Apparatus and methods for closing septal defects and occluding blood flow
AssigneeSt. Jude Medical ATG, Inc.
InventorsTodd A. Berg, Alex A. Peterson, William J. Swanson, Paul J. Hindrichs
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Plugs and methods for plugging septal defects and blood vessels are provided. Plugs are delivered via catheter to a septal defect or a location where it is desired to occlude blood flow in a blood vessel. The plugs are positioned and expanded at the treatment site. The expansion of the plugs can be accomplished passively by using a heat-treated elastic frame or actively by using a balloon to deform a plastically-deforming frame. Plugging structures mounted to the frame span the defect or lumen and prevent blood flow. The plugs described herein have small profiles, and are more reliable than preceding intraluminal transcatheter methods.
Claims153
A plug for closing an aperture in a wall of a patient's body cavity, said plug comprising:
- a frame having a central axis comprising:
- a first plurality of fingers configured to engage an interior surface of said wall of said body cavity;
- a second plurality of fingers attached to said first plurality, wherein said second plurality is configured to engage an exterior surface of said wall of said body cavity, and wherein said pluralities of fingers are positioned substantially circumferentially with respect to said axis;
- and
- a plugging structure that spans said aperture when said plug is inserted in said aperture, wherein said plugging structure is attached to said frame, and wherein any cross-section of said frame that lies in a plane substantially perpendicular to said axis is discontinuous.
A plug comprising:
- a perforated tubular portion having a longitudinal passage, wherein any cross-section of said perforated tubular portion in a plane perpendicular to said passage is discontinuous;
- a plurality of fingers attached to said tubular portion and extending from an axial end of said perforated tubular portion, wherein any cross-scction of said plurality of fingers in a plane perpendicular to said passage is discontinuous;
- and
- a plugging structure substantially occluding said passage.
A method for plugging an aperture in a wall of a patient's body cavity comprising:
- positioning in said aperture a conformable plug having a first plurality of fingers, a second plurality of fingers, and a central axis, wherein said pluralities are arranged about said axis at opposite axial ends, and wherein said plug also has a plugging structure;
- conforming said plug to said aperture;
- and
- securing said plug in said aperture.
A method for occluding blood flow in a tube of a patient's circulatory system, said method comprising:
- positioning in said tube a conformable plug having a first plurality of fingers, a tubular portion, a plugging structure, and a central axis, wherein said plurality of fingers is arranged circumferentially about said central axis and wherein said plugging structure spans across said tubular portion;
- conforming said plug to said tube;
- and
- securing said plug in said tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.