat 812 at the distal end 805 of the delivery catheter 801 when the valve is advanced through the delivery catheter, as described in more detail below.
The mating structure 818 may include a shape memory polymer or elastic polymer that can be compressed for advancement through the body of the catheter, but which will automatically expand to seat in the valve seat 814. Referring to
The deployment element 810 is a push wire preferably generally similar in construction to a conventional guide wire. The outer diameter of the distal end 810a of the push wire is larger than the inner diameter of the proximal end of the valve 803. As a result, the push wire 810 can be used to provide a pushing force at the proximal portion 803a of the valve 803 and advance the valve through the delivery catheter 801; i.e., the distal end 810a of the push wire 810 and proximal portion 803a of the valve are relatively sized so that the push wire 810 will not freely extend through the valve 803. When the proximal portion 803a is constrained by inner wall 801a, the push wire 810 may include a polymer bead or metal bead to increase its distal end diameter and facilitate application of a pushing force on the valve. Additionally or alternatively, a cylindrical or tubular element may be fused or bonded onto the distal end of the push wire to aid in application of a pushing force against the valve. Additionally or alternatively, one or more metal or polymeric coils may be provided at the distal end of the push wire to increase its outer diameter. Any feature added to the distal end of the push wire should maintain trackability of the push wire. The push wire 810 is preferably made from a radiopaque material or contains one or more radiopaque markers, such as of platinum, along its length.
The valve introducer 812 is a polymeric tube made, e.g., from PTFE. The introducer 812 is preferably 1 cm to 50 cm in length and may optionally be provided with a handle at its proximal end (not shown) to facilitate manipulation thereof. As shown in
Referring to
Embolic agents are then infused through the delivery catheter 801 and the valve 803. The valve 803 functions as described above. That is, as the embolic agents are infused, the valve 803 enables forward flow but prevents reverse flow (reflux) of embolic agents in the blood vessel in which the delivery catheter is inserted. As a result of not using a tube within a tube construct during infusion of embolic agents (i.e., a delivery catheter with an outer sleeve), as described in various above embodiments, a larger delivery catheter can be used to provide greater flow of embolic agents to the treatment site. After infusion is complete, the delivery catheter 801, along with the valve 803 at its distal end 805, is retracted from the patient.
It is also appreciated that while positive engagement between a valve and valve seat is desired, it is not necessary. That is, provided alignment of the valve relative to the distal end of the catheter can be fluoroscopically visualized, such as with the use of respective radiopaque markers, the valve can be manually retained at the appropriate location relative to the catheter.
Another embodiment similar to deployment apparatus 800 includes a deployment element constructed of a thin wire attached to the valve. The wire preferably has a diameter of 0.025 mm to 0.125 mm, and may be a standard wire or a flattened wire. A flattened wire may more closely correspond to the inner surface of the catheter to limit any obstruction of the lumen of the catheter. In use, the thin wire advances the valve to the valve seat and then remains attached to the valve and within the catheter during infusion of the embolic agent.
Turning now to
Turning now to
The retraction element 1420 is a pull wire attached to the mating structure 1418. The pull wire 1420 may be flattened or otherwise formed such that it conforms close to the inner surface 1401a of the delivery catheter 1401 to maximize the usable space within the lumen of the delivery catheter for delivery of the embolic agent. The pull wire 1420 should have sufficient mechanical strength in tension to release and withdraw the valve 1403 from the delivery catheter. However, it is appreciated that the pull wire 1420 is not required to have high compressive stiffness, as the push wire 1410 extends parallel to the pull wire 1420 and performs the function of advancing the valve to the distal end of the delivery catheter.
Use of the apparatus is similar to apparatus 800. The valve 1403, push wire 1410 and pull wire 1420 are all surrounded with an introducer (not shown) that facilitates introduction of such elements into the infusion port of the delivery catheter. The push wire 1410 advances the valve 1403 and pull wire 1420 out of the introducer and to the distal end of the delivery catheter 1401. Once the valve 1403 engages the valve seat 1414, the push wire 1410 is withdrawn from the delivery catheter 1401. Embolic agents are then infused through the delivery catheter 1401 to treat the patient. After the embolic agents have been infused, the valve 1403 can be withdrawn into the delivery catheter 1401 by applying a sufficient tensile force on the pull wire 1420 to release the valve 1403 from the valve seat 1414 and retract it into the delivery catheter 1401. The delivery catheter is then removed from the patient. Optionally, the pull wire 1420 may be used to completely withdraw the valve 1403 from the delivery catheter 1401 prior to removing the delivery catheter from the patient.
