Cerebral embolic protection assembly and associated methods

Claim 2

An aortic catheter comprising: an elongated shaft; a cerebral embolic protection assembly mounted to said elongate shaft and positioned on said elongated shaft such that, when the aortic catheter is in an operative position, said cerebral protection assembly is positioned within a lumen of an aortic arch of a patient, said cerebral embolic protection assembly having an upper surface facing toward the aortic arch vessels, an inflatable portion, and a lower surface facing away from the aortic arch vessels, said cerebral embolic protection assembly being configured to allow blood flow to enter the cerebral circulation while excluding emboli from the cerebral circulation, wherein said cerebral embolic protection assembly is configured to partition the lumen of the aortic arch into a first fluid flow channel in fluid communication with the aortic arch vessels and a second fluid flow channel in fluid communication with the patient's corporeal circulation.

Claim 3

The aortic catheter of claim 1 , wherein said cerebral embolic protection assembly is configured to allow blood flow to enter the first fluid flow channel in fluid communication with the aortic arch vessels while excluding emboli from entering the first fluid flow channel.

Claim 4

The aortic catheter of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said cerebral embolic protection assembly is porous.

Claim 5

The aortic catheter of claim 3 , wherein the porous portion of said cerebral embolic protection assembly is constructed of filter mesh that is permeable to blood and impermeable to emboli.

Claim 6

The aortic catheter of claim 3 , wherein the porous portion of said cerebral embolic protection assembly is configured to allow blood flow to the cerebral circulation while excluding emboli from the cerebral circulation.

Claim 7

The aortic catheter of claim 3 , wherein the porous portion of said cerebral embolic protection assembly is configured to exclude macroemboli from the cerebral circulation.

Claim 8

The aortic catheter of claim 3 , wherein the porous portion of said cerebral embolic protection assembly is configured to exclude macroemboli and micro emboli from the cerebral circulation.

Claim 9

The aortic catheter of claim 3 , wherein the porous portion of said cerebral embolic protection assembly is configured to divert emboli downstream to the patient's corporeal circulation.

Claim 10

The aortic catheter of claim 3 , wherein the porous portion of said cerebral embolic protection assembly is configured to divert microemboli downstream to the patient's corporeal circulation and to capture macroemboli.

Claim 11

The aortic catheter of claim 1 , wherein said cerebral embolic protection assembly is configured to exclude macroemboli from the cerebral circulation.

Claim 12

The aortic catheter of claim 1 , wherein said cerebral embolic protection assembly is configured to exclude macroemboli and microemboli from the cerebral circulation.

Claim 13

The aortic catheter of claim 1 , wherein said cerebral embolic protection assembly is configured to divert emboli downstream to the patient's corporeal circulation.

Claim 14

The aortic catheter of claim 1 , wherein said cerebral embolic protection assembly is configured to divert microemboli downstream to the patient's corporeal circulation and to capture macroemboli.

Claim 15

The aortic catheter of claim 1 , wherein said cerebral embolic protection assembly is actively deployable from a compressed condition wherein said cerebral embolic protection assembly is folded or compressed toward said elongate shaft and an expanded condition wherein said cerebral embolic protection assembly extends from said elongate shaft.

Claim 16

The aortic catheter of claim 1 , wherein said cerebral embolic protection assembly comprises an upper portion comprised of impermeable material and a lower portion comprised of impermeable material.

Claim 17

The aortic catheter of claim 1 , wherein said cerebral embolic protection assembly comprises an upper portion comprised of porous material and a lower portion comprised of porous material.

Claim 18

The aortic catheter of claim 1 , further comprising a fluid lumen extending at least in part along the length of said elongated shaft and having a fluid port configured to provide fluid to the cerebral circulation.

Claim 19

The aortic catheter of claim 1 wherein said cerebral embolic protection assembly comprises an upper portion and a lower portion comprised of filter mesh.

Claim 20

The aortic catheter of claim 1 , further comprises an auxiliary flow control member.

Claim 21

The aortic catheter of claim 19 , wherein said auxiliary flow control member is in the form of an inflatable balloon.

Claim 22

The aortic catheter of claim 19 , wherein said auxiliary flow control member is comprised of a peripheral flow control valve.

Claim 23

The aortic catheter of claim 1 , wherein said elongated shaft is sized and configured to be inserted into a peripheral artery and navigated proximate the aortic arch.

Claim 24

The aortic catheter of claim 1 , wherein said elongated shaft is sized and configured to be inserted directly into the aorta.

