Distal protection device and method

Abstract

An emboli capturing system captures emboli in a body lumen. A first elongate member has a proximal end and a distal end. An expandable emboli capturing device is mounted proximate the distal end of the first elongate member, and is movable between a radially expanded position and a radially contracted position. When in the expanded position, the emboli capturing device forms a basket with a proximally opening mouth. A second elongate member has a proximal and a distal end with a lumen extending therebetween. The lumen is sized to slidably receive a portion of the first elongate member. An expandable delivery device is mounted to the distal end of the second elongate member and is movable from a radially retracted position to a radially expanded position. The delivery device has a receiving end configured to receive the emboli capturing device, and retains at least the mouth of the emboli capturing device in a radially retracted position.

Description

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application Ser. No. 08 / 810,825 filed Mar. 6, 1997 entitled DISTAL PROTECTION DEVICE, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.[0002] The following co-pending patent application is hereby incorporated by reference U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 813,794, entitled DISTAL PROTECTION DEVICE which was filed on Mar. 6, 1997, and assigned to the same assignee as the present application. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] The present invention deals with an emboli capturing system. More specifically, the present invention deals with an emboli capturing system and method for capturing embolic material in a blood vessel during an atherectomy or thrombectomy procedure. [0004] Blood vessels can become occluded (blocked) or stenotic (narrowed) in one of a number of ways. For instance, a stenosis may be formed by an atheroma which is typically a harder, calcified substance which forms...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Also, the stenosis can be formed of a thrombus material which is typically much softer than an atheroma, but can nonetheless cause restricted blood flow in the lumen of the blood vessel.

Thrombus formation can be particularly problematic in a saphenous vein graft (SVG).

Certain problems are encountered during thrombectomy and atherectomy.

If the debris flows distally, it can occlude distal vasculature and cause significant problems.

If it flows proximally, it can enter the circulatory system and form a clot in the neural vasculature, or in the lungs, both of which are highly undesirable.

However, this technique has certain problems.

For instance, it is difficult to control the size of the fragments of the stenotic lesion which are severed.

Therefore, larger fragments can be severed accidentally.

Also, since thrombus is much softer than an atheroma, it tends to break up easier when mechanically engaged by a cutting instrument.

Therefore, at the moment that the thrombus is mechanically engaged, there is a danger that it can be dislodged in large fragments which would occlude the vasculature.

However, it may be necessary to pull quite a high vacuum in order to remove all of the pieces severed from the stenosis.

Further, when a high vacuum is used, this can tend to cause the vasculature to collapse.

Problems are also associated with this technique.

For example, delivery of such devices in a low profile, pre-deployment configuration can be difficult.

Further, some devices include complex and cumbersome actuation mechanisms.

Also, retrieving such capture devices, after they have captured emboli, can be difficult as well.

Images