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US 6,852,097 B1Granted
Mechanically active infusion catheter
OwnerRichard E. Fulton, IIIinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device and method to dissolve or eliminate blood clots from a patient relies upon a non-rapid moving mechanism to physically dissolve clots without damaging endothelium of the arteries and veins of a patient. In one embodiment, in addition to mechanical agitation of a clot, a thrombolytic agent is administered simultaneously with such agitation. Preferably, intermittent agitation is utilized over a prolonged period of time to effectuate clot removal.
Claims17
A pharmomechanical device, comprising:
- a catheter having a corkscrew configuration throughout its length that is substantially incapable of damaging an endothelium of a vascular structure, said catheter rotating between 30 rpm and 600 rpm once it is inserted inside a patient, said catheter increasing the surface area of a clot in said vascular structure such that said clot can be dissolved by a lytic agent;
- and
- means for providing mechanical motion to said catheter throughout a length of a vessel for a prolonged period of time while said lytic agent is acting.
A pharmomechanical device, comprising:
- a catheter having a length and having a corkscrew configuration throughout a substantial portion of said length, said catheter being substantially incapable of damaging an endothelium of a vascular structure, said catheter rotating between 30 rpm and 600 rpm once it is inserted inside a patient to increase the surface area of a clot in said vascular structure;
- and
- a means for rotating said catheter.
A pharmomechanical device, comprising:
- a catheter having a corkscrew configuration throughout substantially its entire length that is substantially incapable of damaging an endothelium of a vascular structure, said catheter rotating less than about 55 rpm once it is inserted inside a patient, said catheter increasing the surface area of a clot in said vascular structure such that said clot can be dissolved by a lytic agent;
- and
- a pump that delivers lytic agent in pulse waves, said pulse waves causing an intermittent mechanical motion of said catheter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.