Method and apparatus for emboli containment
A catheter for use in an emboli containment system includes a flexible elongate member having self-expanding sealing means mounted on its distal extremity. This self-expanding sealing means can take any suitable form, such as a braided structure formed of a suitable shape memory material such as a nickel titanium alloy. In order to prevent abrasion of a vessel, it is desirable to cover the braided structure with a covering of a suitable material such as a polymer which extends over the braided structure and which moves with the braided structure as it expands and contracts.
1. An apparatus for occlusion of a vessel, the apparatus comprising:
a flexible elongate member having a distal extremity; and
an expandable and contractible metallic braided structure having first and second ends, both the first and second ends being mounted on the distal extremity, the braided structure having a covering thereon, the covering being movable with the braided structure during expansion thereof and being capable of substantial sealing engagement with a wall of the vessel to interrupt fluid flow there through.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the braided structure is self-expanding.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising an elongate sleeve, the sleeve being slidable over the braided structure for contraction thereof.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elongate member has a lumen extending there through.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the covering is movable with the braided structure during expansion and contraction thereof.
6. An apparatus for temporary occlusion of a blood vessel, the apparatus comprising:
a flexible elongate member having a distal extremity;
a structure having first and second ends mounted on the distal extremity and having contracted and expanded configurations; and
a covering on the structure, the covering being movable with the structure during expansion thereof and being capable of substantial sealing engagement with a wall of the blood vessel to interrupt blood flow there through, the structure and the covering being non-inflatable between the contracted and expanded configurations.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the structure comprises a braid.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the braid comprises a metal.
9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the structure is self-expanding.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising an elongate sleeve, the sleeve being slidably disposed over the structure for contraction thereof.
11. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the covering is moveable with the structure during expansion and contraction thereof.
12. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the covering expands and contracts with the structure.
13. An apparatus for occlusion of a vessel, the apparatus comprising:
a flexible elongate member having a distal extremity;
a braided structure having first and second ends, both the first and second ends being mounted about the distal extremity, the structure being movable between a contracted shape and an expanded shape; and
a covering being located on and movable with the braided structure such that, when the braided structure is in the expanded shape, the covering substantially seals against a wall of the vessel to interrupt fluid flow there through, the braided structure and the covering being non-inflatable between the contracted and expanded shapes.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the braided structure has a shape memory.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the shape memory is the expanded shape.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising an elongate sleeve, the sleeve being slidably disposed over the braided structure for encasing the braided structure in the contracted shape.
17. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the braided structure comprises a material selected from the group consisting of shape memory metal, nickel titanium alloy, stainless steel and titanium.
18. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the covering comprises a material selected from the group consisting of silicone, styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene, polyethylene and PET.
19. An apparatus for occlusion of a blood vessel, the apparatus comprising:
a flexible elongate member having a distal extremity; and
means for sealing having first and second ends, both the first and second ends being mounted on the distal extremity, the means for sealing being capable of self-expansion into sealing engagement with a wall of the blood vessel to interrupt blood flow there through.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the means for sealing comprises an expandable and contractible braided structure with a covering thereon, the covering being movable with the braided structure during expansion and contraction thereof.
21. An apparatus for occlusion of a blood vessel, the apparatus comprising:
a flexible elongate member having a distal extremity; and
means for sealing having first and second ends, both the first and second ends being mounted on the distal extremity, the means for sealing being capable of self-expansion into sealing engagement with a wall of the blood vessel to interrupt blood flow therethrough, wherein the means for sealing comprises an absorbent material which, when it absorbs blood, expands to form a seal with a wall of the blood vessel.
22. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the means for sealing further comprises a resilient covering thereon configured to expand with the means for sealing to inhibit blood flow therethrough.
23. The apparatus of claim 21 , further comprising an elongate sleeve, the sleeve being slidably disposed over the means for sealing and configured such that the sleeve can be selectively positioned over the absorbent material.