Endovascular device configured for selective narrowing

Inventors

KAUFMAN, EYAL • Gedulter, Matan • Eckhouse, Ronen

Assignees

Rapid Medical Ltd

Abstract

An endovascular device, including an elongated flexible sheath defining a lumen with an inner opening sized for enabling selective advancement of an endovascular instrument therethrough, the sheath having at least a first region and a second region; an electrode within the first region of the sheath; and a constrictor associated with the first region of the sheath, the constrictor being configured, while at least the first region and the second region of the sheath are positioned within a body and in response to an input received from outside the body, to reversibly narrow the lumen of the sheath in an area adjacent the electrode to thereby bring the electrode into contact with an adjacent portion of the endovascular instrument.

Core Innovation

An endovascular device includes an elongated flexible sheath defining a lumen with an inner opening sized for enabling selective advancement of an endovascular instrument therethrough. The sheath has at least a first region and a second region, and an electrode is positioned within the first region of the sheath.

A constrictor associated with the first region is configured to reversibly narrow the lumen of the sheath in an area adjacent the electrode, in response to an input received from outside the body, while the first region and the second region are positioned within a body. This reversible lumen narrowing brings the electrode into contact with an adjacent portion of the endovascular instrument.

The constrictor selectively narrows to a non-circular lumen cross-section in the constrictor area and narrows in response to at least one of a change in temperature, delivery of electric current, application of electromagnetic force, or application of mechanical force. Additional embodiments include obstructers such as a selectively inflatable balloon that expands into the lumen of the sheath when inflated, and configurations in which constriction increases friction force exerted on the endovascular instrument.

In certain embodiments, the electrode delivers electrical energy to the endovascular instrument and the constrictor presses the electrode and instrument together to reduce electrical impedance during energy delivery.

Claims Coverage

The independent claim covers the combination of an electrode located in a first region of an elongated flexible sheath and a constrictor that, based on an outside-body input, reversibly narrows the sheath lumen adjacent the electrode so the electrode contacts an adjacent portion of an endovascular instrument, with the sheath also including a second region positioned in a body. The claim set refines this concept through multiple dependent claim features, including lumen cross-section change, selectable constrictor stimulus mechanisms, obstructer embodiments, friction-force effects, and impedance reduction during electrode energy delivery.

Across the independent and dependent claim set, the inventive concept is anchored on externally input-driven reversible constriction of a sheath lumen adjacent an electrode so the electrode contacts an adjacent portion of an endovascular instrument, with refinements that specify lumen geometry changes, constrictor stimulus modalities, obstructer embodiments, friction-force strengthening during constriction, and impedance reduction during electrode energy delivery.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications