Exchange method for emboli containment

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for exchanging catheters while containing emboli within a blood vessel such as a saphenous vein graft, coronary artery, carotid artery, or other similar vessels. A guidewire is inserted through the vasculature of a patient until it reaches a desired treatment site. A therapy catheter is then inserted over the guidewire until the distal end of the therapy catheter reaches the treatment site. The guidewire has a distally mounted balloon which is inflated to occlude the blood vessel. Then, the therapy catheter provides means for treating the vessel at the treatment site. After treatment, the therapy catheter is removed from the guidewire and exchanged with an aspiration catheter which rides over the guidewire until the distal end of the aspiration catheter reaches the treatment site. The aspiration catheter applies negative pressure to remove any emboli formed by the treatment procedure.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. ______, entitled LOW PROFILE CATHETER VALVE AND INFLATION ADAPTOR, filed Nov. 20, 1997 (Attorney Docket No. PERCUS.006CP1), the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to medical catheters used in treating saphenous vein grafts, coronary arteries, and other blood vessels, and more particularly, to a method for exchanging catheters during emboli containment in such vessels. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Guidewires are conventionally used to guide the insertion of various medical instruments, such as catheters, to a desired treatment location within a patient's vasculature. In a typical procedure, the clinician forms an access point for the guidewire by creating an opening in a peripheral blood vessel, such as the femoral artery. The highly flexible guidewire is t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0023] The present invention in a preferred embodiment allows for the rapid and easy exchange of catheters by deploying the occlusive device in stages. For instance, when a guidewire with a distal occlusion balloon is used, the balloon is inflated only when there is danger of emboli moving downstream. Thus, if treatment of the stenosis consists of a dilatation procedure and deployment of a stent, the occlusion balloon will be inflated for a first inflation period during which the dilatation balloon works on the plaque, the dilatation catheter is exchanged with an aspiration catheter, and the aspiration catheter removes emboli from the vessel. After aspiration, the occlusion balloo

Problems solved by technology

As can be readily appreciated, the withdrawal of treatment catheters over a placed guidewire may result in the guidewire being displaced from its position.

Cohen also does not address the problem of emboli containment.

However, many blood vessels where it is desirable to apply catheter treatment are quite narrow.

Similarly, saphenous vein grafts (SVG) and the carotid arteries are also quite small and susceptible to plaque, and could not practically be treated by larger diameter devices.

Human blood vessels often become occluded or completely blocked by plaque, thrombi, other deposits, emboli or other substances, which reduce the blood carrying capacity of the vessel.

Should the blockage occur at a critical place in the circulatory system, serious and permanent injury, or even death, can occur.

The coronary arteries are first narrowed and may eventually be completely blocked by plaque, and may further be complicated by the formation of thrombi (blood clots) on the roughened surfaces of the plaques.

Myocardial infarction can result from atherosclerosis, especially from an occlusive or near occlusive thrombi overlying or adjacent to the atherosclerotic plaque, leading to death of portions of the heart muscle.

Thrombi and emboli also often result from myocardial infarction, and these clots can block the coronary arteries, or can migrate further downstream, causing additional complications.

It can be difficult, however, to treat plaque deposits and thrombi in the coronary arteries, because the coronary arteries are small, which makes accessing them with commonly used catheters difficult.

Each of these methods are not without the risk of embolism caused by the dislodgement of the blocking material which then moves downstream.

In addition, the size of the blocked vessel may limit percutaneous access to the vessel.

In coronary bypass surgery,

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