Patent Application
20170049470
The present disclosure pertains generally to medical devices and methods of their use. More particularly, the present invention pertains to aspiration and thrombectomy devices and methods of use thereof.
Several devices and systems already exist to aid in the removal of thrombetic material. These include simple aspiration tube type devices using vacuum syringes to extract thrombus into the syringe, simple flush-and-aspirate devices, more complex devices with rotating components the pull in, macerate and transport thrombetic material away from the distal tip using a mechanical auger, systems that use very high pressure to macerate the thrombus and create a venturi effect to flush the macerated material away.
All of the devices described above have limitations as a result of individual design characteristics. For example, simple aspiration catheters off ease of use and rapid deployment but may become blocked or otherwise inoperable when faced with older, more organized thrombetic material. Such devices must be removed and cleared outside the body and then re-inserted into the vasculature, which lengthens the time needed for the procedure and increases the opportunity to kink the catheter shaft. Such kinks may reduce performance by decreasing the cross-sectional area of the catheter or may render the device inoperable. The use of a syringe to provide vacuum, moreover, may increase the risk of operator error by not preventing the operator from applying positive pressure to the aspiration lumen and thereby expelling loose embolic material into the patient vasculature.
Mechanical rotary devices use an auger to grab and carry the thrombus away from the target area. Some create transport force via vacuum bottles while others create differential pressure at the distal tip of the device with the auger acting as a low pressure pump. These devices typically work slowly and offer the physician no feedback as to when the device should be advanced further into the lesion.
Flushing type devices include manual flush type devices in which the physician manipulates a hand-driven pump to provide flowing saline at the tip of the device to break up and aspirate the thrombus material, which may introduce performance variations based on the ability of the physician to consistently pump the device over the duration of the procedure. Flushing devices also include high pressure flushing devices that macerate the thrombus and then, using a vortex created by the high pressure fluid, transport the emulsified thrombetic material to a collection bag. These devices are effective at removing all levels of thrombetic material, but the pressure created by the device is so great that its action against certain vessel walls may interrupt the heart muscle stimulation mechanism and creates a bradycardia event in certain patients that requires a pacing lead to be placed in the patient prior to use. Further, interacting with the thrombetic material outside of the catheter may allow loose material to escape the capture mechanism.
Thus, a need remains for improved thrombus removal capability particularly for systems that have increased reliability, are more benign and offer greater feedback capabilities.
The disclosure pertains generally to devices such as an assisted aspiration catheter for removing a range of thrombetic material from the general vascular system, natural or synthetic tubule or cavity found in the human body of a patient via standard vascular access using the Seldinger technique.
In one illustrative but non-limiting example, a vacuum source is connected to the proximal end of a flexible, kink resistant tube or aspiration lumen or catheter. The other end of the aspiration lumen is open to patient vasculature to allow thrombetic material to be drawn into the aspiration lumen via the suction provided by the vacuum source. The vacuum source may also act as a containment vessel for aspirated thrombetic material. A second flexible tube that may be housed inside the aspiration lumen conveys a pressurized stream of sterile saline or other physiologic solution to a specifically placed orifice near the distal end of the aspiration lumen. A control system may be provided that ensures the synchronous operation of the vacuum source and the pressurized stream. Thereby thrombetic material may be drawn by vacuum into the distal opening of the catheter. Less organized thrombetic material may be immediately aspirated into the containment vessel and more organized thrombetic material may be removed by being drawn into the catheter and is macerated by a high-pressure fluid stream within the catheter opening and aspirated into the containment vessel.
The above summer summary of some embodiments is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment or every implementation of the present invention. The Figures and Detailed Description that follow more particularly exemplify these embodiments.
While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the claims.
For the following defined terms, these definitions shall be applied, unless a different definition is given in the claims or elsewhere in this specification.
All numeric values are herein assumed to be modified by the term “about,” whether or not explicitly indicated. The term “about” generally refers to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited value (i.e., having the same function or result). In many instances, the terms “about” may include numbers that are rounded to the nearest significant figure.
The recitation of numerical ranges by endpoints includes all numbers within that range (e.g. 1 to 5 includes 1, 1.5, 2, 2.75, 3, 3.80, 4, and 5).
As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the term “or” is generally employed in its sense including “and/or” unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.
The following detailed description should be read with reference to the drawings in which similar elements in different drawings are numbered the same. The drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, depict illustrative embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
An interface connector 18 joins extension tubing 14 and catheter 16 together. In one contemplated embodiment, interface connector 18 may contain a filter assembly (not shown) between high pressure extension tubing 16 and the high pressure lumen of catheter 16. The catheter and extension tube may be permanently joined by connector 18. Alternatively, interface connector 18 may contain a standardized connection so that a selected catheter 16 may be attached to extension tubing 14.
