US 4,723,549 AGranted

Method and apparatus for dilating blood vessels

OwnerMark H. Wholey, Mark L. Nagurka +1inventors

InventorsMark H. Wholey, Mark L. Nagurka, Robert S. Katz

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Abstract

A catheter for dilating occluded or stenotic blood vessels includes a collapsible filter device disposed between a dilating balloon and the distal end of the catheter. The collapsible filter device comprises a plurality of resilient ribs secured to the catheter at or adjacent the distal end thereof and extending generally axially toward the dilating balloon. Inflation of a filter balloon extends the ribs outward against the vessel wall to stretch filter material secured to the ribs across the vessel to form a cup shaped trap for fragments of a stenosis loosened by the dilating balloon. Upon deflation of the filter balloon, the resilient ribs retract against the catheter to retain the trapped fragments during withdrawal of the catheter. In the preferred embodiment, the ends of the ribs projecting generally toward the dilating balloon are secured to a ring which slides along the catheter. In use, the filter is extended and then the dilating balloon is inflated. Blood flow established by deflation of the dilating balloon carries stenosis fragments into the filter.

Claims10

Dependent claims

Apparatus for dilating occluded and stenotic blood vessels comprising:

an elongated flexible catheter the distal end of which is insertable into said blood vessel;
a dilating balloon affixed to the catheter at a location spaced from the distal end of the catheter;
means for selectively introducing a pressurized fluid into the dilating balloon to inflate it against a stenosis and thereby dilate the vessel;
and for withdrawing said fluid to deflate the dilating balloon;
a collapsible filter device attached to the catheter between the dilating balloon and the distal end of the catheter which filter is extendable outward against the wall of the blood vessel to trap fragments of the stenosis broken by inflation of the dilating balloon while allowing passage of blood therethrough, and retractable along the catheter to retain the trapped fragments of the stenosis while the catheter is withdrawn from the blood vessel, said filter device comprising a plurality of ribs resiliently biased inward along the catheter angularly spaced around the catheter and extending generally axially along the catheter in the direction of the dilating balloon, and filter material bridging said ribs;
and
means for extending and retracting the filter device to selectively urge said ribs outward against the walls of the blood vessel to spread the filter material across the blood vessel, said means comprising a filter balloon disposed between the catheter and said resilient ribs, and a filter balloon lumen in said catheter through which fluid is selectively supplied to inflate the filter balloon and thereby extend said filter and through which fluid is withdrawn to deflate the filter balloon and thereby retract the filter, the diameter of said filter balloon when inflated being less than the diameter of the blood vessel.

4 more elements

Apparatus for dilating occluded and stenotic blood vessels comprising;

an elongated flexible catheter the distal end of which is insertable in the blood vessel to be dilated;
a dilating balloon affixed to the catheter at a location spaced from said distal end;
a first lumen extending along the catheter to the dilating balloon for supplying a fluid to inflate said dilating balloon;
a plurality of resilient ribs angularly spaced around and secured at one end to the catheter adjacent the distal end thereof, said resilient ribs being pivotable from a stowed position wherein they extend generally axially along the catheter toward the dilating balloon and an extended position wherein they pivot outward against the walls of the blood vessel;
a filter fabric spanning the ribs to trap fragments of a stenosis broken loose by the dilating balloon while permitting the passage of blood therethrough when said ribs are extended, and to retain said fragments of the stenosis as the ribs return to the stowed position;
a filter balloon disposed between the ribs and the catheter;
and
a second lumen extending along the catheter to the filter balloon for selectively supplying a fluid to the filter balloon to inflate the balloon and pivot the ribs outward into contact with the blood vessel wall, said filter balloon even when inflated being smaller in diameter than the extended ribs.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.