US20030191434A1 — Infusion catheter having an atraumatic tip

Claim 1

Independent Claim 84 words

1 . Apparatus suitable for disrupting a vascular occlusion adhered to a vessel wall, the apparatus comprising: an infusion catheter having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therebetween, an atraumatic tip disposed at the distal end, and at least one delivery port disposed proximal of the atraumatic tip in fluid communication with the lumen, wherein the infusion catheter is configured to infuse fluid into the occlusion so that the fluid reduces adhesion of the occlusion to an intima of the vessel wall.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 84 words

1 . Apparatus suitable for disrupting a vascular occlusion adhered to a vessel wall, the apparatus comprising: an infusion catheter having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therebetween, an atraumatic tip disposed at the distal end, and at least one delivery port disposed proximal of the atraumatic tip in fluid communication with the lumen, wherein the infusion catheter is configured to infuse fluid into the occlusion so that the fluid reduces adhesion of the occlusion to an intima of the vessel wall.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 15 words

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the atraumatic tip comprises a platinum coil.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 32 words

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one delivery port delivers a jet of fluid that forms an oblique angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the infusion catheter.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 20 words

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the delivery port causes fluid to be ejected in a proximal direction.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 15 words

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the delivery port comprises a circular configuration.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 25 words

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the infusion catheter further comprises at least one radiopaque marker band disposed proximal of the atraumatic tip.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 33 words

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 wherein a first radiopaque marker band is disposed proximal of the delivery port and a second radiopaque marker band is disposed distal of the delivery port.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 12 words

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fluid is saline.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 25 words

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a removable stylet that is configured to be longitudinally advanced within the lumen of infusion catheter.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 27 words

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an infusion pump configured to regulate the pressure of fluid infused into the lumen of the infusion catheter.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 53 words

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an emboli removal catheter having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therebetween, and further comprising an occlusive element disposed at the distal end, wherein the lumen of the emboli removal catheter is sized to permit the longitudinal advancement of the infusion catheter.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 24 words

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the lumen of the emboli removal catheter is in fluid communication with a patient's venous system.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 51 words

13 . The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a venous return sheath having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therebetween, wherein the venous return sheath is in fluid communication with the lumen of the emboli removal catheter and is adapted to be disposed in a patient's venous system.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 48 words

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a valve disposed between the emboli removal catheter and the venous return sheath, wherein the valve is configured to selectively inhibit fluid communication between the lumen of the emboli removal catheter and the lumen of the venous return sheath.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 22 words

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a filter disposed between the emboli removal catheter and the venous return sheath.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 122 words

16 . Apparatus suitable for treating an occlusion adhered to a vessel wall, the apparatus comprising: an infusion catheter having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therebetween, an atraumatic tip disposed at the distal end, and at least one delivery port disposed proximal of the atraumatic tip in fluid communication with the lumen; and a centering device having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therebetween, the centering device comprising a plurality of deployable struts disposed at the distal end, the lumen adapted to permit the infusion catheter to pass therethrough, wherein the infusion catheter is configured to infuse fluid into the occlusion so that the fluid reduces adhesion of the occlusion to an intima of the vessel wall.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 122 words

16 . Apparatus suitable for treating an occlusion adhered to a vessel wall, the apparatus comprising: an infusion catheter having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therebetween, an atraumatic tip disposed at the distal end, and at least one delivery port disposed proximal of the atraumatic tip in fluid communication with the lumen; and a centering device having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therebetween, the centering device comprising a plurality of deployable struts disposed at the distal end, the lumen adapted to permit the infusion catheter to pass therethrough, wherein the infusion catheter is configured to infuse fluid into the occlusion so that the fluid reduces adhesion of the occlusion to an intima of the vessel wall.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 40 words

17 . The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising an outer sheath having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therebetween, the outer sheath being configured to constrain the deployable struts in a contracted state within the outer sheath.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 22 words

18 . The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the deployable struts are sized to engage the vessel wall in a deployed state.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 14 words

19 . The apparatus of 16 wherein the deployable struts comprise a nickel-titanium alloy.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 14 words

19 . The apparatus of 16 wherein the deployable struts comprise a nickel-titanium alloy.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 32 words

20 . The apparatus of claim 16 wherein at least one delivery port delivers a jet of fluid that forms an oblique angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the infusion catheter.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 20 words

21 . The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the delivery port causes fluid to be ejected in a proximal direction.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 25 words

22 . The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the infusion catheter further comprises at least one radiopaque marker band disposed proximal of the atraumatic tip.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 33 words

23 . The apparatus of claim 22 wherein a first radiopaque marker band is disposed proximal of the delivery port and a second radiopaque marker band is disposed distal of the delivery port.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 53 words

24 . The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising an emboli removal catheter having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therebetween, and further comprising an occlusive element disposed at the distal end, wherein the lumen of the emboli removal catheter is sized to permit the longitudinal advancement of the centering device.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 99 words

25 . A method for treating an occlusion adhered to a vessel wall, the method comprising: providing an infusion catheter having proximal and distal ends, a lumen extending therebetween, an atraumatic tip disposed at the distal end, and at least one delivery port disposed proximal of the atraumatic tip in fluid communication with the lumen; advancing the atraumatic tip through the occlusion; positioning the delivery port at a desired location within the occlusion; and infusing fluid into the occlusion via the delivery port so that the fluid reduces adhesion of the occlusion to an intima of the vessel wall.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 99 words

25 . A method for treating an occlusion adhered to a vessel wall, the method comprising: providing an infusion catheter having proximal and distal ends, a lumen extending therebetween, an atraumatic tip disposed at the distal end, and at least one delivery port disposed proximal of the atraumatic tip in fluid communication with the lumen; advancing the atraumatic tip through the occlusion; positioning the delivery port at a desired location within the occlusion; and infusing fluid into the occlusion via the delivery port so that the fluid reduces adhesion of the occlusion to an intima of the vessel wall.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 57 words

26 . The method of claim 25 wherein positioning the delivery port at a desired location within the occlusion comprises: providing at least one radiopaque marker band disposed on the infusion catheter at a location proximal of the atraumatic tip; and using the radiopaque marker band to determine the position of the delivery port within the occlusion.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 22 words

27 . The method of claim 25 wherein fluid is infused into the occlusion at a controlled pressure using an infusion pump.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 104 words

28 . The method of claim 25 further comprising: providing an emboli removal catheter having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therebetween, and further comprising an occlusive element disposed at the distal end, wherein the lumen of the emboli removal catheter is sized to permit the longitudinal advancement of the infusion catheter; deploying the occlusive element to occlude antegrade flow in a vessel; establishing retrograde flow through the lumen of the emboli removal catheter to influence flow characteristics in a treatment vessel; and causing emboli generated during the infusion of fluid into the occlusion to be directed into the emboli removal catheter.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 18 words

29 . The method of claim 25 wherein fluid is infused into the occlusion in a proximal direction.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 66 words

30 . The method of claim 25 further comprising: providing a centering device having proximal and distal ends, a lumen extending therebetween, and a plurality of deployable struts disposed at the distal end in a contracted state; positioning the centering device at a location proximal of the occlusion; deploying the plurality of deployable struts; and advancing the infusion catheter through the lumen of the centering device.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 32 words

31 . The method of claim 25 wherein deploying the plurality of deployable struts comprises proximally retracting an outer sheath that is used to constrain the deployable struts in the contracted state.

Infusion catheter having an atraumatic tip

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