Method of removing embolic material with thrombus engagement tool
Inventors
Buck, Michael • Fox, Julia • Jacobs, James
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11638637-B2
Publication Date
2023-05-02
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method of removing embolic material from a vessel with mechanical and aspiration assistance. The method comprises the steps of providing an aspiration catheter having a central lumen and a distal end, advancing the distal end of the aspiration catheter to obstructive material in a vessel, applying vacuum to the central lumen to draw clot into the central lumen, introducing a thrombus engagement tool into the central lumen, and manually manipulating the tip to engage clot between the tip and an inside wall of the central lumen.
Core Innovation
The invention is a method of removing embolic material from a vessel with mechanical and aspiration assistance. An aspiration catheter having a central lumen and a distal end is advanced to obstructive material in a vessel, and vacuum is applied to the central lumen to draw the obstructive material into the central lumen. A thrombus engagement tool is introduced into the central lumen to engage the obstructive material.
The thrombus engagement tool has a tip comprising a helical thread with a major diameter that is at least about 0.015 inches smaller than an inside diameter of the central lumen. The helical thread is configured to provide an aspiration flow path around the tip. The method further includes manually manipulating the tip to engage the obstructive material between the tip and an inside wall of the central lumen.
The described system and tool configuration includes the thrombus engagement tool tip geometry and dimensional relationships relative to the aspiration catheter central lumen, including radiopaque markers and features that cooperate within the aspiration catheter. The tool is configured for mechanical assistance while maintaining aspiration flow via the aspiration flow path around the tip, with additional refinements specifying more restrictive dimensional ratio limits for the helical-threaded tip relative to the central lumen.
Claims Coverage
One independent claim is explicitly provided. It combines aspiration catheter vacuum draw with a helical-threaded thrombus engagement tool whose tip forms an aspiration flow path around the tip, followed by manual manipulation to engage obstructive material between the tip and the inside wall of the central lumen.
Aspiration catheter vacuum draw of obstructive material
Advancing an aspiration catheter having a central lumen and a distal end to obstructive material in a vessel; applying vacuum to the central lumen to draw the obstructive material into the central lumen.
Helical-threaded tip forming an aspiration flow path around the tip
Introducing a thrombus engagement tool into the central lumen, where the tool has a tip comprising a helical thread having a major diameter at least about 0.015 inches smaller than an inside diameter of the central lumen, and where the helical thread is configured to provide an aspiration flow path around the tip.
Manual manipulation to engage material between tip and lumen wall
Manually manipulating the tip to engage the obstructive material between the tip and an inside wall of the central lumen.
Dimensional ratio constraints on tip major diameter
Configuring the tip major diameter relative to the inside diameter of the central lumen using claimed ratio limits, including that the major diameter is no more than about 60% and no more than about 40% of the inside diameter of the central lumen.
The claim set centers on a combined approach: vacuum aspiration through the central lumen while a thrombus engagement tool with a helical-threaded tip creates an aspiration flow path around the tip, with manual manipulation used to engage obstructive material between the tip and the inside wall of the central lumen. The dependent claims further narrow the dimensional relationship between the helical-thread tip and the central lumen and may specify particular access route and targets.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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