Apparatus to prevent reperfusion injury

Abstract

Embodiments of a method and apparatus to prevent reperfusion injury. In one embodiment, blood flow proximal to a lesion is occluded. An infusion catheter is advanced to a region distal to the lesion and an anti-reperfusion injury drug is delivered. The lesion may then be treated with a dilating device to reintroduce blood flow to the region distal to the lesion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus to prevent reperfusion injury within an arterial vessel, the apparatus comprising:
 an elongated catheter having a proximal region and a distal region, the distal region for advancement within an arterial vessel to a region proximal to a lesion; and   a guidewire disposed within a first lumen formed within the elongated catheter, the guidewire slideable within the first lumen to extend a substantial length past the distal region of the elongated catheter, wherein the elongated catheter is trackable over the guidewire to advance the elongated catheter within the arterial vessel to the region proximal to the lesion, wherein the guidewire is to release an anti-reperfusion drug through a distal tip opening in a distal terminal end of the guidewire, wherein, during release, an outer surface of the guidewire is exposed through the lesion.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the arterial vessel has an ischemic region distal to the lesion, and wherein the anti-reperfusion drug is to treat the ischemic region. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the exposed outer surface has a diameter small enough to advance through the lesion without causing a large channel or reperfusion pathway to form through the lesion. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the guidewire includes an infusion lumen for delivering the anti-reperfusion injury drug from the guidewire proximal to the ischemic region and for absorption by the arterial wall of the ischemic region. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter:
 does not include an infusion catheter to release the drug in the region distal to the lesion; and   only uses the infusion lumen of the guidewire for releasing the drug in the region distal to the lesion.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the distal tip opening is a cylindrical shape termination of tubular side walls of the guidewire. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the guidewire comprises a metal material and is configured to be advanced, alone, through the arterial vessel and through the lesion. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the guidewire is configured to have the elongated catheter advanced over the guidewire within the arterial vessel and to the region proximal to the lesion. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the guidewire includes only a single lumen, is configured to be steerable, alone, through the arterial vessel and through the lesion. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus to prevent reperfusion injury within an arterial vessel, the apparatus consisting essentially of:
 an elongated catheter having a proximal region and a distal region, the distal region for advancement within an arterial vessel to a region proximal to a lesion having; and   a guidewire disposed within a first lumen formed within the elongated catheter, the guidewire slideable within the first lumen to extend a substantial length past the distal region of the elongated catheter, wherein the elongated catheter is trackable over the guidewire to advance the elongated catheter within the arterial vessel to the region proximal to the lesion, wherein the guidewire is to release an anti-reperfusion drug through a distal tip opening in a distal terminal end of the guidewire, wherein, during release, an outer surface of the guidewire is exposed through the lesion.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the arterial vessel has an ischemic region distal to the lesion, and wherein the anti-reperfusion drug is to treat the ischemic region. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the exposed outer surface has a diameter small enough to advance through the lesion without causing a large channel or reperfusion pathway to form through the lesion. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the guidewire includes an infusion lumen for delivering the anti-reperfusion injury drug from the guidewire proximal to the ischemic region and for absorption by the arterial wall of the ischemic region. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the catheter:
 does not include an infusion catheter to release the drug in the region distal to the lesion.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the distal tip opening is a cylindrical shape termination of tubular side walls of the guidewire. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the guidewire comprises a metal material and is configured to be advanced, alone, through the arterial vessel and through the lesion. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the guidewire is configured to have the elongated catheter advanced over the guidewire within the arterial vessel and to the region proximal to the lesion. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the guidewire includes only a single lumen, is configured to be steerable, alone, through the arterial vessel and through the lesion. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus to prevent reperfusion injury within an arterial vessel, the apparatus consisting of:
 an elongated catheter having a proximal region and a distal region, the distal region for advancement within an arterial vessel to a region proximal to a lesion having; and   a guidewire disposed within a first lumen formed within the elongated catheter, the guidewire slideable within the first lumen to extend a substantial length past the distal region of the elongated catheter, wherein the elongated catheter is trackable over the guidewire to advance the elongated catheter within the arterial vessel to the region proximal to the lesion, wherein the guidewire is to release an anti-reperfusion drug through a distal tip opening in a distal terminal end of the guidewire, wherein, during release, an outer surface of the guidewire is exposed through the lesion.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the exposed outer surface has a diameter small enough to advance through the lesion without causing a large channel or reperfusion pathway to form through the lesion.