Method and apparatus for emboli containment

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a catheter for use in an emboli containment system. In one embodiment, the catheter includes a flexible elongate member having self-expanding sealing means mounted on its distal extremity. This self-expanding sealing means can take any suitable form, such as a braided structure formed of a suitable shape memory material such as a nickel titanium alloy. In order to prevent abrasion of a vessel, it is desirable to cover the braided structure with a covering of a suitable material such as a polymer which extends over the braided structure and which moves with the braided structure as it expands and contracts.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for occlusion of a vessel, the apparatus comprising: 
 a flexible elongate member having a distal extremity; and    an expandable and contractible metallic braided structure having first and second ends, both the first and second ends being mounted on the distal extremity, the braided structure having a covering thereon, the covering being movable with the braided structure during expansion thereof and being capable of substantial sealing engagement with a wall of the vessel to interrupt fluid flow there through.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the braided structure is self-expanding.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising an elongate sleeve, the sleeve being slidable over the braided structure for contraction thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate member has a lumen extending there through.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the covering is movable with the braided structure during expansion and contraction thereof.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for temporary occlusion of a blood vessel, the apparatus comprising: 
 a flexible elongate member having a distal extremity;    a structure having first and second ends mounted on the distal extremity and having contracted and expanded configurations; and    a covering on the structure, the covering being movable with the structure during expansion thereof and being capable of substantial sealing engagement with a wall of the blood vessel to interrupt blood flow there through, the structure and the covering being non-inflatable between the contracted and expanded configurations.    
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the structure comprises a braid.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the braid comprises a metal.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the structure is self-expanding.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising an elongate sleeve, the sleeve being slidably disposed over the structure for contraction thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the covering is moveable with the structure during expansion and contraction thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the covering expands and contracts with the structure.  
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for occlusion of a vessel, the apparatus comprising: 
 a flexible elongate member having a distal extremity;    a braided structure having first and second ends, both the first and second ends being mounted about the distal extremity, the structure being movable between a contracted shape and an expanded shape; and    a covering being located on and movable with the braided structure such that, when the braided structure is in the expanded shape, the covering substantially seals against a wall of the vessel to interrupt fluid flow there through, the braided structure and the covering being non-inflatable between the contracted and expanded shapes.    
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the braided structure has a shape memory.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the shape memory is the expanded shape.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising an elongate sleeve, the sleeve being slidably disposed over the braided structure for encasing the braided structure in the contracted shape.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the braided structure comprises a material selected from the group consisting of shape memory metal, nickel titanium alloy, stainless steel and titanium.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the covering comprises a material selected from the group consisting of silicone, C-Flex, polyethylene and PET.  
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for occlusion of a blood vessel, the apparatus comprising: 
 a flexible elongate member having a distal extremity; and    means for sealing having first and second ends, both the first and second ends being mounted on the distal extremity, the means for sealing being capable of self-expansion into sealing engagement with a wall of the blood vessel to interrupt blood flow there through.    
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the means for sealing comprises an expandable and contractible braided structure with a covering thereon, the covering being movable with the braided structure during expansion and contraction thereof.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the means for sealing comprises an absorbent material which, when it absorbs blood, expands to form a seal with a wall of the blood vessel.