US 10,912,608 B2 · Radio frequency electro-thrombectomy device

Abstract

A device is designed to remove blockages in a lumen such as a thrombus, blood clot, or embolus. The device comprises a manipulating wire and a structure that can conduct electrical current to a lumen blockage. The electrical current is preferably in radio frequency (RF). The RF electric current in the blockage can excite the contents such as proteins of the blockage, so that cross-linking density and interfacial adsorption of the entire blockage is enhanced. The enhanced cross-linking density can result in increased fracture resistance of the blockage such that fracture of the blockage during the removal process is unlikely. The enhanced interfacial adsorption results in increased interfacial fracture resistance between the device and blockage so that the blockage can be securely captured during the removal process without using radially applied force.

Claims5

Dependent claims

A method of removing a blockage from a vascular lumen, the method comprising the steps of

a) cross-linking a blockage in a vascular lumen using radio frequency by contacting the blockage with at least two wires made of electrically conductive material and applying a field or current that passes through the entire blockage to increase the cross-linking density of the entire blockage in a substantially uniform manner, and
b) capturing and removing the cross-linked blockage from the vascular lumen.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

15/574,758Filed 6 Jun 2016 · us provisional application

Priority

6 Jun 2015

Published

US 2018/0140354 A124 May 2018

Granted

9 Feb 2021

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

A61B 18/1492
Probes or electrodes therefor: having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation
A61B 17/221
Implements for squeezing-off ulcers or the like on inner organs of the body; Implements for scraping-out cavities of body organs, e.g. bones;…
A61B 2017/22034
Gripping instruments, e.g. forceps, for removing or smashing calculi: for gripping the obstruction or the tissue part from inside
A61B 2018/00214
Mechanical features of the instrument of device: expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon

Radio frequency electro-thrombectomy device

Life of this patent

Radio frequency electro-thrombectomy device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims5