Catheter-based apparatuses and methods
Inventors
Lees, Brad • Goslau, J. Eric • HANDLEY, Michael K. • Berhow, Steven Wayne • Wahnschaffe, Douglas Scott • Houge, Reed Allan • Schechter, David
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9888995-B2
Publication Date
2018-02-13
Expiration Date
Abstract
Blood flow into vascular tissue is filtered in a manner that can also be useful for trapping particulates while allowing the flow of blood. Consistent with one or more embodiments, a filter apparatus includes a filter, an outer delivery sheath such as a catheter, and one or more shafts that are operable to manipulate the shape of the filter for positioning within vascular tissue. The filter conforms to various types of vascular tissue, and filters blood flow passing through openings in the vascular tissue. In some implementations, the filter is used to trap particulates that have been collected on the filter, and collapses to trap and draw the particulates into the outer delivery sheath.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a catheter-based apparatus and method for filtering blood flow by using an outer catheter and a perimeter-structured filter configured to pass human red blood cells while mitigating the passage of particles having a dimension larger than the human red blood cells. The filter is connected to a second shaft and is arranged with first, second, and third shafts to transition between an expanded first state and a collapsed second state.
In the expanded first state, the filter has a dimension wider than a cross-sectional area of the outer catheter and a surface area portion configured to cover an opening in a sidewall of vascular tissue and conform to portions of the sidewall around the opening. In the first state, the filter perimeter structure is in an oblong shape such that, when deployed, it spreads apart to cover and conform around the opening while still passing human red blood cells.
The filter then collapses to the second state in response to retracting a movable portion of the third shaft away from a fixed portion of the second shaft and manipulating the second shaft to a second position relative to the first shaft. In the second state, the filter and outer catheter are configured to facilitate retraction of the filter into the outer catheter, with the filter configured to trap particles on or within the filter during collapse and retraction.
The described shaft-driven expansion and collapse is configured for deployment in vascular anatomies including the upper aortic arch and an aortic arch during catheter-based procedures referenced as TAVR/TAVI. In particular, one capillary-based apparatus is configured for filtering blood flow from the upper aortic arch with the distal end of the outer catheter inserted into the upper aortic arch, and the oblong elongated dimension of the expanded filter extends in a direction parallel with a longitudinal axis of the aortic arch.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes three independent claims (apparatus, method, and capillary-based apparatus), each defining coordinated motion of first, second, and third shafts to transition a red-blood-cell-permeable, perimeter-structured filter between an expanded, sidewall-conforming first state and a collapsed second state suitable for particle trapping and retraction into an outer catheter. Each claim additionally requires mitigation of larger-than-red-blood-cell particle passage while passing human red blood cells.
Shaft-driven expandable and retractable perimeter-structured filter
An apparatus with an outer catheter; a first shaft movable within the outer catheter; a second shaft movable relative to the first shaft and connected via a fixed portion to a third shaft; and a filter connected to the second shaft, wherein the filter is configured to pass human red blood cells and mitigate passage of particles larger than the human red blood cells; the filter expands to a first state with a perimeter structure in an oblong shape wider than the cross-sectional area of the outer catheter and having a surface area portion conforming to portions of the sidewall around an opening; the filter collapses to a second state in response to retraction of the movable portion of the third shaft and manipulation of the second shaft, and the filter and outer catheter are configured to facilitate retraction of the filter into the outer catheter.
Shaft-driven deployment and filter state transition for particle mitigation
A method deploying a distal end of an outer catheter into vascular tissue with a first shaft, second shaft, and third shaft arranged as in the apparatus, and manipulating the first, second, and third shafts to expand the filter to a first state by positioning a portion of the second shaft relative to the first shaft and extending a movable portion of the third shaft toward the fixed portion of the second shaft; using the filter in the first state to pass human red blood cells while mitigating passage of particles larger than the human red blood cells; manipulating the first and second shafts relative to one another to collapse the filter to a second state by retracting the movable portion of the third shaft away from the fixed portion of the second shaft and manipulating the second shaft to a second position; and in the second state, moving the first shaft relative to the outer catheter to retract the filter into the outer catheter.
Capillary-based filtering apparatus for the upper aortic arch with shaft-driven oblong expansion and collapse
A capillary-based apparatus for filtering blood flow from the upper aortic arch of human vascular tissue with an outer catheter configured for insertion into the upper aortic arch; a first shaft movable within the outer catheter; a second shaft movable relative to the first shaft and having a portion configured to retract into the outer catheter, with the second shaft including a fixed portion connected to a third shaft; and a filter having filter material configured to pass human red blood cells and mitigate passage of particles larger than the human red blood cells, with a perimeter structure connected to the second shaft and an end portion connected to the first shaft; the filter expands to a first state in an oblong shape with an elongated dimension parallel to a longitudinal axis of the aortic arch and conforms to a sidewall of the vascular tissue to cover an opening; and the filter material collapses to a second state to trap particles on the filter therein, in response to retracting the movable portion of the third shaft and drawing the second shaft into the outer catheter, thereby facilitating retraction of the filter with trapped particles into the outer catheter.
Across the independent claims, the central inventive concept is coordinated relative movement of first, second, and third shafts to expand a perimeter-structured, red-blood-cell-permeable filter into an oblong, sidewall-conforming first state that covers an opening, and then collapse and retract the filter into the outer catheter in a second state while passing human red blood cells and mitigating the passage of particles larger than the human red blood cells.
Stated Advantages
Pass human red blood cells while mitigating the passage of particles having a dimension larger than the human red blood cells.
In the expanded first state, cover an opening in a sidewall of vascular tissue with a surface area portion that conforms to portions of the sidewall around the opening.
Trap particles on the filter in the collapsed second state and facilitate retraction of the filter with trapped particles into the outer catheter.
Documented Applications
Filtering blood flow from the upper aortic arch of human vascular tissue using a capillary-based apparatus.
Deployment into vascular tissue with expanded filter coverage of an opening in a sidewall of vascular tissue, including configuration described for an aortic arch during catheter-based procedures referenced as TAVR/TAVI.
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