Intraluminal retrieval catheter

Claim 2

An intraluminal retrieval apparatus, including: an elongate and flexible first catheter having a proximal end region and a distal end region, body insertable to position the distal end region within a body lumen while the proximal end region remains outside of the body; means defining a retrieval cavity and an inlet passage along the distal end region adapted to admit objects into the retrieval cavity from outside of the first catheter; a closure means for alternatively closing and opening the inlet passage; a body lumen isolation structure mounted to the first catheter, including first and second isolating elements spaced apart from one another on opposite sides of the inlet passage, said isolating elements positionable on opposite sides of an object situated within the body lumen to confine the object to a segment of the body lumen between them; and a retrieval device mounted with respect to the first catheter and adapted to retrieve the object by forming a coupling with said object and conveying the object from outside of the first catheter into the cavity via the inlet passage.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said first catheter includes a first catheter lumen extending from the proximal end region to the distal end region, and the closure means comprises an elongate and flexible second catheter within the first catheter lumen and movable relative to the first catheter to alternatively open and close the inlet passage.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein: the retrieval cavity is formed in the second catheter; the inlet passage comprises a plurality of first apertures through the first catheter open to the first catheter lumen, and a second aperture through the second catheter open to the retrieval cavity; and the second catheter is movable relative to the first catheter to alternatively align the second aperture with different selected ones of the first apertures.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein: the second catheter contains the retrieval cavity and is removably mounted within the first catheter, to enable removal of the retrieved object by withdrawing the second catheter proximally while the first catheter remains disposed within the body lumen.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said first catheter includes a catheter lumen extending along the catheter from the proximal end region to the distal end region and fluid coupled with the retrieval cavity, adapted for fluid coupling to a vacuum source for drawing fluids from outside of the catheter into the first catheter lumen via the inlet passage and retrieval cavity.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the isolating elements comprise first and second inflatable balloons, and a means for supplying a balloon inflation fluid under pressure to the balloons.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein: the supply means comprises a balloon inflation lumen open to interiors of the first and second balloons.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the retrieval device includes a snare adapted to form said coupling by grasping the object.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein: the first catheter includes a catheter lumen extending from the proximal end region to the distal end region, and the retrieval device further includes a flexible wire connected to the snare and extending proximally from the snare through the catheter lumen.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the first and second isolating elements cooperate to releasably fix the first catheter with respect to the body lumen.

Claim 12

An intraluminal retrieval apparatus, including: an elongate and flexible first catheter having a proximal end region and a distal end region, body insertable to position the distal end region within a body lumen while the proximal end region remains outside of the body; means defining a retrieval chamber and an inlet passage along the distal end region adapted to admit objects into the retrieval chamber from outside of the first catheter; a body lumen isolation structure mounted to the first catheter and including first and second isolating elements spaced apart from one another on opposite sides of the inlet passage, said first and second isolating elements further positionable on opposite sides of an object within the body lumen to confine the object to a segment of the body lumen between them; a closure means for alternatively opening the inlet passage to facilitate a flow of fluids into the chamber from outside of the catheter and closing the inlet passage to substantially prevent such flow; and an object retrieval component coupled to the first catheter and adapted to retrieve the object by conveying the object into the chamber via the inlet passage.

Claim 13

An intraluminal retrieval apparatus, including: an elongate and flexible first catheter having a proximal end region and a distal end region, body insertable to position the distal end region within a body lumen while the proximal end region remains outside of the body; means defining a retrieval chamber and an inlet passage along the distal end region adapted to admit objects into the retrieval chamber from outside of the first catheter; a body lumen isolation structure mounted to the first catheter and including first and second isolating elements spaced apart from one another on opposite sides of the inlet passage, said first and second isolating elements further positionable on opposite sides of an object within the body lumen to confine the object to a segment of the body lumen between them; a closure means for alternatively opening the inlet passage to facilitate a flow of fluids into the chamber from outside of the catheter and closing the inlet passage to substantially prevent such flow; and an object retrieval component coupled to the first catheter and adapted to retrieve the object by conveying the object into the chamber via the inlet passage.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein: the first catheter includes a catheter lumen extending from the proximal region to the distal region, and the closure means comprises a second elongate and flexible catheter contained within the catheter lumen and movable to alternatively open and close the inlet passage.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein: the inlet passage comprises a plurality of first apertures through the first catheter, and a second aperture through the second catheter alternatively positionable in alignment with different selected ones of the first apertures to permit fluid flow through the selected first aperture and the second aperture into an interior of the second catheter, wherein the interior of the second catheter includes said chamber.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein: the isolating elements are adapted to fix the first catheter within the body lumen, and the second catheter is removably mounted within the first catheter to permit a proximal withdrawal of the second catheter and the retrieved object while the first catheter remains fixed within the body lumen.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein: the retrieval component comprises a retrieval device having a coupling element for forming a coupling with the object, and a transfer element joined to the coupling element and movable proximally to draw the coupling element and the object into the retrieval chamber.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein: the retrieval component comprises a vacuum source and a fluid pathway coupled between the retrieval chamber and the vacuum source, for generating a fluid flow to draw the object into the retrieval chamber via the inlet passage.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein: said fluid pathway comprises a first catheter lumen in the first catheter, extending from the retrieval chamber to the proximal end region.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein: the retrieval component comprises a supply path for supplying irrigation fluid to said segment of the body lumen outside of the first catheter, and a discharge path, including the retrieval chamber and the inlet passage, for removing irrigation fluid from said segment.

