Patent Application
20050240148
The present invention pertains to angioplasty and angioplasty balloon catheters. More particularly, the present invention pertains to angioplasty balloon catheters that include one or more cutting edges coupled to the angioplasty balloon.
Heart and vascular disease are major problems in the United States and throughout the world. Conditions such as atherosclerosis result in blood vessels becoming blocked or narrowed. This blockage can result in lack of oxygenation of the heart, which has significant consequences since the heart muscle must be well oxygenated in order to maintain its blood pumping action.
Occluded, stenotic, or narrowed blood vessels may be treated with a number of relatively non-invasive medical procedures including percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), and atherectomy. Angioplasty techniques typically involve the use of a balloon catheter. The balloon catheter is advanced over a guidewire so that the balloon is positioned adjacent a stenotic lesion. The balloon is then inflated and the restriction of the vessel is opened.
One of the major obstacles in treating coronary artery disease and/or treating blocked blood vessels is re-stenosis. Evidence has shown that cutting the stenosis, for example, with an angioplasty balloon equipped with a cutting blade, during treatment can reduce incidence of re-stenosis. Additionally, cutting the stenosis may reduce trauma at the treatment site and/or may reduce the trauma to adjacent healthy tissue. Cutting blades may also be beneficial additions to angioplasty procedures when the targeted occlusion is hardened or calcified. It is believed typical angioplasty balloons, alone, may not be able to expand certain of these hardened lesions. Thus, angioplasty balloons equipped with cutting edges have been developed to attempt to enhance angioplasty treatments. There is an ongoing need for improved angioplasty devices, including cutting angioplasty balloons, and improved methods of treating intravascular stenoses and occlusions.
The present invention relates to angioplasty balloon catheters. In at least some embodiments, an example balloon catheter includes a catheter shaft having a balloon coupled thereto. A cutting member or blade is coupled to the balloon. The cutting member may include one or more traction members or a traction region that can, for example, improve traction between the balloon (or the cutting member) and a target site. These and other features are described in more detail below.
The following description should be read with reference to the drawings wherein like reference numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views. The detailed description and drawings illustrate example embodiments of the claimed invention.
Cutting members 20 may help to concentrate force exerted by catheter 10 onto lesion 14 and may cut into or otherwise sever or break up lesion 14. For a number of reasons, it may be desirable for cutting members 20 to also help to increase the traction between catheter 10 and lesion 14. Increasing the traction may help to reduce the possibility that balloon 16 might slip away from lesion 14 during an intervention, which could impact the effectiveness of the intervention. The number, position, and arrangement of cutting members 20 may vary. For example, catheter 10 may include one, two, three, four, five, six, or more cutting members 20 that are disposed at any position along balloon 16 and in a regular, irregular, or any other suitable pattern.
In at least some embodiments, cutting members 20 include a traction member or traction region 23 that may be, for example, adapted and configured to increase traction between catheter 10 (i.e., cutting members 20) and lesion 14. Traction region 23 may vary in its form or structural configuration. For example, traction region 23 may be defined by one or more saw-tooth projections as depicted in
Balloon 16 may be made from typical angioplasty balloon materials including polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyetherimid (PEI), polyethylene (PE), etc. Some other examples of suitable polymers, including lubricious polymers, may include polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), polyoxymethylene (POM), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyether block ester, polyurethane, polypropylene (PP), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyether-ester (for example, a polyether-ester elastomer such as ARNITEL® available from DSM Engineering Plastics), polyester (for example, a polyester elastomer such as HYTREL® available from DuPont), polyamide (for example, DURETHAN® available from Bayer or CRISTAMID® available from Elf Atochem), elastomeric polyamides, block polyamide/ethers, polyether block amide (PEBA, for example, available under the trade name PEBAX®), silicones, Marlex high-density polyethylene, Marlex low-density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene (for example, REXELL®), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyimide (PI), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyphenylene oxide (PPO), polysulfone, nylon, perfluoro(propyl vinyl ether) (PFA), other suitable materials, or mixtures, combinations, copolymers thereof, polymer/metal composites, and the like. In some embodiments, it may be desirable to use high modulus or generally stiffer materials so as to reduce balloon elongation. The above list of materials includes some examples of higher modulus materials. Some other examples of stiffer materials include polymers blended with liquid crystal polymer (LCP) as well as the materials listed above. For example, the mixture can contain up to about 5% LCP.
