EMBOLIC FILTER BALLOON
An embolic filter balloon is disclosed. The embolic filter balloon may comprise an inflatable balloon portion. Further, the inflatable balloon portion may be coupled to a filter member. The embolic filter balloon may be disposed in a body lumen. In some embodiments, the embolic filter balloon may be configured such that when the inflatable balloon portion is at least partially inflated the filter member extends at least partially across the body lumen. Such a configuration may allow the embolic filter balloon, when deployed, to filter particles greater than a predetermined size from a fluid in the body lumen.
1 . An embolic filter balloon, comprising:
a first inflatable balloon portion comprising an interior fluid flow path;
a first filter member coupled to the first inflatable balloon portion, wherein the first filter member is configured to allow passage only of particles smaller than a predetermined size; and
a catheter portion comprising an inflation lumen in fluid communication with the first inflatable balloon portion.
2 . The embolic filter balloon of claim 1 , wherein the first inflatable balloon portion is configured to substantially conform to an interior diameter of a body lumen when deployed.
3 . The embolic filter balloon of claim 1 , wherein the first inflatable balloon portion is configured for a balloon angioplasty procedure.
4 . The embolic filter balloon of claim 1 , wherein the first inflatable balloon portion is detachably coupled to the catheter portion.
5 . The embolic filter balloon of claim 1 , wherein the first filter member is positioned in the interior fluid flow path between a proximal end and a distal end of the first inflatable balloon portion.
6 . The embolic filter balloon of claim 5 , wherein a second lumen of the catheter portion extends through the first inflatable balloon portion and is in fluid communication with the distal end of the first inflatable balloon portion, and
wherein the second lumen of the catheter portion is configured to provide at least one of: a passageway for delivery of a medical device, a passageway for delivery of a therapeutic agent, or a passageway for delivery of an inflation fluid to one or more balloon catheters.
7 . The embolic filter balloon of claim 1 , wherein the first filter member comprises a material selected from at least one of the following: electrospun nano-fibers or micro-fibers, and rotationally spun nano-fibers or micro-fibers.
8 . The embolic filter balloon of claim 1 , wherein the first inflatable balloon portion and the first filter member are formed of the same material.
9 . The embolic filter balloon of claim 1 , wherein the first inflatable balloon portion is formed of a different material than the first filter member.
10 . The embolic filter balloon of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second inflatable balloon portion; and
a second filter member coupled to the second inflatable balloon portion;
wherein the inflation lumen is in fluid communication with the second inflatable balloon portion.
11 . An embolic filter balloon, comprising:
a first inflatable balloon portion configured to at least partially conform to an inside diameter of a first body lumen when the first inflatable balloon portion is deployed, wherein the first inflatable balloon portion is further configured to permit fluid flow through an interior fluid flow path; and
a first filter member coupled to the first inflatable balloon portion such that the first filter member is configured to allow passage only of particles of less than a predetermined size through the first body lumen when the first inflatable balloon portion is deployed.
12 . The embolic filter balloon of claim 11 , further comprising:
a catheter portion comprising an inflation lumen in fluid communication with the first inflatable balloon portion.
13 . The embolic filter balloon of claim 12 , wherein a second lumen of the catheter portion is configured to at least partially permit fluid communication with a distal end of the first inflatable balloon portion.
14 . The embolic filter balloon of claim 11 , wherein the first filter member comprises a mesh.
15 . The embolic filter balloon of claim 11 , wherein the first filter member comprises polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
16 . The embolic filter balloon of claim 11 , wherein the first inflatable balloon portion and the first filter member are formed of the same material.
17 . The embolic filter balloon of claim 11 , wherein the first inflatable balloon portion is formed of a different material than the first filter member.
18 . The embolic filter balloon of claim 11 , further comprising:
a second inflatable balloon portion configured to at least partially conform to an inside diameter of a second body lumen when the second inflatable balloon portion is deployed; and
a second filter member coupled to the second inflatable balloon portion such that the second filter member is configured to allow passage only of particles of less than a predetermined size through the second body lumen when the second inflatable balloon portion is deployed.
19 . A method of filtering particles larger than a predetermined size from a fluid within a body lumen, the method comprising:
introducing an embolic filter balloon into a body lumen;
inflating the embolic filter balloon such that a filter member coupled to the embolic filter balloon extends at least partially across the body lumen; and
filtering particles larger than a predetermined size from the fluid within the body lumen.
20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
deflating at least partially the embolic filter balloon such that the filtered particles remain trapped in the filter member; and
retrieving the embolic filter balloon and the filtered particles from the body lumen.