In addition to a single pull wire, the retraction element may take other forms which may be similarly used to withdraw the valve from the delivery catheter after infusion of the embolic agent. For example, referring to
As yet another alternative, the push wire and retraction element may be comprised of a single element having sufficient compressive and tensile strengths to advance the valve to the valve seat and retract the valve from the valve seat at the conclusion of the procedure. Such single element should be of a design which retains usable space within the lumen of the delivery catheter to permit sufficient infusion of embolic agents.
Referring to
In another embodiment of the invention, no deployment element is required. The valve is advanced through the catheter to a valve seat using hydraulic pressure. Any of the valve designs described above with respect to
Another embodiment of a delivery apparatus 1900 is shown at
Turning now to
Turning now to
Turning now to
Referring now to
Turning now to
Referring now to
It is appreciated that it in any of the embodiments described above it may be desirable to controllably flush the outer catheter through a route that exits behind the valve. Such flush may include a contrast agent, saline, etc. Turning now to
Turning now to
The apparatus 2800 further includes a thin-walled tubular elongate member 2850 preferably having an inner diameter of 0.53 mm and an outer diameter of 0.64 mm. The tubular member 2850 is most preferably in the form of a wire coil 2852 preferably with an axially extending peripheral wire 2854 or oversheath 2856 for longitudinal stability. The coil tubular member has a proximal end 2850a provided with a hub 2858 for locking relative to the luer connector 2803, such as a tuohy borst adapter and a distal end 2850b. When the coil tubular member 2850 is inserted into the luer connector 2803, through the first microcatheter 2801, and through the valve 2805, its distal end 2850b abuts the proximal face 2802c of the second microcatheter 2802. The coil tubular member 2850 is sized such that when fully advanced into the first microcatheter 2801, the proximal end 2802a of the second microcatheter 2802 is displaced from the distal end 2801b of the first microcatheter 2802 a sufficient distance to apply a tensile force on the valve to cause the valve to elongate and constrict in diameter to a significantly smaller non-deployed diameter suitable for advancement through the vessel. The apparatus 2800 may be presented in this configuration in an as manufactured and/or sterilized package.
Referring to
Referring to
Turning to
Turning now to
The apparatus 2900 further includes an elongate member such as a guidewire 2960. The guidewire 2960 is preferably a 0.45 mm diameter guidewire, but may be other dimensions, and includes a hub 2958 adjacent its proximal end 2960a and a preferably radiopaque marker band 2962 adjacent its distal end 2960b. The marker band 2962 is larger than the inner diameter of the second microcatheter and is thus adapted to abut against the proximal face 2902c. A fixed length is indicated, whether by actual length, indicia, or stops between the guide wire from the proximal 2901a end of the first microcatheter 2901 or the distal end of the marker band 2962. The guidewire is inserted through the first microcatheter such fixed length so that the marker band is abutted against proximal face of the second microcatheter; this results in the valve entering the collapsed configuration. The apparatus with guidewire is then advanced to the target. Once at the target the guidewire is removed from the apparatus.
Referring to
Turning to
In any of the embodiments described herein, the components of the valve may be coated to reduce friction in deployment and retraction. The components may also be coated to reduce thrombus formation along the valve or to be compatible with therapeutics, biologics, or embolics. The components may be coated to increase binding of embolization agents so that they are removed from the vessel during retraction.
According to one aspect of the invention, the catheter body and mesh may be separately labeled for easy visualization under fluoroscopy. The catheter body can be labeled by use of any means known in the art; for example, compounding a radio-opaque material into the catheter tubing. The radio-opaque material can be barium sulfate, bismuth subcarbonate or other material. Alternatively or additionally, radio-opaque rings can be placed or crimped onto the catheter, where the rings are made of platinum, platinum iridium, gold, tantalum, and the like. The valve may be labeled by crimping a small radio-opaque element such as a ring on one or a plurality of filaments. Alternatively or additionally, radio-opaque medium can be compounded into the materials of the braid and the filter. Or, as previously described, one or more of the filaments may be chosen to be made of a radio-opaque material such as platinum iridium.
