US6283959B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Endovascular cryotreatment catheter
Assignee: Medtronic Cryocath LP
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Filing: 1999-08-23
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Granted: 2001-09-04
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Expires: 2019-08-23
Abstract
Abstract A catheter is attached to an elongated catheter body adapted for endovascular insertion with a balloon assembly at its distal end. Coolant injected through the catheter body may, in different embodiments, directly cool tissue contacting the balloon, or may cool a separate internal chamber. In the first case, the coolant also inflates the balloon, and spent coolant is returned to the handle via a return passage extending through the body of the catheter. A valve may regulate back pressure in the return passage to coordinate the flow of coolant into and out of the balloon so as to both inflate the balloon and achieve cryogenic cooling at the surface of the balloon. The coolant is biologically safe, and may be liquid carbon dioxide. Plural balloons may be provided adjacent the cooling segment, and one balloon may be shaped to treat the ostium of a vessel. Preferably, thermal conductivity of the balloon wall is enhanced by inclusion of thermally conductive material, such as metal, which may be introduced as a component of a composite elastomer material, or as a patterned metal layer that defines a pattern of thermally conductive treatment regions of the balloon surface. Patterns formed by printing, lithography or other means with copper, silver or other highly thermally conductive material enhance through-conduction characteristics of the wall so icing preferentially occurs to stimulate tissue destruction and vascular regeneration. Suitable patterns include spirals, dots, arrays of separated segments, or meandering curves which allow expansion of the balloon body without introducing delamination, localized stress cracking or separation of the balloon material. The conductive patterns may include patterns such as waffle-iron or other arrays of small lesions that are effective to treat the endovascular wall. When separate media are used for cooling and for balloon expansion, the cooling chamber may have a large diameter, and the balloon may form a thin shell or cuff. In that case, the balloon may be quickly inflated with a medium such as a saline to provide a quickly deployed and compliant contact structure of excellent conductivity.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean Pierre Lalonde
- 👤 Robert Martin
- 👤 Claudia Lueckge
- 👤 Leonilda Capuano
- 👤 John W. Lehmann
- 👤 Daniel Nahon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:42
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/02; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22001; A61B2017/22051; A61B2017/22054; A61B2017/22065; A61B2017/22069; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00214; A61B2018/0022; A61B2018/0212; A61B2018/0231; A61B2018/0262; A61B2018/0268
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
A catheter for endovascular cryotreatment of tissue, comprising: a handle, an elongated catheter body having: a proximal end portion, the proximal end portion being coupled to the handle, a distal end portion, an injection tube, the injection tube being coupled to a supply of coolant fluid, and a return passage, the return passage being coupled to the handle, the return passage having a controllable back pressure regulated by the handle, and at least one balloon positioned at the distal end portion of the elongated catheter body, the at least one balloon being configured for inflation by the supply of coolant fluid such that the balloon expands within a vessel to occlude the vessel and position the balloon wall in thermal contact with the vessel wall for effecting cryotreatment, the at least one balloon having at least one metallized surface region of enhanced thermal conductivity to selectively freeze the vessel wall in proximity to said surface region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
A catheter for endovascular cryotreatment of tissue, comprising: a handle, an elongated catheter body having: a proximal end portion, the proximal end portion being coupled to the handle, a distal end portion, an injection tube, the injection tube being coupled to a supply of coolant fluid, and a return passage, the return passage being coupled to the handle, the return passage having a controllable back pressure regulated by the handle, and at least one balloon positioned at the distal end portion of the elongated catheter body, the at least one balloon being configured for inflation by the supply of coolant fluid such that the balloon expands within a vessel to occlude the vessel and position the balloon wall in thermal contact with the vessel wall for effecting cryotreatment, the at least one balloon having at least one metallized surface region of enhanced thermal conductivity to selectively freeze the vessel wall in proximity to said surface region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A cryocatheter assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the at least one metallized surface region is patterned.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A cryocatheter assembly in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the at least one metallized surface region has a pattern configured for radial expansion without stress cracking.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A cryocatheter assembly in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the at least one metallized surface region has a pattern including an array of separated heat conduction regions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A cryocatheter assembly in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said pattern is a discrete pattern effective for ablation treatment of the vascular wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
153 words
A catheter for endovascular cryotreatment of tissue, comprising: a handle coupled to a supply of cooling fluid, and an elongated catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being coupled to the handle, the distal end further comprising: a cooling segment, the cooling segment having a fluid impermeable heat exchanging surface, and at least one balloon positioned proximate the cooling segment, wherein the cooling segment is cooled by the flow of cooling fluid, and the at least one balloon is configured for inflation by said cooling fluid, the elongated catheter body and handle further forming a return passage for said fluid wherein the return passage is set with a back pressure effective for inflating the balloon with the cooling fluid such that the balloon expands within a vessel to occlude the vessel while the cooling segment is positioned in thermal contact proximate the vessel wall for performing cryotreatment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
