Exchange method for emboli containment

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for exchanging catheters while containing emboli within a blood vessel such as a saphenous vein graft, coronary artery, carotid artery, or other similar vessels. A guidewire is inserted through the vasculature of a patient until it reaches a desired treatment site. A therapy catheter is then inserted over the guidewire until the distal end of the therapy catheter reaches the treatment site. The guidewire has a distally mounted balloon which is inflated to occlude the blood vessel. Then, the therapy catheter provides means for treating the vessel at the treatment site. After treatment, the therapy catheter is removed from the guidewire and exchanged with an aspiration catheter which rides over the guidewire until the distal end of the aspiration catheter reaches the treatment site. The aspiration catheter applies negative pressure to remove any emboli formed by the treatment procedure.

1 - 28 . (canceled)  
   
   
       29 . A catheter system for emboli containment, comprising: 
 a guidewire having a proximal end and a distal end;    an occlusive device connected to the distal end of the guidewire, the occlusive device being actuatable between an expanded state in which the occlusive device engages at least a portion of the walls of a blood vessel, and a nonexpanded state in which the occlusive device does not engage the walls of the blood vessel;    a first treatment catheter having a proximal end and a distal end and a lumen extending therethrough; and    a second treatment catheter having a proximal end and a distal end and a lumen extending therethrough;    wherein the first treatment catheter is adapted to be delivered over and then removed from the guidewire, and the second treatment catheter is adapted to be delivered over and then removed from the guidewire following removal of the first treatment catheter, and wherein the occlusive device is capable of maintaining its expanded state while the first treatment catheter is removed from the guidewire and while the second treatment catheter is delivered over the guidewire.    
   
   
       30 . The catheter system of  claim 29 , wherein the first treatment catheter is a therapy catheter.  
   
   
       31 . The catheter system of  claim 29 , wherein the second treatment catheter is a therapy catheter.  
   
   
       32 . The catheter system of  claim 29 , wherein the second treatment catheter is an aspiration catheter.  
   
   
       33 . The catheter system of  claim 30 , wherein the second treatment catheter is an aspiration catheter.  
   
   
       34 . The catheter system of  claim 29 , further comprising a third treatment catheter having a proximal end and a distal end and a lumen extending therethrough, wherein the third treatment catheter is adapted to be delivered over and then removed from the guidewire following removal of the first treatment catheter and prior to delivery of the second treatment catheter.  
   
   
       35 . The catheter system of  claim 34 , wherein the first treatment catheter has a dilatation balloon of a first diameter on its distal end, the third treatment catheter has a dilatation balloon of a second diameter on its distal end, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter, and the second treatment catheter is an aspiration catheter.  
   
   
       36 . The catheter system of  claim 29 , wherein the guidewire includes a lumen extending therethrough.  
   
   
       37 . The catheter system of  claim 36 , wherein the occlusive device is an inflatable balloon.  
   
   
       38 . The catheter system of  claim 37 , further comprising a valve within the lumen of the guidewire for maintaining the occlusive device in either its expanded or nonexpanded state.  
   
   
       39 . A catheter system for emboli containment, comprising: 
 a guidewire having a proximal end and a distal end;    an occlusive device connected to the distal end of the guidewire, the occlusive device being actuatable between an expanded state in which the occlusive device engages at least a portion of the walls of a blood vessel, and a nonexpanded state in which the occlusive device does not engage the walls of the blood vessel; and    a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end and a lumen extending therethrough, the catheter being adapted to be delivered over and removed from the guidewire;    wherein the occlusive device is capable of maintaining its expanded state while the catheter is either advanced over or removed from the guidewire.    
   
   
       40 . The catheter system of  claim 39 , wherein the occlusive device can be actuated from its nonexpanded state to its expanded state while the catheter is positioned over the guidewire.  
   
   
       41 . The catheter system of  claim 39 , wherein the occlusive device can be deactuated from its expanded state to its nonexpanded state while the catheter is positioned over the guidewire.  
   
   
       42 . The catheter system of  claim 39 , wherein the catheter is a therapy catheter.  
   
   
       43 . The catheter system of  claim 39 , wherein the catheter is an aspiration catheter.  
   
   
       44 . The catheter system of  claim 39 , wherein the guidewire includes a lumen extending therethrough.  
   
   
       45 . The catheter system of  claim 44 , wherein the occlusive device is an inflatable balloon.  
   
   
       46 . The catheter system of  claim 45 , further comprising a valve within the lumen of the guidewire for maintaining the occlusive device in either its expanded or nonexpanded state.