Percutaneous or surgical radiofrequency intravascular thrombectomy catheter system and method
AssigneeSherwood Services AG
InventorDale Schmaltz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to intravascular thrombectomy systems and methods for ablating a blockage and preventing the introduction of emboli into the blood stream during and after surgery performed to reduce or ablate the blockage in a blood vessel. The system includes a catheter sleeve having electrodes disposed proximate a distal end portion thereof, either at the distal end itself or axially spaced along the length of the catheter sleeve. The system further includes a capture element which is expandable to span the lumen of the vessel. The capture element is deployable downstream of the blockage. The electrodes of the catheter sleeve may be placed on one side of the blockage or on either side of the blockage.
Claims18
A catheter system for ablating a partial or a complete blockage of a corporal vessel, the catheter system comprising:
- a catheter sleeve defining a lumen extending therethrough, the catheter sleeve defining a distal end portion and a proximal end portion;
- at least a pair of electrodes disposed at the distal end portion of the catheter sleeve;
- and
- a guidewire slidably disposed within the lumen of the catheter sleeve, the guidewire including a capture element supported proximate a distal end thereof, wherein the guidewire is slidable with respect to the catheter sleeve to expose the capture element from the distal end portion of the catheter sleeve;
- wherein the capture element includes a first condition wherein the capture element is retracted onto the guidewire and a second condition wherein the capture element at least substantially spans the entire lumen of the vessel.
A catheter system for ablating a partial or a complete blockage of a corporal vessel, the catheter system comprising:
- a catheter sleeve having a distal end portion;
- a capture element disposed proximate the distal end portion of the catheter sleeve, the capture element having a first condition wherein the capture element is retracted onto the catheter sleeve and a second condition wherein the capture element at least substantially spans the entire lumen of the vessel;
- and
- at least a pair of axially spaced apart electrodes supported on the catheter sleeve at a location proximal of the capture element, wherein each electrode is connectable to a source of electrosurgical energy.
A method of ablating a blockage in a corporal vessel comprising the steps of:
- providing a catheter sleeve having a distal end portion supporting at least a pair of electrodes thereon;
- introducing the catheter sleeve into the corporal vessel;
- advancing the catheter sleeve through the corporal vessel to the blockage;
- positioning a capture element downstream of the blockage;
- deploying the capture element to at least substantially span the lumen of the corporal vessel;
- positioning the catheter sleeve within the corporal vessel such that at least one electrode is positioned in close proximity to the blockage;
- and
- activating an electrosurgical energy source to energize the electrodes and ablate the blockage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.