Methods, devices, and systems for postconditioning with clot removal

Abstract

New devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for preventing, treating, and / or at least minimizing ischemia and / or reperfusion injury by restoring and / or modulating blood flow, particularly in the cerebral vasculature where blood vessels are narrow and tortuous. These devices, systems, and methods make it possible for a clinician to adequately and systematically restore blood flow to ischemic tissue while simultaneously modulating the blood flow to minimize reperfusion injury.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to and incorporates by reference the entire contents of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 668,408, filed on Jul. 5, 2012 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 844,728 filed on Mar. 15, 2013.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The present disclosure relates generally to methods, devices, and systems for treating vascular disorders. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to methods, devices, and systems for restoring blood flow by, e.g., removing blood clots, and / or modulating post-reperfusion blood flow.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Ischemia, the restriction of blood supply to tissue, may result in tissue damage in a process known as ischemic cascade. Damage includes, but is not limited to, shortage of metabolic requirements (i.e., oxygen and glucose), build-up of metabolic waste products, inability to maintain cell membranes, mitochondrial damage, and eventual leakage of autolysing proteolytic enzymes into the cell and su...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent describes a method for preventing and treating strokes and brain damage caused by blood clots. The method involves inserting a device into the blood vessel to restore blood flow and minimize damage caused by the clot. The device consists of a scaffold to engage the clot and a flow modulation member to control the flow of fluid in the blood vessel. The method also includes performing postconditioning cycles to reverse the flow of fluid and decrease or increase its flow through the blood vessel. Overall, this method allows for improved treatment of strokes and brain damage caused by blood clots.

Problems solved by technology

The prior thrombectomy and / or postconditioning art fail to recognize the importance of, and provide methods and systems for, adequately controlling the restoration of blood flow so as to minimize and / or prevent reperfusion injury.

The prior art also fails to sufficiently address the arterial space constraints in the brain that limit the positioning of devices and / or systems.

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