Hydraulic controlled retractable tip filter retrieval catheter

Abstract

Distal protection filter retrieval devices and methods of retrieving a distal protection filter. A filter retrieval catheter may comprise an inner tube, an outer tube disposed over the inner tube, an annular lumen disposed between the inner tube and the outer tube, and a tapered member coupled to the lumen. The tapered member may be movable between a first position for passing a lesion and a second position retrieving a filter.

Description

[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 017,877 filed Dec. 13, 2001.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention pertains to catheters for retrieving a distal protection filter. More precisely, the present invention pertains to retrieval catheters having a tapered distal tip. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Heart disease is a major problem 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. [0006] 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 (PT...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is about retrieval catheters for distal protection filters. The catheter has an inner tube, an outer tube, and a lumen between them. It also has a tapered member that can be moved between two positions. The first position is for advancing the catheter across a stent or lesion, while the second position is for retrieving the distal protection filter. The tapered member can be moved by altering fluid pressure, venting fluid, or infusing fluid into the lumen. The technical effect of this invention is to provide a catheter that can easily and quickly retrieve a distal protection filter without causing complications during the procedure."

Problems solved by technology

Heart disease is a major problem 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.

If this debris enters the circulatory system, it could block other vascular regions including the neural and pulmonary vasculature, both of which are highly undesirable.

During angioplasty procedures, stenotic debris may also break loose due to manipulation of the blood vessel.

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