Deflation and removal of implantable medical devices
View Patent ↗A deflation catheter device, comprising: a catheter tube having a proximal end and a distal end; a stylet disposed within the catheter tube; a stylet handle attached to the stylet; and a y-connector disposed near a proximal end of the catheter tube, configured to provide fluid communication from the distal end of the catheter tube and a suction port, and configured to provide access for the stylet from the proximal end of the catheter tube to the distal end of the catheter tube.
1. A method of deflating a balloon, comprising:
providing a deflation catheter device comprising a catheter tube having a lumen and a stylet within the catheter tube;
delivering the deflation catheter to an implanted balloon device with the stylet being retracted relative to the distal end of the catheter tube;
positioning the catheter tube against a surface of the implanted balloon device;
actuating a handle to advance the stylet relative to the catheter tube and the implanted balloon device, whereby the stylet contacts and punctures a wall of the implanted balloon device;
advancing at least a portion of the catheter tube through the wall of the implanted balloon device; and
aspirating fluid from within the implanted balloon device through the lumen from a distal end thereof to a suction port at a proximal end of the lumen without removing the stylet from the catheter tube.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein actuating the handle simultaneously rotates the stylet.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: retracting the stylet within the lumen to be concealed by the distal end of the lumen.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: removing the deflation catheter from the balloon.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: reusing the deflation catheter to deflate additional balloons without reloading the stylet into the catheter tube.
6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising: retrieving the implanted balloon device from an implant location.