Claim 21

An intraluminal retrieval device, including: an elongate and flexible first catheter having a proximal end region, a distal end region and a first catheter lumen extending from the proximal end region to the distal end region, said first catheter being body insertable to position the distal end region within a body lumen while the proximal end region remains outside of the body; a plurality of first apertures formed through the first catheter and spaced apart from one another along the distal end region; a lumen isolation structure mounted to the first catheter, including first and second isolating elements spaced apart from one another on opposite sides of the first apertures, said isolating elements positionable on opposite sides of an object in the body lumen to confine the object to a segment of the body lumen between them; a second elongate and flexible catheter contained within said first catheter lumen and extending from the proximal end region to the distal end region, said second catheter including a second catheter lumen and a second aperture through the second catheter near a distal end thereof, the second catheter being movable relative to the first catheter to alternatively position the second aperture in alignment with selected different ones of the first apertures to admit a fluid flow from outside of the first catheter into the second catheter lumen via the selected first aperture and second aperture, and further alternatively movable to position the second aperture out of alignment with the first apertures to prevent such fluid flow; and a retrieval component, operable when the second aperture and the selected one of the first apertures are aligned, to retrieve the object by conveying an object from outside of the catheter into the second catheter lumen via the selected first aperture and second aperture.

Claim 22

An intraluminal retrieval device, including: an elongate and flexible first catheter having a proximal end region, a distal end region and a first catheter lumen extending from the proximal end region to the distal end region, said first catheter being body insertable to position the distal end region within a body lumen while the proximal end region remains outside of the body; a plurality of first apertures formed through the first catheter and spaced apart from one another along the distal end region; a lumen isolation structure mounted to the first catheter, including first and second isolating elements spaced apart from one another on opposite sides of the first apertures, said isolating elements positionable on opposite sides of an object in the body lumen to confine the object to a segment of the body lumen between them; a second elongate and flexible catheter contained within said first catheter lumen and extending from the proximal end region to the distal end region, said second catheter including a second catheter lumen and a second aperture through the second catheter near a distal end thereof, the second catheter being movable relative to the first catheter to alternatively position the second aperture in alignment with selected different ones of the first apertures to admit a fluid flow from outside of the first catheter into the second catheter lumen via the selected first aperture and second aperture, and further alternatively movable to position the second aperture out of alignment with the first apertures to prevent such fluid flow; and a retrieval component, operable when the second aperture and the selected one of the first apertures are aligned, to retrieve the object by conveying an object from outside of the catheter into the second catheter lumen via the selected first aperture and second aperture.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein: the first apertures are spaced apart axially, and the second catheter is slidable axially relative to the first catheter to effect the alignment.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein: said first apertures are spaced apart circumferentially from one another, and the second catheter is rotatable within the first catheter lumen to effect the alignment.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein: the retrieval component comprises a retrieval device including a coupling element for forming a coupling with the object, and a transfer element joined to the coupling element and movable proximally to draw the coupling element and the object into the second catheter lumen.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein: the retrieval component comprises a vacuum source fluid coupled to the second catheter lumen, for generating a fluid flow to convey the object from said segment into the second catheter lumen.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein: the retrieval component comprises a supply path for supplying irrigation fluid to said segment of the body lumen outside of the first catheter, and a discharge path, including the selected first aperture, the second aperture and the second catheter lumen, for removing irrigation fluid from said segment.

Claim 28

A process for retrieving an object from a body lumen, including: bodily inserting an elongate and flexible catheter to selectively position a distal end of the catheter within a body lumen such that first and second isolating elements mounted on the catheter are on opposite sides of an object in the body lumen; activating the isolating elements to positionally fix the catheter within the body lumen and confine the object to a segment of the body lumen between the isolating elements; with the catheter fixed, opening an inlet passage along the catheter between the isolating elements, then retrieving the object by conveying the object through the inlet passage to a retrieval cavity in the catheter; and closing the inlet passage to retain the retrieved object in the retrieval cavity.

Claim 29

A process for retrieving an object from a body lumen, including: bodily inserting an elongate and flexible catheter to selectively position a distal end of the catheter within a body lumen such that first and second isolating elements mounted on the catheter are on opposite sides of an object in the body lumen; activating the isolating elements to positionally fix the catheter within the body lumen and confine the object to a segment of the body lumen between the isolating elements; with the catheter fixed, opening an inlet passage along the catheter between the isolating elements, then retrieving the object by conveying the object through the inlet passage to a retrieval cavity in the catheter; and closing the inlet passage to retain the retrieved object in the retrieval cavity.

Claim 30

The process of claim 25 further including: deactivating the isolating elements to release the catheter, then proximally withdrawing the catheter to remove the retrieved object.

Claim 31

The process of claim 26 wherein: the isolating elements comprise expandable balloons, and said activation and deactivation comprise, respectively, inflation and aspiration of the balloons.

Claim 32

The process of claim 25 wherein: the retrieval of the object comprises moving a retrieval device from within the catheter toward the object to form a coupling therewith, then moving the retrieval device proximally to convey the object into the retrieval cavity.

Claim 33

The process of claim 25 wherein: said retrieval comprises generating a fluid flow from outside of the catheter into the retrieval cavity through the inlet passage, thereby to convey the object into the retrieval cavity.

Claim 34

The process of claim 29 wherein: the generating of the fluid flow comprises one of the following: (i) using a vacuum source to draw fluid proximally away from the retrieval cavity; and (ii) supplying irrigation fluid to a segment of the body lumen outside the catheter and between the isolating elements, and discharging the irrigation fluid proximally from the retrieval cavity.