In certain embodiments, the valve is attached to a catheter which may be a single lumen or a multi-lumen catheter. Preferably, the catheter has at least one lumen used to deliver the embolization agents. According to other embodiments, however, the catheter may provided with a lumen which either serves to store the valve before deployment or through which the valve can be delivered. Where control members are utilized to control deployment of the valve, one or more additional lumen may be provided, if desired, to contain the control wires for deployment and retraction. Alternatively, the catheter about which the control members extends may include longitudinal open channels through which the control wires may extend. An additional lumen may also be used to administer fluids, e.g., for flushing the artery after the administration of embolization agents, or for controlling a balloon which could be used in conjunction with the valve.
The above apparatus and methods have been primarily directed to a system which permits proximal and distal flow of biological fluid (e.g., blood) within a body vessel, and which prevents reflux of an infusate past the valve in a proximal direction. It is appreciated that the valve may also be optimized to reduce blood flow in the distal direction. The radial force of the valve can be tuned by adjusting the braid angle. Tuning the radial force allows the blood flow to be reduced by up to more than 50 percent. By way of example, providing a braid angle greater than 130° will significantly reduce blood flow past the valve in the distal direction, with a braid angle of approximately 150° slowing the blood flow by 50 to 60 percent. Other braid angles can provide different reductions in distal blood flow. The reduced distal blood flow can be used in place of a ‘wedge’ technique, in which distal blood flow is reduced for treatment of brain and spinal arteriovenous malformations. Once the blood flow is slowed by the valve, a glue such as a cyanoacrylic can be applied at the target site.
There have been described and illustrated herein multiple embodiments of devices and methods for reducing or preventing reflux of embolization agents in a vessel. While particular embodiments of the invention have been described, it is not intended that the invention be limited thereto, as it is intended that the invention be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Thus while particular deployment means for the protection valve have been described, such as a catheter, a sleeve and control element, a fabric sleeve with a control thread, etc., it will be appreciated that other deployment mechanisms such as balloons, absorbable sleeves, or combinations of elements could be utilized. Likewise, while various materials have been listed for the valve filaments, the valve filter, the catheter, and the deployment means, it will be appreciated that other materials can be utilized for each of them. Also, while the invention has been described with respect to particular arteries of humans, it will be appreciated that the invention can have application to any blood vessel and other vessels, including ducts, of humans and animals. In particular, the apparatus can also be used in treatments of tumors, such as liver, renal or pancreatic carcinomas. Further, the embodiments have been described with respect to their distal ends because their proximal ends can take any of various forms, including forms well known in the art. By way of example only, the proximal end can include two handles with one handle connected to the inner (delivery) catheter, and another handle connected to an outer catheter or sleeve or actuation wire or string. Movement of one handle in a first direction relative to the other handle can be used to deploy the valve, and where applicable, movement of that handle in an opposite second direction can be used to recapture the valve. Depending upon the handle arrangement, valve deployment can occur when the handles are moved away from each other or towards each other. As is well known, the handles can be arranged to provide for linear movement relative to each other or rotational movement. If desired, the proximal end of the inner catheter can be provided with hash-marks or other indications at intervals along the catheter so that movement of the handles relative to each other can be visually calibrated and give an indication of the extent to which the valve is opened. It will therefore be appreciated by those skilled in the art that yet other modifications could be made to the provided invention without deviating from its spirit and scope as claimed.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 12/957,533, filed Dec. 1, 2010 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,696,698, which claims the benefit of U.S. Ser. No. 61/382,290, filed Sep. 13, 2010, and is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 12/829,565, filed Jul. 2, 2010 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,500,775, which claims priority from U.S. Ser. No. 61/266,068, filed Dec. 2, 2009, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 20120116351 A1 | May 2012 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 61382290 | Sep 2010 | US | |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 12957533 | Dec 2010 | US |
| Child | 13306105 | US | |
| Parent | 12829565 | Jul 2010 | US |
| Child | 12957533 | US |
