Catheter-based apparatuses and methods

Inventors

Zandi, Abdolrahim • Fariabi, Sepehr • Goslau, J. Eric • Nevrla, David S. • Lees, Brad

Assignees

Transverse Medical Inc

Abstract

As may be implemented with various aspects of the present disclosure, a mesh structure is coupled to inner and outer frames that operate with struts to apply pressure to the mesh. Such an approach may involve sealing the mesh around an opening, such as around one or more artery openings along an interior wall of vascular tissue (e.g., in an aortic arch). Accordingly, blood flow can be filtered in a manner that is useful for capturing particulates such as those resulting from surgical operations. In various implementations, the mesh, struts and frames are deployed using a catheter and shaft coupled to the frames. Such an approach can be implemented to apply a spring force from the shaft and through the frames for sealing the mesh.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to a catheter-deployed filtration apparatus in which a filter component retracts within a distal end. The apparatus includes a catheter extending from a proximal end to a distal end, and a shaft extending in the catheter and configured to move within the catheter. The filter component includes a mesh that extends within an inner frame and between the inner frame and an outer frame.

The mesh is coupled to the inner frame and the outer frame, and a plurality of struts couple the inner frame to the outer frame. Each strut extends lengthwise from a first end terminating on the inner frame to a second end terminating on the outer frame. The struts are configured and arranged to apply a force between the outer frame and the inner frame so that, together with the shaft, inner frame, outer frame, and struts, the apparatus presses the mesh and frames against an interior vessel wall.

In a deployed state, the shaft, inner frame, outer frame, and struts are configured and arranged to seal an opening in an interior vessel wall with the mesh by pressing the mesh and the inner and outer frames against the interior vessel wall and around the opening. The disclosed context includes sealing and filtering around artery openings, including in the human aortic arch, and enabling retraction for removal while filtering blood particulates/emboli.

Claims Coverage

The independent claim provides coverage for an apparatus that combines a catheter, a movable shaft, and a retractable filter component with a mesh between inner and outer frames coupled by struts, where deployment seals an opening in an interior vessel wall by pressing the mesh and frames around the opening. The dependent claims refine the main inventive aspects by adding mesh-state behavior, dimensional/size-based selectivity, frame/mesh geometry for sealing, motion constraints, and anatomical use contexts.

Overall claim coverage centers on a retractable, catheter-deployed filtration apparatus where a mesh sandwiched between inner and outer frames is mechanically actuated by struts driven by a movable shaft to press against an interior vessel wall and seal around an opening, with dependent claims refining mesh expansion/collapse behavior, size-selective particle passage constraints, nested frame/mesh sealing geometry, and constrained rotational behavior relative to the catheter.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications