Flute catheter and methods of using the same
OwnerGhassan S. Kassabinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A catheter for the gentle opening of luminal valves and method of use is disclosed. The catheter comprises a suction lumen and a guidewire within. The suction lumen provides an atraumatic amount of suction force to draw valve leaflets open whereupon the guidewire can be advanced through the now open valve or the contents of the luminal organ beyond the valve can be aspirated into the device. When the guidewire is advanced, the catheter can follow the guide wire beyond the opened valve, thereby allowing retrograde access of luminal organs beyond normally closed valves. The process can be repeated to open a second valve located upstream of a first valve.
Claims20
An intraluminal catheter comprising:
- a distal end, wherein the distal end comprises an expandable and collapsible portion
- a suction lumen ending at the distal end.
A method of using an intraluminal catheter, the method comprising the steps of:
- advancing a catheter in a retrograde direction within a luminal organ toward a valve;
- expanding an expandable and collapsible portion of the catheter;
- and
- applying suction to draw open the valve.
A method of using an intraluminal catheter, the method comprising the steps of:
- advancing a catheter in a retrograde direction within a luminal organ toward a first valve so as to rest against a first valve structure;
- expanding an expandable and collapsible portion of the catheter to abut the luminal organ walls;
- applying suction to draw open the first valve;
- advancing a guidewire beyond the open first valve;
- collapsing the expandable and collapsible portion;
- advancing the catheter over the guidewire beyond the open first valve, to a second position wherein the second position is near a second valve;
- expanding for a second time an expandable and collapsible portion of the catheter;
- and
- applying suction to draw open the second valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.