Claim 25

The aortic catheter of claim 1 , wherein said elongated shaft is sized and configured to be inserted through an intercostal space.

Claim 26

An aortic catheter comprising: an elongated shaft; a cerebral embolic protection assembly mounted to said elongate shaft and positioned on said elongated shaft such that, when the aortic catheter is in an operative position, said cerebral protection assembly is positioned within a lumen of an aortic arch of a patient, said cerebral embolic protection assembly having an upper surface facing toward the aortic arch vessels, an inflatable portion, and a lower surface facing away from the aortic arch vessels, said cerebral embolic protection assembly being configured to allow blood flow to enter the cerebral circulation while excluding emboli from the cerebral circulation, wherein said cerebral embolic protection assembly is configured to partition the lumen of the aortic arch longitudinally into a first fluid flow channel in fluid communication with the aortic arch vessels and a second fluid flow channel in fluid communication with the patient's corporeal circulation, wherein at least a portion of said cerebral embolic protection assembly is porous and, wherein the porous portion of said cerebral embolic protection assembly is configured to allow blood flow to enter the first fluid flow channel from the second fluid flow channel, while excluding emboli from entering the first fluid flow channel from the second fluid flow channel.

Claim 27

An aortic catheter comprising: an elongated shaft; a cerebral embolic protection assembly mounted to said elongate shaft and positioned on said elongated shaft such that, when the aortic catheter is in an operative position, said cerebral protection assembly is positioned within a lumen of an aortic arch of a patient, said cerebral embolic protection assembly having an upper surface facing toward the aortic arch vessels, an inflatable portion, and a lower surface facing away from the aortic arch vessels, said cerebral embolic protection assembly being configured to allow blood flow to enter the cerebral circulation while excluding emboli from the cerebral circulation, wherein said cerebral embolic protection assembly is configured to partition the lumen of the aortic arch longitudinally into a first fluid flow channel in fluid communication with the aortic arch vessels and a second fluid flow channel in fluid communication with the patient's corporeal circulation, wherein at least a portion of said cerebral embolic protection assembly is porous and, wherein the porous portion of said cerebral embolic protection assembly is configured to allow blood flow to enter the first fluid flow channel from the second fluid flow channel, while excluding emboli from entering the first fluid flow channel from the second fluid flow channel.

Claim 28

An aortic catheter comprising: an elongated shaft; a cerebral embolic protection assembly mounted to said elongate shaft and positioned on said elongated shaft such that, when the aortic catheter is in an operative position, said cerebral protection assembly is positioned within a lumen of an aortic arch of a patient, said cerebral embolic protection assembly having an upper surface facing toward the aortic arch vessels, an inflatable portion, and a lower surface facing away from the aortic arch vessels, said cerebral embolic protection assembly being configured to allow blood flow to enter the cerebral circulation while excluding emboli from the cerebral circulation, wherein said cerebral embolic protection assembly is passively deployable from a compressed condition wherein said cerebral embolic protection assembly is folded or compressed toward said elongate shaft and an expanded condition wherein said cerebral embolic protection assembly extends from said elongate shaft.

Claim 29

An aortic catheter comprising: an elongated shaft; a cerebral embolic protection assembly mounted to said elongate shaft and positioned on said elongated shaft such that, when the aortic catheter is in an operative position, said cerebral protection assembly is positioned within a lumen of an aortic arch of a patient, said cerebral embolic protection assembly having an upper surface facing toward the aortic arch vessels, an inflatable portion, and a lower surface facing away from the aortic arch vessels, said cerebral embolic protection assembly being configured to allow blood flow to enter the cerebral circulation while excluding emboli from the cerebral circulation, wherein said cerebral embolic protection assembly is passively deployable from a compressed condition wherein said cerebral embolic protection assembly is folded or compressed toward said elongate shaft and an expanded condition wherein said cerebral embolic protection assembly extends from said elongate shaft.

Claim 30

A cerebral embolic protection assembly comprising: a body having an upper surface, an inflatable portion, and a lower surface, said body being configured to be inserted in an operative position within a lumen of an aortic arch of a patient with said upper surface facing toward the aortic arch vessels and said lower surface facing away from the aortic arch vessels, said body being configured to allow blood flow to enter the cerebral circulation while excluding emboli from the cerebral circulation, wherein said body is configured to partition the lumen of the aortic arch longitudinally into a first fluid flow channel in fluid communication with the aortic arch vessels and a second fluid flow channel in fluid communication with the patient's corporeal circulation.

