Electrically enhanced retrieval of material from vessel lumens
AssigneeCovidien LP
InventorsHoai (Kevin) Nguyen, Gaurav Girdhar, Andy Huynh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Retrieval of material from vessel lumens can be improved by electrically enhancing attachment of the material to the thrombectomy system. The system can include a catheter having a distal portion configured to be positioned adjacent to a thrombus in a blood vessel, an electrode disposed at the distal portion of the catheter, and an interventional element configured to be delivered through a lumen of the catheter. The electrode and the interventional element are each configured to be electrically coupled to an extracorporeal power supply.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- disposing a distal portion of a catheter adjacent to a treatment site in the body, the catheter comprising a first electrode disposed in the distal portion and coupled to a first electrical terminal of a power supply;
- supplying electric current to the first electrical terminal;
- and
- supplying negative pressure through the catheter to aspirate a region adjacent to the treatment site.
A method, comprising:
- disposing a distal portion of a catheter adjacent to a thrombus within a vessel, the catheter comprising:
- a lumen having a distal opening;
- and
- a first electrode coupled to distal portion in electrical communication with an extracorporeal power supply;
- supplying negative pressure through the catheter lumen to draw at least a portion of the thrombus into the catheter lumen;
- and
- while supplying the negative pressure, supplying electrical current to the first electrode.
A method for electrically enhanced thrombectomy, the method comprising:
- advancing a catheter through a corporeal lumen such that a distal end portion of the aspiration catheter is disposed proximate a thrombus;
- electrically charging a distal portion of the catheter via an extracorporeal power supply;
- and
- drawing at least a portion of the thrombus into a lumen of the catheter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.