System and method of use for treating occluded vessels and diseased tissue

Abstract

A system and method for treating diseased target tissue of a living being. The system comprises a working head, e.g., a rotary impacting impeller, a stent delivery catheter, a flush catheter, or liquid jets, a debris extraction sub-system, and may have barrier means in certain embodiments. The working head is arranged to treat diseased tissue, e.g., at least partially occluded with atherosclerotic plaque, or surrounding tissue being compromised by a disease such as cancer, in vessels or lumens, whereupon some debris may be produced. The debris extraction sub-system introduces an infusate liquid adjacent the working head and withdraws that liquid and debris adjacent the working head. The introduction of the infusate liquid may also be used to deliver drugs and other therapies systemically or locally, between the working head and the distal protection barrier.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An intravascular system for opening a lumen in an occluded blood vessel portion of a living being's vascular system, the occluded blood vessel portion being occluded by an occlusive material, said system comprising a stent, an instrument for deploying said stent and a debris extraction system, said debris extraction system being arranged for introducing an infusate liquid comprising at least one material, said instrument being arranged to be extended into the living being's vascular system to deploy said stent to the interior of the occluded blood vessel portion to open a lumen therein for the flow of blood therethrough, whereupon some debris may be produced, said debris extraction system being arranged for removing debris.  
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one material comprises at least one of saline, contrast, a drug, pharmaceutical, a biologically active material, or microspheres carrying chemicals.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said biologically active material comprises a growth factor.  
     
     
         4 . The intravascular system of  claim 1 , wherein said system additionally comprises a working head.  
     
     
         5 . The intravascular system of  claim 4 , wherein said working head is arranged to remove occlusive material from the occluded blood vessel portion.  
     
     
         6 . The intravascular system of  claim 5 , additionally comprising a debris blocking member for preventing the debris from flowing into downstream blood vessels.  
     
     
         7 . The intravascular system of  claim 6 , wherein said debris blocking member comprises a balloon.  
     
     
         8 . The intravascular system of  claim 4 , wherein said working head is rotatable.  
     
     
         9 . The intravascular system of  claim 4 , wherein debris may be produced during the operation of said working head, and wherein said debris extraction system is arranged for removing said debris.  
     
     
         10 . The intravascular system of  claim 1 , additionally comprising a catheter through which said instrument extends to form a passageway therebetween, the debris being withdrawn through said passageway for collection remote from the occluded blood vessel.  
     
     
         11 . The intravascular system of  claim 10 , additionally comprising a debris blocking member for preventing the debris from flowing into downstream blood vessels.  
     
     
         12 . The intravascular system of  claim 11 , wherein said debris blocking member comprises a balloon.  
     
     
         13 . An intravascular system for opening a lumen in an occluded blood vessel portion of a living being's vascular system and for handling debris that may be produced thereby, the occluded blood vessel portion being occluded by an occlusive material, said system comprising a stent, an instrument for deploying said stent, a debris extraction system, and a debris blocking member, said instrument being arranged to be extended into the living being's vascular system to deploy said stent to the interior of the occluded blood vessel portion to open a lumen therein for the flow of blood therethrough, said debris extraction system being arranged for introducing an infusate liquid comprising at least one material, and said debris extraction system being further arranged for removing the debris, said debris blocking member being arranged for preventing the debris from flowing into a downstream blood vessel during deployment of said stent.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein said at least one material comprises at least one of saline, contrast, a drug, pharmaceutical, a biologically active material, or microspheres carrying chemicals.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein said biologically active material comprises a growth factor.  
     
     
         16 . The intravascular system of  claim 13  wherein said debris blocking member comprises a balloon.  
     
     
         17 . The intravascular system of  claim 13  wherein said system additionally comprises a working head.  
     
     
         18 . The intravascular system of  claim 17  wherein said working head is rotatable.  
     
     
         19 . The intravascular system of  claim 17  wherein debris may be produced during the operation of said working head, and wherein said debris extraction system is arranged for removing the debris produced by the operation of said working head.  
     
     
         20 . An intravascular system for opening a lumen in an occluded blood vessel portion of a living being's vascular system, the occluded blood vessel portion being occluded by an occlusive material, said system comprising a stent, an instrument for deploying said stent and a debris extraction system, said debris extraction system being arranged for introducing an infusate liquid comprising at least one material, said instrument being arranged to be extended into the lumen to deploy said stent to the occlusive material in the interior of the occluded blood vessel portion to open a lumen therein for the flow of blood therethrough, whereupon some debris may be produced, said debris extraction system being arranged for removing debris produced during the deployment of said stent.