Claim 31

A cerebral embolic protection assembly comprising: a body having an upper surface, an inflatable portion, and a lower surface, said body being configured to be inserted in an operative position within a lumen of an aortic arch of a patient with said upper surface facing toward the aortic arch vessels and said lower surface facing away from the aortic arch vessels, said body being configured to allow blood flow to enter the cerebral circulation while excluding emboli from the cerebral circulation, wherein said body is configured to partition the lumen of the aortic arch longitudinally into a first fluid flow channel in fluid communication with the aortic arch vessels and a second fluid flow channel in fluid communication with the patient's corporeal circulation.

Claim 32

The cerebral embolic protection assembly of claim 27 , wherein said body is configured to allow blood flow to enter the first fluid flow channel in fluid communication with the aortic arch vessels while excluding emboli from entering the first fluid lowflow channel.

Claim 33

The cerebral embolic protection assembly of claim 27 , wherein at least a portion of said body is porous.

Claim 34

The cerebral embolic protection assembly of claim 27 , wherein the porous portion of said body is constructed of filter mesh that is permeable to blood and impermeable to emboli.

Claim 35

The cerebral embolic protection assembly of claim 27 , wherein the porous portion of said body is configured to allow blood flow to the cerebral circulation while excluding emboli from the cerebral circulation.

Claim 36

The cerebral embolic protection assembly of claim 27 , wherein the porous portion of said body is configured to exclude macroemboli from the cerebral circulation.

Claim 37

The cerebral embolic protection assembly of claim 27 , wherein the porous portion of said body is configured to exclude macroemboli and microemboli from the cerebral circulation.

Claim 38

The cerebral embolic protection assembly of claim 27 , wherein the porous portion of said body is configured to divert emboli downstream to the patient's corporeal circulation.

Claim 39

The cerebral embolic protection assembly of claim 27 , wherein the porous portion of said body is configured to divert microemboli downstream to the patient's corporeal circulation and to capture macroemboli.

Claim 40

The cerebral embolic protection assembly of claim 27 , wherein at least a portion of said body is porous and, wherein the porous portion of said body is configured to allow blood flow to enter the first fluid flow channel from the second fluid flow channel, while excluding emboli from entering the first fluid flow channel from the second fluid flow channel.

Claim 41

The cerebral embolic protection assembly of claim 27 , wherein said body is configured to exclude macroemboli from the cerebral circulation.

Claim 42

The cerebral embolic protection assembly of claim 27 , wherein said body is configured to exclude macroemboli and microemboli from the cerebral circulation.

Claim 43

The cerebral embolic protection assembly of claim 27 , wherein said body is configured to divert emboli downstream to the patient's corporeal circulation.

Claim 44

The cerebral embolic protection assembly of claim 27 , wherein said body is configured to divert microemboli downstream to the patient's corporeal circulation and to capture macroemboli.

Claim 45

The cerebral embolic protection assembly of claim 27 , wherein said body is foldable or compressible into compressed condition for insertion into the patient's aorta.

Claim 48

The method of claim 42 , wherein the cerebral embolic protection assembly diverts emboli downstream to the patient's corporeal circulation.

Claim 49

The method of claim 42 , further comprising: partitioning the lumen of the aortic arch with a filter material permeable to blood and impermeable to emboli.

Claim 50

The method of claim 44 , wherein the filter material of the cerebral embolic protection assembly diverts emboli downstream to the patient's corporeal circulation.

Claim 51

The method of claim 44 , wherein the filter material of the cerebral embolic protection assembly excludes macroemboli from the patient's cerebral circulation.

Claim 52

The method of claim 44 , wherein the filter material of the cerebral embolic protection assembly diverts microemboli downstream to the patient's corporeal circulation and captures macroemboli within the filter material.

Claim 53

The method of claim 44 , wherein the filter material of the cerebral embolic protection assembly excludes macroemboli and microemboli from the patient's cerebral circulation.

Claim 54

The method of claim 42 , further comprising: perfusing the patient's cerebral circulation through a lumen within the cerebral embolic protection assembly.

Claim 55

The method of claim 42 , wherein the cerebral embolic protection assembly is inserted into the patient's aorta through a peripheral arterial access point.

Claim 56

The method of claim 42 , wherein the cerebral embolic protection assembly is inserted directly into the patient's aorta through an incision in the aortic wall.