Variable thickness vascular treatment device systems and methods

Abstract

A distal embolic protection device for dedicated use in cerebral arterial blood vessels is described. The distal embolic protection device comprises a variable-thickness micro-guidewire and a collapsible filtering device mounted on the microguidewire over two mobile attachment points so that in its collapsed configuration, the thickness of the microguidewire and the filtering device at this region is less than or equal to 0.017 inch (0.432 mm) in thickness to be able to pass through existing conventional microcatheters. The mobile attachment points allow for rotatory and longitudinal mobility of the microguidewire while the filtering device is stable thereby decreasing the risk of trauma to the fragile cerebral arterial blood vessels. Preferably, the filtering device comprises an expansion assembly, e.g., a plurality of struts attached to a filter membrane that are in a folded position which self expand to the desired dimensions within the cerebral blood vessels. Also described are methods of using the distal embolic protection devices of this invention.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of treating vasculature, the method comprising:
 tracking a treatment device through a catheter from a proximal end of the catheter to a distal end of the catheter, the treatment device comprising:
 an elongate element comprising:
 a proximal segment including a proximal hypotube around a first portion of core, 
 a distal segment including a distal hypotube around a second portion of the core, and 
 a third segment comprising a third portion of the core, the third segment longitudinally between the proximal segment and the distal segment, and 
 
 a treatment tool around the third segment; and 
   deploying the treatment tool out of the catheter.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the treatment tool comprises a balloon. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the treatment tool comprises a stent. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the treatment tool comprises a filtering device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , comprising collecting thrombo-embolic material. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising at least one of performing an angioplasty procedure and positioning a stent, wherein the at least one of performing the angioplasty procedure and positioning the stent dislodges the thrombo-embolic material. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 advancing a guidewire across the thrombo-embolic material;   tracking the catheter over the guidewire and across the thrombo-embolic material; and   before tracking the device through the catheter, withdrawing the guidewire from the catheter.   
     
     
         9 . A vascular treatment system comprising:
 a core;   a first hypotube around a first portion of the core;   a second hypotube around a second portion of the core;   a third hypotube around a third portion of the core, the third hypotube longitudinally between the first hypotube and the second hypotube, the third hypotube transformable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, the third hypotube comprising:
 a proximal attachment point, 
 a distal attachment point, the third hypotube rotatable around the third portion of the core, and 
 a plurality of struts connecting the proximal attachment point and the distal attachment point, the third hypotube longitudinally movable along the third portion of the core in the expanded configuration; and 
   a filter membrane coupled to the third hypotube.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein, when the third hypotube is in the expanded configuration, the filter membrane has a hemispherical, helical, or conical shape. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the catheter comprises a balloon catheter. 
     
     
         12 . A vascular treatment system comprising:
 a treatment device comprising:
 a proximal hypotube around a first portion of a core; 
 a distal hypotube around a second portion of the core,
 the distal hypotube longitudinally spaced from the proximal hypotube by a segment comprising a third portion of the core; 
 
 a treatment tool in a collapsed configuration around the segment and between the proximal hypotube and the distal hypotube,
 the treatment tool transformable between the collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. 
 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the treatment tool comprises a balloon. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the treatment tool comprises a stent. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the treatment tool comprises a filtering device. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the filtering device comprises:
 a proximal attachment point;   a distal attachment point;   a plurality of struts connecting the proximal attachment point and the distal attachment point, the struts configured to self-expand from the collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration; and   a filter membrane coupled to the at least one of the struts and the distal attachment point,   wherein the filtering device is rotationally and longitudinally movable relative to the core.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a catheter. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the treatment tool is trackable uncovered through the catheter from a proximal end of the catheter to a distal end of the catheter. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the catheter comprises a balloon catheter. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the catheter comprises a stent catheter. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the catheter has an inner diameter that is no more than 0.017 inches.