Aspiration catheters with expandable distal tip
Inventors
Sirhan, Motasim • Serna, Benjamyn • Nguyen, Kim • Yan, John • Surber, Matthew Tyler
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12076504-B2
Publication Date
2024-09-03
Expiration Date
Abstract
An aspiration catheter includes a catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, and an aspiration lumen therebetween. A distal segment comprising an expandable distal tip of the aspiration catheter comprises a membrane and an expandable supporting structure, such as a scaffold, configured to radially expand the expandable distal tip. The expandable supporting structure may include supporting elements and other features which increase resistance to collapse of the expandable membrane under vacuum or negative pressure applied to aspirate clot through the aspiration lumen in the expanded configuration.
Core Innovation
An aspiration catheter includes a tubular catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, and an aspiration lumen extending therebetween, with a radially expandable distal tip at the distal end. The radially expandable distal tip includes a central passage contiguous with the aspiration lumen, and comprises an expandable membrane coupled to a supporting structure. The supporting structure is configured to radially expand and resist collapse and/or deformation of the membrane under vacuum during aspiration while maintaining deliverability and flexibility in the as-delivered state.
The supporting structure includes a plurality of radially expandable circumferential rings arranged along a longitudinal axis with circumferential gaps therebetween. The supporting structure further includes a multiplicity of supporting elements, each having a base end and a free end, with the base end attached to one of the radially expandable circumferential rings and the free end extending axially and/or circumferentially away from the ring. At least some free ends are recessed within the radially expandable circumferential rings and do not protrude into the circumferential gaps prior to radial expansion.
After expansion, at least some free ends protrude into the circumferential gaps, thereby supporting the expandable membrane in the radially expanded configuration. The documented designs specify ring geometries and supporting patterns formed from radially expandable circumferential rings, including open-cell and closed-cell designs and patterns such as serpentine, zig-zag, box, diamond, omega, and related geometries. Performance is characterized using metrics including tip circularity and vacuum-collapse resistance, including circularity thresholds after radial expansion and measures of bending resistance.
Claims Coverage
Independent claim 1 defines the catheter architecture with a radially expandable distal tip, including a supporting structure coupled to a membrane, and the pre-expansion recessed versus post-expansion protruding configuration of supporting element free ends. Dependent claims refine the geometry, expansion behavior, membrane materials, and performance constraints for the expandable distal tip.
Catheter with radially expandable distal tip having central passage contiguous with lumen
A catheter comprising a tubular catheter body with a lumen extending therebetween; and a radially expandable distal tip at the distal end, the radially expandable distal tip having a central passage contiguous with the lumen.
Supporting structure coupled to membrane using circumferential rings and supporting elements
The radially expandable distal tip comprises a supporting structure coupled to a membrane, wherein the supporting structure comprises a plurality of radially expandable circumferential rings arranged along a longitudinal axis with circumferential gaps therebetween; and a multiplicity of supporting elements each having a base end attached to one of the rings and a free end extending axially and/or circumferentially away from the one of the rings.
Recessed supporting element free ends before expansion and protruding into gaps after expansion
At least some of the free ends of the supporting elements are recessed within the radially expandable circumferential rings and do not protrude into the circumferential gaps prior to radial expansion; and at least some of the free ends of the supporting elements protrude into the circumferential gaps after expansion.
The claim set focuses on an expandable distal tip architecture that couples an expandable membrane with a radially expandable circumferential-ring scaffold and supporting elements, specifically using a recessed pre-expansion configuration of supporting element free ends and a protruding post-expansion configuration to support membrane integrity while expanding to the radially expanded state.
Stated Advantages
Resists collapse and/or deformation of the membrane under vacuum during aspiration.
Maintains deliverability and flexibility in the as-delivered state.
Maintains tip circularity in the radially expanded configuration.
Provides vacuum-collapse resistance and bending resistance performance characterization.
Documented Applications
Aspiration catheters for clot removal in cerebral vasculature.
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