Catheter assembly for blood clots removal

Abstract

An extension catheter is introduced through the guide catheter and inserted into the treatment area, The extension catheter may have an expandable tip. A suction pump is coupled to the proximal end of the guide catheter to aspirate blood clots or other issue from the treatment location outside the body.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention[0001]The present invention relates to methods and devices for removing thromboembolic materials and other tissue from human body.2. Description of the Prior Art[0002]Aspiration has been used to remove thromboembolic blockages and other tissue from endovascular and non-endovascular locations in the human body. Single-lumen catheters are employed to aspirate a clot from a cerebral vessel, coronary vessels and peripheral vessels. Such procedure in most cases includes placing a distal end / tip of a catheter at the proximal face of the clot and applying vacuum to the clot via a proximal port of the catheter. Fresh and soft clot usually are easily aspirated, while harder, more organized clot tends to clog the catheter. In such cases, the catheter with trapped clot and under suction is removed outside the patient. Then, the removed catheter is cleaned and introduced again to the treatment location to continue the clot removal process if n...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text discusses three ways to improve the effectiveness of removing blood clots using a single lumen aspiration catheter. These methods include using stronger vacuum pumps to help push the clot through the catheter, using larger aspiration catheters, or using aspiration catheters with expandable tips. These techniques may make the process easier and more effective for removing blood clots.

Problems solved by technology

Increasing the size of aspiration catheters is still possible in coronary and peripheral vessels, but is challenging in applications involving cerebral circulation.

Cerebral vessels have a complex vessel pattern and extensive catheter manipulations with a larger size catheter when accessing and navigating these vessels may be risky and cause vessel dissections, perforations and stroke.

Increasing the inner lumen size of the aspiration catheters is in most cases related to enlarging the outer size of the catheter, and such approach carries challenges to access the treatment sites, potential clinical complications, and longer procedural time.

It is especially risky with a continuous exodus of neuro surgeons to the interventional Neuro-Radiology Field whose manual skills are not always sufficient for such tasks.

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