Embolism deflector
Devices, methods, and systems provide an embolism deflecting device, methods for deflecting or diverting emboli away from critical locations in the body, and systems therefor. Embodiments of the embolism deflecting device comprise an embolism detector, a diverter controller operable for determining the presence of emboli from a target input from the embolism detector, and an embolism diverter operable by the diverter controller to deflect, divert, redirect, etc., emboli away from the critical body location on the detection thereof.
1. An embolism deflecting device, comprising:
a support stent including a substantially tubular frame at least partially defining a lumen, the substantially tubular frame having a first end in fluid communication with a second end through the lumen, the first end having an inlet to receive blood from a blood vessel, the second end having an outlet through which the blood exits the support stent, the substantially tubular frame of the support stent having an anchor for removably securing at least a portion of the support stent in the blood vessel;
an embolism detector including an embolism sensor configured to detect an embolism in a detection field in the blood upstream of the blood vessel, the embolism detector including a transmitter operable for transmitting information associated with a presence of detected emboli in the detection field;
an embolism diverter including one or more movable members movably secured to the substantially tubular support stent, the one or more movable members operable to direct a substantial portion of detected emboli of at least a target size in one of at least two directions;
at least one diverter controller operatively coupled to the embolism detector and to the embolism diverter, the at least one diverter controller operable for receiving information from the embolism detector and responsively moving at least one of the one or more movable members to a divert state, which is configured to divert a substantial fraction of detected emboli of at least a target size in one or more of the at least two directions; and
an implantable container disposed within the lumen defined by the support stent, the implantable container in fluid communication with the blood vessel at least part of the time, the embolism diverter deflecting the substantial fraction of emboli into the implantable container when the at least one of the one or more movable members is in the divert state.
2. The embolism deflecting device of claim 1 , wherein the embolism diverter includes an elastically deformable flexible member, wherein a force applied to the flexible member causes the flexible member to undergo elastic deformation into the divert state, thereby diverting the substantial fraction of emboli in one or more of the at least two directions.
3. The embolism deflecting device of claim 1 , wherein
the embolism diverter further comprises at least one fixed member, the at least one fixed member including at least one of a mesh, a screen, an obstructing member, a plurality of non-intersecting bars, or a spiral element, and
in the divert state, at least a portion of the movable member overlaps at least a portion of the fixed member, the at least one of the mesh, screen, obstructing member, plurality of non-intersecting bars, or spiral element of the fixed member and the at least one of the mesh, screen, obstructing member, plurality of non-intersecting bars, or spiral element of the movable member together controlling a size of at least one opening dimensioned to divert a substantial fraction of emboli away from the more critical location.
4. The embolism deflecting device of claim 1 , wherein:
the embolism diverter includes a plurality of movable members, each movable member including at least one of a mesh, a screen, an obstructing member, a plurality of non-intersecting bars, or a spiral element, and
in the divert state, at least portions of the plurality of movable members overlap each other, the at least one of the mesh, screen, obstructing member, plurality of non-intersecting bars, or spiral element of the plurality of movable members together controlling a size of at least one opening dimensioned to direct a substantial fraction of emboli away from the more critical location.
5. The embolism deflecting device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one movable member of the embolism diverter is substantially neutrally buoyant with respect to blood.
6. The embolism deflecting device of claim 1 , wherein the diverter controller is operable to activate one or more actuators on receiving at least one parameter associated with the number of emboli, the embolism size, the embolism type, the embolism location, the embolism path, or the embolism arrival time, the one or more actuators disposed between the support stent and the one or more movable members, thereby converting the embolism diverter from a non-divert state to the divert state.
7. The embolism deflecting device of claim 1 , wherein the diverter controller includes an external input for receiving external commands setting the state of the embolism diverter.
8. The embolism deflecting device of claim 1 , wherein the embolism detector is operable to determine at least one parameter associated with a number of emboli, an embolism size, an embolism type, an embolism location, an embolism path, or an embolism arrival time.
9. The embolism deflecting device of claim 1 , wherein a detection field of the embolism detector is at least one of upstream of the embolism diverter or downstream of the embolism diverter.
10. An embolism deflecting device comprising:
an embolism detector; a diverter controller operable to determine a presence of at least one embolism in a detection field of the embolism detector based on a target input therefrom;
a support stent dimensioned for deployment in a blood vessel; and an embolism diverter coupled to the support stent, the embolism diverter including at least one movable member, the movable member operable by the diverter controller to modulate the movable member between a non-divert position and a divert position based on a determination of the presence of at least one embolism by the diverter controller; and
an implantable container disposed within a lumen defined by the support stent, the implantable container in fluid communication with the blood vessel at least part of the time, the embolism diverter deflecting the substantial fraction of emboli into the implantable container when the movable member is in the divert state.
11. A system for deflecting emboli, comprising:
an implantable embolism deflecting device including
an embolism detector with an embolism detection field thereof upstream of an embolism diverter, the embolism detector operable for transmitting information associated with a presence or absence of an embolism in the detection field;
a diverter controller operatively coupled to the embolism detector, the diverter controller operable for receiving the information associated with the presence of absence of an embolism in the detection field from the embolism detector, the diverter controller including a processor;
a support stent including a substantially tubular frame substantially defining a lumen, the substantially tubular frame having a first end in fluid communication with a second end through the lumen, the first end having an inlet through which blood enters the support stent, the second end having an outlet through which blood exits the support stent, the substantially tubular frame of the support stent having an anchor for removably securing at least a portion of the support stent in the blood vessel; and
an embolism diverter including one or more movable members movably secured to the substantially tubular support stent;
the embolism diverter coupled to the support stent, the embolism diverter having at least one movable member movable from a non-divert state to a divert state, the at least one movable member operable to divert a substantial fraction of emboli of at least a target size in one of at least two directions, the embolism diverter operatively coupled to and controllable by the diverter controller to convert the movable member from the non-divert state to the divert state in response to a detection of an embolism in the detection field of the embolism detector;
an implantable container disposed within the lumen defined by the support stent, the implantable container in fluid communication with the blood vessel at least part of the time, the embolism diverter deflecting the substantial fraction of emboli into the implantable container when the at least one movable member is in the divert state; and
a processor configured to receive and read machine readable instructions that when executed by the processor, convert the movable member of the embolism diverter from the non-divert state to the divert state based on a target input.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the diverter controller is operable to set the state of the embolism diverter according to at least one of type, location, size, presence, absence, time of passage, or route of an embolism.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the diverter controller includes one or more control embolism diverter parameters that are updatable based on data provided from a second embolism detector with a detection field downstream of the embolism diverter.
14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the diverter controller is programmable.
15. The embolism deflecting device of claim 1 , wherein the implantable container includes a fill level detector configured to indicate a fill level of the implantable container.
16. The embolism deflecting device of claim 10 , wherein the implantable container includes a fill level detector configured to indicate a fill level of the implantable container.
17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the implantable container includes a fill level detector configured to indicate a fill level of the implantable container.