ELECTRICALLY ENHANCED RETRIEVAL OF MATERIAL FROM VESSEL LUMENS
Retrieval of material from vessel lumens can be improved by electrically enhancing attachment of the material to the thrombectomy system. The system can include a catheter having a distal portion configured to be positioned adjacent to a thrombus in a blood vessel, an electrode disposed at the distal portion of the catheter, and an interventional element configured to be delivered through a lumen of the catheter. The electrode and the interventional element are each configured to be electrically coupled to an extracorporeal power supply.
1 . A method, comprising:
intravascularly delivering an interventional element to a treatment site within a blood vessel at or near a thrombus; and
while the interventional element is positioned at the treatment site and engaging the thrombus:
(a) delivering a fluid to the treatment site, and (b) while at least some of the fluid is being delivered, applying a positive charge to the interventional element, thereby promoting adhesion of the thrombus to the interventional element.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein an ion concentration of the fluid is greater than an ion concentration of blood.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid is saline.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein delivering the fluid to the treatment site increases an electrical conductivity at the treatment site.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein delivering the fluid occurs while blood is flowing at the treatment site.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein delivering the fluid occurs while blood flow is partially arrested at the treatment site.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein delivering the fluid occurs while blood flow is completely arrested at the treatment site.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising expanding a flow arrest element within the blood vessel proximal of the treatment site before or while delivering the fluid.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the interventional element includes a first material and a second material disposed on the first material along at least a portion of the interventional element, wherein the second material is different than the first material.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the interventional element includes a first metallic material and a second metallic material disposed on the first metallic material along at least a portion of the interventional element, and wherein a conductivity of the second metallic material is greater than a conductivity of the first metallic material.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the second metallic material is gold.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the interventional element comprises a thrombectomy device.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the interventional element comprises a stent retriever.
14 . A method, comprising:
intravascularly delivering thrombectomy device to a treatment site within a blood vessel at or near a thrombus;
positioning a catheter at the treatment site such that a distal end of the catheter is proximal of the thrombus; and
while the thrombectomy device is positioned at the treatment site and engaging the thrombus:
(a) delivering a fluid through the catheter to the treatment site, wherein delivering the fluid increases an electrical conductivity at the treatment site; and (b) while at least some of the fluid is being delivered, delivering current to the thrombectomy device, thereby promoting adhesion of the thrombus to the thrombectomy device.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein an ion concentration of the fluid is greater than an ion concentration of blood.
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the fluid is saline.
17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the fluid is contrast.
18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein delivering the fluid occurs while blood is flowing at the treatment site.
19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein delivering the fluid occurs while blood flow is partially arrested at the treatment site.
20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein delivering the fluid occurs while blood flow is completely arrested at the treatment site.
21 . The method of claim 14 , wherein delivering current to the thrombectomy device positively charges the thrombectomy device.
22 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the thrombectomy device comprises a braid.
23 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the thrombectomy device comprises a stent retriever.
24 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the thrombectomy device comprises a removal device.
25 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the thrombectomy device is a mesh.