Apparatus and methods for treating congestive heart disease

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for treating congestive heart failure using a catheter having an inlet end configured for placement in the source of arterial blood such as the aorta, left ventricle or a femoral artery, and an outlet end having at least one conduit configured to be placed in the renal arteries. The catheter includes a lumen through which blood passes from the aorta or left ventricle directly to the renal artery, means for engaging the first conduit with renal artery. The means for engaging also may reduce backflow of blood into the abdominal aorta. The catheter preferably is configured to permit percutaneous, transluminal implantation. Methods of using and implanting the catheter are also provided.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 613,654, entitled “APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR TREATING CONGESTIVE HEART DISEASE,” filed Jul. 3, 2003 by Gad Keren et al, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 229,390 entitled “APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR TREATING CONGESTIVE HEART DISEASE,” filed Jan. 11, 1999 by Gad Keren et al., the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to apparatus for treating congestive heart disease by providing increased perfusion to the kidneys, thereby enhancing renal function. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] It has long been known that cardiac dysfunction induces a series of events that ultimately contribute to congestive heart failure (“CHF”). One such event is a reduction in renal blood flow due to reduced cardiac output. This reduced flow can in turn result ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] It is another object of this invention to provide methods and apparatus for treating and managing CHF by improving blood flow to the kidneys, thereby enhancing renal function.

[0014] It is also an object of this invention to provide methods and apparatus for treating and managing CHF that permit the administration of low doses of drugs, in a localized manner, to improve renal function.

[0016] These and other objects of the present invention are accomplished by providing a catheter having an inlet end configured for placement in a source of arterial blood, such as the aorta, the left ventricle or a femoral artery, and an outlet end having at least one conduit configured to be placed in a renal artery. The catheter includes a lumen through which arterial blood passes directly into a renal artery. The conduit may include means for engaging an interior surface of the renal artery to retain the conduit in position, and may comprise an occluder that reduces backflow of blood exiting the conduit into the abdominal aorta. The catheter preferably is configured to permit percutaneous, transluminal implantation.

[0017] In accordance with the principles of the present invention, high pressure blood passes through the lumen of the catheter during systole and into the conduit disposed in the renal artery. It is expected that blood passing through the catheter will have a higher pressure and higher flow rate than blood reaching the renal artery via the abdominal aorta. This in turn is expected to improve renal function, without administering systemic doses of drugs to improve renal function or renal blood flow. The enhanced renal blood flow is expected to provide a proportional increase in renal function, thereby reducing fluid retention.

Problems solved by technology

This reduced flow can in turn result in the retention of excess fluid in the patient's body, leading for example, to pulmonary and cardiac edema.

Many of these drugs, when administered in systemic doses, have undesirable side-effects.

Mechanical treatments, such as hemodialysis, however, generally have not been used for long-term management of CHF.

Poor patient compliance is a major cause of refractoriness to treatment.

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