Shaft 18 may be a catheter shaft, similar to typical catheter shafts. For example, shaft 18 may include an inner tubular member 24 and outer tubular member 26. Tubular members 24/26 may be manufactured from a number of different materials. For example, tubular members 24/26 may be made of metals, metal alloys, polymers, metal-polymer composites or any other suitable materials. Some examples of suitable metals and metal alloys include stainless steel, such as 300 series stainless steel (including 304V, 304L, and 316L; 400 series martensitic stainless steel; tool steel; nickel-titanium alloy such as linear-elastic or super-elastic Nitinol, nickel-chromium alloy, nickel-chromium-iron alloy, cobalt alloy, tungsten or tungsten alloys, MP35-N (having a composition of about 35% Ni, 35% Co, 20% Cr, 9.75% Mo, a maximum 1% Fe, a maximum 1% Ti, a maximum 0.25% C, a maximum 0.15% Mn, and a maximum 0.15% Si), hastelloy, monel 400, inconel 825, or the like; or other suitable material. Some examples of suitable polymers include those described above in relation to balloon 16. Of course, any other polymer or other suitable materials including ceramics may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. The materials used to manufacture inner tubular member 24 may be the same as or be different from the materials used to manufacture outer tubular member 26. Those materials listed herein may also be used for manufacturing other components of catheter 10 including cutting members 20.
Tubular members 24/26 may be arranged in any appropriate way. For example, in some embodiments inner tubular member 24 can be disposed coaxially within outer tubular member 26. According to these embodiments, inner and outer tubular members 24/26 may or may not be secured to one another along the general longitudinal axis of shaft 18. Alternatively, inner tubular member 24 may follow the inner wall or otherwise be disposed adjacent the inner wall of outer tubular member 26. Again, inner and outer tubular members 24/26 may or may not be secured to one another. For example, inner and outer tubular members 24/26 may be bonded, welded (including tack welding or any other welding technique), or otherwise secured at a bond point. In some embodiments, the bond point may be generally disposed near the distal end of shaft 18. However, one or more bond points may be disposed at any position along shaft 18. The bond may desirably impact, for example, the stability and the ability of tubular members 24/26 to maintain their position relative to one another. In still other embodiments, inner and outer tubular member 24/26 may be adjacent to and substantially parallel to one another so that they are non-overlapping. In these embodiments, shaft 18 may include an outer sheath that is disposed over tubular members 24/26.
Inner tubular member 24 may include an inner lumen 28. In a preferred embodiment, inner lumen 28 is a guidewire lumen. Accordingly, catheter 10 can be advanced over guidewire 22 to the desired location. The guidewire lumen may extend along essentially the entire length of catheter shaft 18 so that catheter 10 resembles traditional “over-the-wire” catheters. Alternatively, the guidewire lumen may extend along only a portion of shaft 18 so that catheter 10 resembles “single-operator-exchange” or “rapid-exchange” catheters. Regardless of which type of catheter is contemplated, catheter 10 may be configured so that balloon 16 is disposed over at least a region of inner lumen 28. In at least some of these embodiments, inner lumen 28 (i.e., the portion of inner lumen 28 that balloon 16 is disposed over) may be substantially coaxial with balloon 16.
Shaft 18 may also include an inflation lumen 30 that may be used, for example, to transport inflation media to and from balloon 16. The location and position of inflation lumen 30 may vary, depending on the configuration of tubular members 24/26. For example, when outer tubular member 26 is disposed over inner tubular member 24, inflation lumen 30 may be defined within the generally annular space between tubular members 24/26. Moreover, depending on the position of inner tubular member 24 within outer tubular member 26, the shape of lumen 30 (i.e., the shape adjacent shaft 18) may vary. For example, if inner tubular member 24 is attached to or disposed adjacent to the inside surface of outer tubular member 26, then inflation lumen 30 may be generally half-moon in shape; whereas if inner tubular member 24 is generally coaxial with outer tubular member 26, then inflation lumen 30 may be generally ring-shaped or annular in shape. It can be appreciated that if outer tubular member 26 is disposed alongside inner tubular member 24, then lumen 30 may be the lumen of outer tubular member 26 or it may be the space defined between the outer surface of tubular members 24/26 and the outer sheath disposed thereover.
Balloon 16 may be coupled to catheter shaft 18 in any of a number of suitable ways. For example, balloon 16 may be adhesively or thermally bonded to shaft 18. In some embodiments, a proximal waist 32 of balloon 16 may be bonded to shaft 18, for example, at outer tubular member 26, and a distal waist 34 may be bonded to shaft 18, for example, at inner tubular member 24. The exact bonding positions, however, may vary. It can be appreciated that a section of proximal waist 32 may not have sections 36 extending therefrom in order for suitable bonding between balloon 16 and outer tubular member 30.
