METHOD FOR TREATING VASCULAR OCCLUSION
A method is disclosed for removing a vascular occlusion, such as a clot, from a blood vessel. A tubular sheath is inserted into the vessel and a self-expanding Nitinol mesh filter is deployed from a distal end of the tubular sheath at a location proximal to a clot. An inner catheter is advanced through the tubular sheath and through the mesh filter for contacting the clot. An expandable agitation element is provided along a distal end portion of the inner catheter for cutting or chopping the clot, thereby facilitating removal of the clot and improving blood flow through the vessel. Resulting clot particles are captured by the mesh filter. Negative pressure may be applied along a proximal end portion of the sheath for aspirating remaining particles. Certain embodiments of the method are well-suited for treating deep vein thrombosis and do not require the use of thrombolytic drugs.
1 - 20 . (canceled)
21 . A system for removing a vascular thrombus from a blood vessel of a patient, comprising:
an outer catheter having a lumen and a distal end portion;
a self-expanding filter body including a permeable mesh configured for blood to pass therethrough and having a proximal end portion with a tapered shape and an open distal end sized to conform to an inner wall of the blood vessel when deployed in the blood vessel, wherein the distal end of the filter body is configured to be deployed distally with respect to the distal end portion of the outer catheter; and
an inner catheter configured to extend through the lumen of the outer catheter and through the self-expanding filter body, the inner catheter having a thrombus engagement member, and the thrombus engagement member being expandable to an expanded profile having an expanded diameter sized for contacting the thrombus when deployed in the blood vessel, wherein the inner catheter and thrombus engagement member are longitudinally slidable for disrupting and removing the thrombus from the blood vessel;
wherein the self-expanding filter body is adapted for capturing thrombus material disrupted by the thrombus engagement member.
22 . The system of claim 21 wherein the inner catheter is moveable linearly with respect to the outer catheter such that thrombus engagement member moves linearly as it engages the thrombus.
23 . The system of claim 21 wherein the thrombus extraction member is configured to expand when deployed in the blood vessel to suit the diameter of the blood vessel.
24 . The system of claim 21 wherein the self-expanding filter body comprises a permeable nitinol mesh.
25 . A method of capturing and removing a thrombus from a blood vessel in a human, comprising:
advancing an inner catheter having a thrombus engagement member to a thrombus in the blood vessel;
positioning an outer catheter in the blood vessel such that a distal end of the outer catheter is proximal to the thrombus in the blood vessel;
deploying a filter body having a tapered proximal end portion and an open distal end such that the open distal end of the filter body self-expands to a diameter of the vessel at a location between the distal end of the outer catheter and the thrombus;
expanding the thrombus engagement member such that it engages the thrombus and thereby disrupts the thrombus; and
capturing thrombus material with the filter body
26 . The method of claim 25 , further comprising moving the thrombus engagement member linearly while it is engaged with the thrombus.
27 . The method of claim 26 wherein expanding the thrombus engagement member comprises expanding the thrombus engagement member until it is at least proximate the blood vessel wall.
28 . The method of claim 26 wherein expanding the thrombus engagement member comprises expanding the thrombus engagement member to suit the diameter of the blood vessel.