Attached to hand piece 12 are a fluid source 20 and a vacuum source 22. A standard hospital saline bag may be used as fluid source 20; such bags are readily available to the physician and provide the necessary volume to perform the procedure. Vacuum bottles may provide the vacuum source 22 or the vacuum source may be provided by a syringe, a vacuum pump or other suitable vacuum source.
In one contemplated embodiment, catheter 16 has a variable stiffness ranging from stiffer at the proximal end to more flexible at the distal end. The variation in the stiffness of catheter 16 may be achieved with a single tube with no radial bonds between two adjacent tubing pieces. For example, the shaft of catheter 16 may be made from a single length of metal tube that has a spiral cut down the length of the tube to provide shaft flexibility. Variable stiffness may be created by varying the pitch of the spiral cut through different lengths of the metal tube. For example, the pitch of the spiral cut may be greater (where the turns of the spiral cut are closer together) at the distal end of the device to provide greater flexibility. Conversely, the pitch of the spiral cut at the proximal end may be lower (where the turns of the spiral cut are further apart) to provide increased stiffness. A single jacket covers the length of the metal tube to provide for a vacuum tight catheter shaft. Other features of catheter 16 are described with reference to
An electronic control board (not shown) is used to provide the operator interface by use of switches and indicator lamps. The control board also monitors and controls several device safety functions, which include over pressure and air bubble detection and vacuum charge. In one contemplated embodiment, the pump pressure is proportional to the electric current needed to produce that pressure. Consequently, if the electric current required by pump 26 exceeds a preset limit, the control board will disable the pump by cutting power to it. Air bubble detection may also be monitored by electrical current going to the pump. In order for a displacement pump to reach high fluid pressures, there should be little or no air (which is highly compressible) present in the pump or connecting system. The fluid volume is small enough that any air in the system will result in no pressure being generated at the pump head. The control board monitors the pump current for any abrupt downward change that may indicate that air has entered the system. If the rate of drop is faster than a preset limit, the control board will disable the pump by cutting power to it until the problem is corrected. The vacuum line may be connected to a negative pressure sensor. If the vacuum is vacuum source 22 is low or if a leak is detected in the vacuum system, the control board disables the pump until the problem is corrected. The vacuum sensor may also be part of the safety circuit that will not allow the pump to run if vacuum is not present. Thereby a comprehensive safety system that requires both pump pressure and vacuum pressure for the system to run. If a problem exists, the control board will not allow the user to operate the device until all problems are corrected.
Other contemplated catheters are disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 12/026,317 to Jensen et al., entitled “Thrombectomy Apparatus and Method” and filed Feb. 5, 2008, which is incorporated by reference.
In some cases, parts or all of the devices described herein may be doped with, made of, coated with, or otherwise include a radiopaque material. Radiopaque materials are understood to be materials capable of producing a relatively bright image on a fluoroscopy screen or another imaging technique during a medical procedure. Some examples of radiopaque materials can include, but are not limited to, gold, platinum, palladium, tantalum, tungsten alloy, polymer material loaded with a radiopaque filler, and the like.
In some instances, a degree of MRI compatibility may be imparted into parts of the devices described herein. For example, to enhance compatibility with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines, it may be desirable to make various portions of the devices described herein from materials that do not substantially distort MRI images or cause substantial artifacts (gaps in the images). Some ferromagnetic materials, for example, may not be suitable as they may create artifacts in an MRI image. In some cases, the devices described herein may include materials that the MRI machine can image. Some materials that exhibit these characteristics include, for example, tungsten, cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloys (e.g., UNS: R30003 such as ELGILOY®, PHYNOX®, and the like), nickel-cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloys (e.g., UNS: R30035 such as MP35-N® and the like), nitinol, and the like, and others.
In some instances, some of the devices described herein may include a coating such as a lubricious coating or a hydrophilic coating. Hydrophobic coatings such as fluoropolymers provide a dry lubricity. Lubricious coatings improve steerability and improve lesion crossing capability. Suitable lubricious polymers are well known in the art and may include silicone and the like, hydrophilic polymers such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyarylene oxides, polyvinylpyrolidones, polyvinylalcohols, hydroxy alkyl cellulosics, algins, saccharides, caprolactones, and the like, and mixtures and combinations thereof. Hydrophilic polymers may be blended among themselves or with formulated amounts of water insoluble compounds (including some polymers) to yield coatings with suitable lubricity, bonding, and solubility.
It should be understood that this disclosure is, in many respects, only illustrative. Changes may be made in details, particularly in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of steps without exceeding the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is, of course, defined in the language in which the appended claims are expressed.
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/250,286, filed Oct. 13, 2008.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 12250286 | Oct 2008 | US |
| Child | 15341224 | US |