In addition to some of the structures described above, shaft 18 may also include a number of other structural elements, including those typically associated with catheter shafts. For example, shaft 18 may include a radiopaque marker coupled thereto that may aid a user in determining the location of catheter 10 within the vasculature. In addition, catheter 10 may include a folding spring (not shown) coupled to balloon 16, for example, adjacent proximal waist 32, which may further help in balloon folding and refolding. A description of a suitable folding spring can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,425,882, which is incorporated herein by reference.
As stated above, cutting members 20 may include traction region 23, which may have a number of different forms or configurations. The embodiment depicted in
The saw-toothed configuration of traction region 23 allows cutting members 20 to more tightly grip lesion 14 and/or to more deeply penetrate into lesion 14. Accordingly, cutting members 20 may be more tightly anchored when they are engaged with lesion 14. This can improve the traction and/or positional stability of catheter 10 during an intervention. In addition, the saw-toothed configuration reduces the surface area of cutting members 20 at the point of contact. This allows cutting members 20 to effectively engage lesion 14.
Balloon 16 may be configured so that it includes one or more wings 36, as shown in
In at least some embodiments, wings 36 may be dispersed so that wings 36 and cutting members 20 alternate. Additionally, it may be desirable to configure wings 36 so that cutting members 20 are positioned at the inward-most positions of wings 36. This arrangement allows cutting members 20 to be positioned more closely to shaft 18 when balloon 16 is deflated. Accordingly, cutting members 20 can be moved away from the vessel walls where they might otherwise result in contact and, possibly, damage to healthy tissue during movement of catheter 10 within a body lumen. Additionally, alternating wings 36 and cutting members 12 as well as positioning cutting members 20 relatively close to shaft 18 may allow wings 36 to fold over and cover cutting members 20 when balloon 16 is deflated. Again, this feature may reduce the exposure of cutting members 20 to the blood vessel.
Another example cutting member 120 is illustrated in
Cutting member 120 functions similarly to cutting members 20. For example, cutting member 120 can be coupled to balloon 16 in essentially the same manner as cutting members 20 and can be dispersed or arranged in any suitable manner. Upon inflation of balloon 16, cutting members 120 can cut into and/or sever lesion 14. Traction region 123 can grip lesion 14 (in a manner similar to how cutting members 20 can grip lesion 14 as described above) so that the position of balloon 16 and/or cutting member or members 120 can remain essentially stable.
Another example cutting member 220 is illustrated in
Similarly, bumps 342 may be formed, defined, or attached to cutting member 320 in any suitable manner. For example, bumps 342 (and/or textured surface 340) may be defined by grinding cutting member 320. Alternatively, bumps 342 may be molded, bonded, or otherwise attached to traction member in any suitable way. The pattern may also be random, regular, or intermittent. Bumps 342 may have any suitable shape. For example, bumps may be rounded or cylindrical, squared, triangular or pyramidal, polygonal, pointed, blunted, and the like, or any other suitable shape.
In general, traction region 323 (i.e., textured surface 340 and/or bumps 342 that define traction region 323) may be disposed along the entire length of cutting member 320 or along any portion thereof. Traction region 323 need not be disposed in a continuous arrangement and may be disposed intermittently or in any other suitable arrangement. For example, traction region 323 may include textured surface 340 without bumps 342 followed by textured surface 340 with bumps 342, with or without a space therebetween. The position of textured surface 340 and/or bumps 342 may also be relative to top or cutting surface 338. For example, in some embodiments textured surface and/or bumps 342 may be disposed relatively close to cutting surface 338, while in other embodiments some degree of spacing may occur between these structures.
Cutting member 520 is shown in
In at least some embodiments, any of the cutting members described herein may be coupled to balloon 14 by adhesive bonding, thermal bonding, welding, and the like as described above. However, other embodiments are contemplated that utilize alternative arrangements. For example,
Cutting members 620 may be configured to improve traction, thus holding the position of catheter 610, while still allowing the shape or position of balloon 16 to vary somewhat. This feature may be desirable for a number of reasons. For example, anchoring cutting members 620 independently of balloon 16 may allow balloon 16 to shift in order to expand lesions that may shift or move during the intervention. In addition, manufacturing of catheter 610 may be simplified by allowing for the attachment of cutting members by simply attaching connectors 644/646. In some embodiments, connectors 644/646 may be mechanically connected to shaft 18, balloon 16, or both by winding connectors 644/646 about the relevant structure. However, any other suitable attachment method may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention.
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 invention's scope is, of course, defined in the language in which the appended claims are expressed.
