Granted Patent B2

US 12,622,713 · App. 19/080,630 · Granted May 12, 2026

Inventors: Michi E. Garrison (San Mateo, CA); Tony M. Chou (San Mateo, CA)

Assignee: Route 92 Medical, Inc.

A61B17/22A61B17/221A61M1/3621A61M1/82A61M25/0662A61B2017/22034A61B2017/22038A61B2017/22039A61B2017/22044A61B2017/22054A61B2017/22084A61B2017/22094A61B2017/2212A61B2017/2217A61B17/32037A61F2/013A61M25/0068A61M25/0169A61M2025/0681A61M60/43

Abstract

Claims (24)

1 . A system for intracranial access through a patient's vasculature to access an intracranial occlusion, the system comprising:

a distal access catheter comprising a distal end forming a leading edge, the distal access catheter having an inner diameter of 0.070″-0.095″; and

an inner member for advancing the distal access catheter through the patient's vasculature to a terminal portion of an internal carotid artery, the inner member having a proximal section and a distal tip region having a tapered section, wherein an axis of the inner member passes centrally through the proximal section and through the distal tip region, wherein the proximal section, proximal to the distal tip region, has a cylindrical surface having an outer diameter greater than the distal tip region, wherein the proximal section is configured to advance the inner member through the patient's vasculature, and wherein the distal tip region having the tapered section has a size and a flexibility configured to reach the intracranial occlusion, wherein the proximal section and the distal tip region forming a single-lumen passage having a single distal opening configured for passage and relative movement of a wire,

wherein, in use, the cylindrical surface of the inner member is maintained at least partially distal of the distal end of the distal access catheter during advancement through the patient's vasculature, and

wherein the outer diameter of the cylindrical surface is sized to substantially correspond to the inner diameter of the distal access catheter to prevent separation between the inner member and the leading edge of the distal access catheter while the distal access catheter is advanced through at least a curved portion of the patient's vasculature, and

wherein the cylindrical surface has a length to allow axial movements of the inner member relative to the distal access catheter while the distal access catheter is advanced through the curved portion of the patient's vasculature without causing separation of the inner member from the inner diameter of the distal access catheter.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the inner member is composed of a flexible material.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the distal tip region of the inner member prevents a diameter mismatch between an outer diameter of the wire and the inner diameter at the distal end of the distal access catheter.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the wire has an outer diameter of 0.014 inch-0.018 inch.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the single-lumen passage has a diameter between 0.020 inch and 0.024 inch.

6 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a radiopaque marker disposed near a distal end of the distal tip region.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the radiopaque marker is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of platinum/iridium, tungsten, platinum, and tantalum-impregnated polymer.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the inner member is constructed with variable stiffness, wherein a distal segment of the inner member is constructed of a softer material with successively stiffer materials towards a proximal end of the inner member.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a flexibility of the distal tip region of the inner member decreases proximally and creates a smooth transition between a flexibility of the inner member to a flexibility of the distal access catheter.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the distal tip region having the tapered section further comprises a tubular extension located distally past the tapered section.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the tubular extension has a uniform outer diameter.

12 . A method of accessing an intracranial occlusion through a patient's vasculature, the method comprising:

advancing an inner member through the patient's vasculature to reach the intracranial occlusion, the inner member having a proximal section and a distal tip region having a tapered section, the inner member having an axis passing centrally through the proximal section and through the distal tip region, wherein the proximal section, proximal to the distal tip region has a cylindrical surface having an outer diameter greater than a diameter of the distal tip region, wherein the proximal section is configured to advance the inner member through the patient's vasculature, and wherein the distal tip region having the tapered section has a size and a flexibility configured to reach the intracranial occlusion, wherein the proximal section and the distal tip region have a passage therethrough configured for passage and relative movement of a wire, and wherein the inner member is operatively connected to a distal access catheter having an inner diameter of 0.070″-0.095″ and having a distal inner diameter substantially corresponding to the outer diameter of the cylindrical surface and wherein the distal access catheter is movable axially relative to the cylindrical surface;

maintaining the tapered section of the distal tip region at least partially outside of a distal end of the distal access catheter while the distal access catheter is advanced through at least a curved portion of the patient's vasculature and while causing axial movements of the inner member relative to the distal access catheter, the distal inner diameter of the distal access catheter and the outer diameter of the cylindrical surface being sized and having a length to prevent separation between the inner member and a leading edge of the distal access catheter; and

manipulating the inner member and distal access catheter through the patient's vasculature to a terminal portion of an internal carotid artery using axial movements of the inner member relative to the distal access catheter to advance the distal access catheter through regions of the patient's vasculature having a high tortuosity and without causing separation of the cylindrical surface from the distal inner diameter of the distal access catheter.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the inner member prevents the leading edge of the distal access catheter from catching on a side-branch within the curved portion.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the side-branch is an ophthalmic artery.

15 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising advancing the inner member and the distal access catheter through the curved portion.

16 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising removing the inner member from the distal access catheter; and removing occlusive material while applying negative pressure to a lumen of the distal access catheter to capture occlusive material at, within, or through the distal end of the distal access catheter.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (10)

References Cited (400)