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 vessel filtering system, comprising: 
 a guidewire having a proximal end and a distal end;    an expandable filter mounted at the distal end of the guidewire;    a guiding catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen therebetween, the lumen adapted to receive the guidewire which passes through a distal port on the guiding catheter; and    an occlusion balloon disposed about the distal end of the guiding catheter.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an angioplasty catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen which receives the guidewire, and wherein the lumen of the guiding catheter is adapted to receive the angioplasty catheter.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable filter comprises an expansion frame and a mesh disposed over the frame.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the mesh is woven.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the mesh comprises a thin film having holes to allow fluid flow.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the frame comprises a plurality of struts bonded to the guidewire at a first end, and which expands radially outward at a second end.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the frame comprises an inflation seal.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the guiding catheter includes an aspiration port distal the occlusion balloon, the aspiration port communicating with an aspiration lumen.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a stent disposed about the angioplasty catheter.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the occlusion balloon communicates with an inflation lumen.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an atherectomy catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen which receives the guidewire, and wherein the lumen of the guiding catheter is adapted to receive the angioplasty catheter.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the guiding catheter includes an infusion port proximal to the occlusion balloon.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the infusion port communicates with the lumen of the guiding catheter.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the angioplasty catheter includes an infusion port proximal to the angioplasty balloon.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the infusion port communicates with a perfusion port distal the angioplasty balloon.  
     
     
         16 . A method for flushing embolic debris into a filter, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a guidewire having an expandable filter at a distal end;    providing a guiding catheter having an occlusion balloon at a distal end and a lumen extending to a port at the distal end;    inserting the guidewire into a vessel;    advancing the expandable filter beyond a region of interest;    expanding the filter;    inserting the guiding catheter over the guidewire and positioning the occlusion balloon proximal the region of interest;    expanding the occlusion balloon to occlude the vessel; and    infusing fluid through the lumen of the guiding catheter to flush atheromatous material into the expandable filter.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the guiding catheter is inserted over the guidewire before the step of expanding the filter.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the guiding catheter is inserted over the guidewire before the step of advancing the expandable filter beyond the region of interest.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the vessel is coronary artery.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the vessel is the carotid artery.