Apparatus and methods for clot dissolution

US6929633B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Bacchus Vascular inc. · US

Inventors

• Michael A. Evans · Palo Alto, US
• Denise Demarais · Los Gatos, US
• Dino De Cicco · Sunnyvale, US
• Kelvin Ning · Phoenix, US
• Alexander Khairkhahan · Palo Alto, US
• Tyler Jon Strang · Palo Alto, US
• Jody Maria Cimbalo · Mountain View, US
• Stephen A. Leeflang · Emeryville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 21, 2002
• Grant date: Aug 16, 2005
• Expiry date: Feb 18, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61M2025/1052
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Clot disruption and dissolution are achieved using a catheter having the ability to infuse a thrombolytic agent, agitate the clot and agent, and aspirate broken-up clot from the blood vessel. A flow resistor in the catheter provides for infusion and/or aspiration to be concentrated primarily at a clot treatment area in a blood vessel while also providing optional infusion and/or aspiration distal to the treatment area. In some embodiments, infusion, aspiration and guidewire passage occur through a common lumen. The thrombolytic agent, such as tPA, streptokinase, or urokinase, is directly released into the clot at the point where the agitator is engaging the clot. In this way, the thrombolytic activity of the agent is enhanced and the dissolution of the clot is improved.