Methods and devices for protecting a passageway in a body when advancing devices through the passageway

Abstract

A liner is advanced through a narrowed region in a vessel such as the internal carotid artery. The liner is advanced through the narrowed region in a collapsed position. A stent is then advanced through the liner and expanded to open the narrowed region. The liner may also have an anchor which expands an end of the liner before the stent is introduced.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention is directed to methods and devices for protecting a passageway in a body when advancing devices through the passageway. A specific application of the present invention is for treatment of blood vessels although the invention may be used in any part of the body. For example, the present invention is used to protect blood vessels during intravascular procedures for treating aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, and atherosclerotic disease of vessels. A particular application of the present invention is for atherosclerotic disease of the carotid arteries or saphenous vein grafts. Carotid artery atherosclerotic occlusive disease contributes to hundreds of thousands of strokes annually in the United States. Atherosclerotic disease of the internal carotid artery is particularly problematic since plaque dislodged from the internal carotid artery leads directly to the cerebral vasculature.[0002]A conventional method of treating caroti...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a liner for protecting blood vessels during intravascular procedures, particularly for treating occlusive disease of the internal carotid artery. The liner is collapsed for introduction into the patient and advanced to a narrowed region of the blood vessel. The liner can be expanded by an anchor or automatically upon blood pressure. The liner can be an elastic liner or folded into a collapsed position and can evert when expanding to prevent plaque dislodgement. The liner can be released when using a stent or may be removed after use. The technical effects of the invention include improved protection of blood vessels during intravascular procedures and facilitation of stent placement."

Problems solved by technology

Atherosclerotic disease of the internal carotid artery is particularly problematic since plaque dislodged from the internal carotid artery leads directly to the cerebral vasculature.

Although carotid endarteretomy reduces strokes over a period of time after the procedure, the procedure still has a 6% risk of death or stroke.

A problem with treating carotid artery occlusive disease with stents is that the user is wary of dislodging plaque when advancing the stent through the carotid artery.

Any plaque which breaks free during introduction of the stent travels directly to the patient's brain and can cause a stroke or death.

This method suffers the same drawback in that advancement of the filter itself may dislodge plaque.

Moreover, exchange of various therapeutic catheters over the filter element result in undesirable movement of the filter with attendant risk of losing filtered emboli or damaging the vessel wall with the filter.

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