Fetal Intervention Using Magnetically-Guided Navigation
AssigneeFetal Care Consultants, LLC
InventorsKevin P. Magee, Alan W. Nugent
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems for fetal intervention to address malformations or other conditions are presented. In one instance, a method is provided that includes introducing a guide catheter into the fetus' venous system and using controlled magnets to position the guide catheter at a desired location. The method also involves positioning the treatment catheter at a treatment location using the guide catheter and delivering a treatment using the treatment catheter at the treatment location. In one particular application, a hypoplastic left heart is treated by using a balloon catheter as the treatment catheter and inflating a balloon on the balloon catheter at the aortic valve. Other methods and systems are disclosed.
Claims18
A method for addressing a fetal malformation in a fetus in utero through fetal intervention, the method comprising:
- using a needle to access the fetus' circulation system;
- providing a guide catheter having a magnetic object coupled proximate a distal end of the guide catheter;
- positioning the guide catheter into the circulation system of the fetus through the needle;
- providing a plurality of controlled magnets operable to guide the magnetic object on the guide catheter in three dimensions to within at least a centimeter;
- using the plurality of controlled magnets to position the guide catheter at a desired location within the fetus;
- introducing a treatment catheter over or in the guide catheter;
- moving the treatment catheter along the guide catheter to position the treatment catheter at a treatment location;
- treating the fetal malformation at the treatment location;
- removing the treatment catheter;
- removing the guide catheter;
- and
- removing the needle.
A method of treating a heart malformation in a fetus in utero, the method comprising:
- using a needle to access an umbilical vein of the fetus proximate the fetus' liver;
- providing a guide catheter having a magnetic object proximate a distal end;
- positioning the guide catheter into the umbilical vein of the fetus via the needle;
- providing a magnetic guidance system;
- using the magnetic guidance system to direct the guide catheter into the heart of the fetus at a desired location;
- moving a treatment catheter to a treatment position in the fetus' heart;
- and
- treating the fetal malformation at the treatment location.
A system for treating a fetal malformation, the system comprising:
- a needle for accessing the fetus' venous system;
- a guide catheter sized and configured to be introduced into the fetus' venous system through the needle, wherein the guide catheter comprises a magnetic object on a distal end of the guide catheter;
- a controlled magnet subsystem for moving the magnetic object on the guide catheter within the fetus' venous system and into the cardiovascular system of the fetus to within three millimeters;
- a treatment catheter sized and configured to coordinate with the guide catheter such that the treatment catheter may be guided along the guide catheter to a treatment location proximate the malformation;
- and
- wherein the treatment catheter includes a treatment device for treating the heart malformation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.