Methods and systems for establishing retrograde carotid arterial blood flow
Interventional procedures on the carotid arteries are performed through a transcervical access while retrograde blood flow is established from the internal carotid artery to a venous or external location. A system for use in accessing and treating a carotid artery includes an arterial access device, a shunt fluidly connected to the arterial access device, and a flow control assembly coupled to the shunt and adapted to regulate blood flow through the shunt between at least a first blood flow state and at least a second blood flow state. The flow control assembly includes one or more components that interact with the blood flow through the shunt.
1. A system for use in accessing and treating a target artery, said system comprising:
an arterial access device adapted to be introduced into a common carotid artery and receive blood flow from the target artery;
a shunt fluidly connected to the arterial access device, wherein the shunt provides a pathway for blood to flow from the arterial access device to a return site; and
a flow control assembly coupled to the shunt and adapted to regulate blood flow through the shunt between at least a first blood flow state and at least a second blood flow state, wherein the flow control assembly includes one or more components that interact with the blood flow through the shunt, wherein the flow control assembly comprises two or more parallel flow paths and a valve to open or close one or more of the flow paths to adjust the state of flow by selectively directing blood flow through one or more of the flow paths.
2. A system as in claim 1 , further comprising a port fluidly communicating with the shunt, wherein the port may be used to connect an aspiration device to the shunt.
3. A system as in claim 2 , further comprising a second valve which controls fluid communication between the shunt and the port.
4. A system as in claim 3 , wherein the second valve automatically opens with attachment of an aspiration or injection device, and wherein the second valve automatically closes with removal of the aspiration or injection device.
5. A system as in claim 2 , wherein the aspiration device is a syringe, a vacuum-lock syringe, a vacuum syringe, a suction pump, or other aspiration source.
6. A system as in claim 1 , further comprising:
a fluid line communicating with the shunt, and wherein the fluid line may be used to connect an injection or aspiration device to the shunt line.
7. A system as in claim 6 , wherein a connection of the fluid line to the shunt is contained within a housing of the flow control assembly.
8. A system as in claim 6 , wherein a connection of the fluid line to the shunt is outside a housing of the flow control assembly.
9. A system as in claim 6 , wherein the flow control assembly contains an actuator adapted to open communication between the fluid line and the shunt.
10. A system as in claim 9 , wherein the actuator can be manually actuated by a user to both open and close a connection between the fluid line and the shunt.
11. A system as in claim 9 , wherein the actuator closes the shunt line towards the return site when the actuator opens the connection between the fluid line and the shunt.
12. A system as in claim 9 , wherein the actuator automatically reverts to close the fluid line connection and open the shunt connection to the return site when the aspiration is complete.
13. A system as in claim 1 , further comprising an active pump coupled to the shunt.
14. A system as in claim 13 , wherein the active pump allows passive flow when the active pump is inactive.
15. A system as in claim 13 , wherein the active pump is a roller pump, a positive displacement pump, a syringe pump, or an impeller pump.
16. A system as in claim 1 , further comprising a one-way valve coupled to the shunt, wherein the valve prevents fluid flow through the shunt in a direction towards the arterial access device.
17. A system for use in accessing and treating a target artery, said system comprising:
an arterial access device adapted to be introduced into a common carotid artery and receive blood flow from the target artery;
a shunt fluidly connected to the arterial access device, wherein the shunt provides a pathway for blood to flow from the arterial access device to a return site;
a flow control assembly coupled to the shunt and adapted to regulate blood flow through the shunt between at least a first blood flow state and at least a second blood flow state, wherein the flow control assembly includes one or more components that interact with the blood flow through the shunt, wherein the flow control assembly comprises two or more parallel flow paths and a valve to open or close one or more of the flow paths to adjust the state of flow b selectively directing blood flow through one or more of the flow paths; and
a filter coupled to the shunt, wherein the filter filters fluid flow through the shunt.
18. A system as in claim 17 , further comprising a port fluidly communicating with the shunt, wherein the port may be used to connect an aspiration device to the shunt.
19. A system as in claim 17 , further comprising a second valve that controls fluid communication between the shunt and the port.
20. A system as in claim 19 , wherein the second valve automatically opens with attachment of an aspiration or injection device, and wherein the second valve automatically closes with removal of the aspiration or injection device.
21. A system as in claim 18 , wherein the aspiration or injection device is a syringe, a vacuum-lock syringe, a vacuum syringe, a suction pump, or other aspiration source.
22. A system as in claim 17 , further comprising:
a fluid line communicating with the shunt, and wherein the fluid line may be used to connect an injection or aspiration device to the shunt line.
23. A system as in claim 22 , wherein a connection of the fluid line to the shunt is contained within a housing of the flow control assembly.
24. A system as in claim 22 , wherein a connection of the fluid line to the shunt is outside a housing of the flow control assembly.
25. A system as in claim 22 , wherein the flow control assembly contains an actuator adapted to open communication between the fluid line and the shunt.
26. A system as in claim 25 , wherein the actuator closes the shunt line towards the return site when the actuator opens the connection between the fluid line and the shunt.
27. A system as in claim 25 , wherein the actuator automatically reverts to close the fluid line connection and open the shunt connection to the return site when the aspiration is complete.
28. A system as in claim 17 , further comprising an active pump coupled to the shunt.
29. A system as in claim 17 , wherein the active pump controls are separate from a housing of the flow control assembly.
30. A system as in claim 29 , wherein the active pump allows passive flow when the active pump is inactive.