Catheter system for emboli containment

Abstract

A multi-catheter emboli containment system is disclosed which is adapted to provide at least one pair of optimized paths for irrigation and aspiration fluid flow. Through careful design of the cross-sectional area of these paths, the present system is able to be compactly utilized in even the smaller size blood vessels. The catheter system itself is provided with occlusive devices to form an emboli containment chamber in which irrigation and aspiration occur. The catheter system of the present invention provides an improved emboli containment and removal system which can be utilized in a wide range of vessel diameters. The system is easy to use and can quickly and efficiently evacuate the containment chamber.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A catheter system, comprising: 
 a hollow inner catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;    an occlusion device mounted on the distal end of the inner catheter; and    a main catheter sized to receive the inner catheter such that an outer fluid pathway is formed therebetween for irrigation or aspiration, said main catheter having an occlusion device mounted on a distal end which cooperates with the occlusion device on the inner catheter to form a chamber therebetween, and the main catheter having a dedicated irrigation/aspiration port to permit simultaneous irrigation and aspiration within the chamber.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said inner catheter comprises a guidewire.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate catheter, wherein at least a portion of said intermediate catheter is positioned over said inner catheter such that an inner fluid pathway is formed therebetween and such that the intermediate catheter is slidable to a location proximal to the occlusion device on the inner catheter.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said intermediate catheter comprises an irrigation catheter.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said intermediate catheter comprises an aspiration catheter.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said intermediate catheter comprises a therapy catheter.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said therapy catheter comprises a catheter selected from the group consisting of a balloon angioplasty catheter, a stent deploying catheter, an ultrasound device, and a drug delivery catheter.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said intermediate catheter comprises a catheter which can both aspirate and irrigate.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said occlusion device on said inner catheter is an inflatable balloon.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said occlusion device on said main catheter is an inflatable balloon.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said main catheter further comprises an inflation lumen in a wall of said main catheter in fluid communication with said inflatable balloon.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said main catheter has an outer diameter of less than 5 mm.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the inner pathway and the outer pathway each have an opening at a distal end which are approximately equal in size.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the inner pathway and the outer pathway each have an opening at a distal end of at least about 150 micrometers.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the inner pathway and outer pathway comprise each have an opening at a distal end of at least about 500 micrometers in diameter.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional inner catheter having an occlusion device mounted on a distal end sized fit slidably within said main catheter.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said intermediate catheter further comprises a main lumen and a separate lumen adjacent said main lumen sized to received said inner catheter slidably therein.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said separate lumen further comprises a slit in an outside wall for insertion and removal of the inner catheter therethrough.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein irrigation fluid is provided through said inner pathway and aspiration pressure is provided through said outer pathway.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the main catheter has a proximal end and the distal end of said main catheter is more flexible than the proximal end.  
     
     
         21 . A catheter system, comprising: 
 a hollow guidewire having a proximal end and a distal end;    an inflatable balloon mounted on the distal end of the guidewire;    an intermediate catheter, wherein at least a portion of said intermediate catheter is positioned over said guidewire such that an inner fluid pathway is formed therebetween and such that the intermediate catheter is slidable to a location proximal to the balloon; and    a main catheter sized to receive the intermediate catheter such that an outer fluid pathway is formed therebetween for irrigation or aspiration, said main catheter having an inflatable balloon mounted on a distal end which cooperates with the balloon on the inner catheter to form a chamber therebetween, and the main catheter having a dedicated irrigation/aspiration port to permit simultaneous irrigation and aspiration within the chamber.    
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the inner pathway and the outer pathway each have an opening at a distal end which are sized to balance fluid flow.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the inner pathway and the outer pathway each have an opening at a distal end of at least about 150 micrometers.