153 words
A catheter for endovascular cryotreatment of tissue, comprising: a handle coupled to a supply of cooling fluid, and an elongated catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being coupled to the handle, the distal end further comprising: a cooling segment, the cooling segment having a fluid impermeable heat exchanging surface, and at least one balloon positioned proximate the cooling segment, wherein the cooling segment is cooled by the flow of cooling fluid, and the at least one balloon is configured for inflation by said cooling fluid, the elongated catheter body and handle further forming a return passage for said fluid wherein the return passage is set with a back pressure effective for inflating the balloon with the cooling fluid such that the balloon expands within a vessel to occlude the vessel while the cooling segment is positioned in thermal contact proximate the vessel wall for performing cryotreatment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A cryocatheter assembly in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the at least one balloon comprises a membrane having a surface region of tapered aspect for lodging in a vessel ostium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A cryocatheter assembly in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the catheter is configured for trickle inflation of the at least one balloon with the flow of cooling fluid from the cooling segment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A cryocatheter assembly in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the at least one balloon inflates with cooling fluid to provide a supplemental region of ice formation at the surface of the balloon.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A cryocatheter assembly in accordance with claim 6 , wherein, relative to the handle, the at least one balloon is positioned distal to the cooling segment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A cryocatheter assembly in accordance with claim 6 , wherein, relative to the handle, the at least one balloon is positioned proximal to the cooling segment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
A cryocatheter assembly in accordance with claim 6 , wherein at least one balloon is a primary balloon, and further comprising a shaped balloon conformable to a vessel ostium, and wherein the cooling segment lies between the primary balloon and the shaped balloon.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
121 words
A cryocatheter comprising: an elongated catheter body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, a handle coupled to the proximal end portion, the handle being in fluid communication with a supply of coolant, a substantially rigid cooling chamber positioned at the distal end portion, said catheter body being configured for insertion in a tissue lumen, and including a coolant injection lumen for carrying coolant to said cooling chamber and a return lumen for return of coolant, and an inflatable sleeve mounted about said cooling chamber, said sleeve being inflatable through said catheter body with a heat conductive inflation medium to form a compliant contact with surrounding tissue and effect thermal conduction between said tissue and the cooling chamber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
121 words
A cryocatheter comprising: an elongated catheter body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, a handle coupled to the proximal end portion, the handle being in fluid communication with a supply of coolant, a substantially rigid cooling chamber positioned at the distal end portion, said catheter body being configured for insertion in a tissue lumen, and including a coolant injection lumen for carrying coolant to said cooling chamber and a return lumen for return of coolant, and an inflatable sleeve mounted about said cooling chamber, said sleeve being inflatable through said catheter body with a heat conductive inflation medium to form a compliant contact with surrounding tissue and effect thermal conduction between said tissue and the cooling chamber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
The cryocatheter of claim 13 , wherein said sleeve is a balloon, and said ballon is further configured to perform at least one of the functions of i) anchoring and positioning the cooling chamber; ii) blocking blood flow past the cooling chamber; and p 1 iii) exerting expansive force on adjacent tissue.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
136 words
A cryocatheter comprising a handle an elongated catheter body extending from the handle to a cooling chamber, said catheter body being configured for insertion in a tissue lumen, and including a coolant injection lumen for carrying coolant to said cooling chamber and a return lumen for return of coolant, and an inflatable sleeve mounted about said cooling chamber, said sleeve being inflatable through said catheter body with a heat conductive inflation medium to form a compliant contact with surrounding tissue and effect thermal conduction between said tissue and the cooling chamber; said inflatable sleeve and cooling chamber constituting a tissue cooling assembly, and further comprising a bypass passage extending through the tissue cooling assembly to allow fluid flow along the tissue lumen while said assembly is positioned in the tissue lumen and the sleeve is inflated.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
136 words
A cryocatheter comprising a handle an elongated catheter body extending from the handle to a cooling chamber, said catheter body being configured for insertion in a tissue lumen, and including a coolant injection lumen for carrying coolant to said cooling chamber and a return lumen for return of coolant, and an inflatable sleeve mounted about said cooling chamber, said sleeve being inflatable through said catheter body with a heat conductive inflation medium to form a compliant contact with surrounding tissue and effect thermal conduction between said tissue and the cooling chamber; said inflatable sleeve and cooling chamber constituting a tissue cooling assembly, and further comprising a bypass passage extending through the tissue cooling assembly to allow fluid flow along the tissue lumen while said assembly is positioned in the tissue lumen and the sleeve is inflated.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The cryocatheter of claim 15 , further comprising heating means for rewarming at least one of the inflation medium, a distal portion of the catheter, and the surrounding tissue.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The cryocatheter of claim 15 wherein the catheter is a perfusion catheter.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-09-03 | 2005-03-05 | 2005-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-09-03 | 2009-03-05 | 2009-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-09-03 | 2013-03-05 | 2013-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |