Deflation and removal of implantable medical devices

Abstract

A deflation catheter device, comprising: a catheter tube having a proximal end and a distal end; a stylet disposed within the catheter tube; a stylet handle attached to the stylet; and a y-connector disposed near a proximal end of the catheter tube, configured to provide fluid communication from the distal end of the catheter tube and a suction port, and configured to provide access for the stylet from the proximal end of the catheter tube to the distal end of the catheter tube.

1 . A deflation catheter device, comprising:
 a catheter tube having a lumen, a proximal end, and a distal end;   a stylet disposed within the lumen of the catheter tube and configured to extend beyond the distal end of the catheter tube to puncture a wall of an implanted balloon device;   a handle disposed at a proximal end of the catheter tube and attached to the stylet, wherein the handle is configured to controllably advance, retract, and rotate the stylet relative to the catheter tube; and   a suction port disposed at a proximal end of the catheter tube and being in fluid communication with the lumen of the catheter tube.   
     
     
         2 . The deflation catheter device of  claim 1 , further comprising a seal between the catheter tube and the handle, wherein the stylet crosses the seal from the handle to the lumen of the catheter tube without introducing leaks or pressure losses. 
     
     
         3 . The deflation catheter device of  claim 1 , further comprising an interface between the handle and a base of the catheter tube configured to guide advancement, retraction, and rotation of the stylet relative to the catheter tube. 
     
     
         4 . The deflation catheter device of  claim 3 , wherein the interface is complementary threading. 
     
     
         5 . The deflation catheter device of  claim 1 , further comprising an aspiration hole providing fluid communication between the interior of a balloon and the catheter tube. 
     
     
         6 . The deflation catheter device of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter tube and the stylet define a gap there between at the distal end of the catheter tube, wherein the gap provides fluid communication between the lumen of the catheter tube and an interior of the implanted balloon device while extended within the implanted balloon device. 
     
     
         7 . The deflation catheter device of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter tube contains at least one side hole, wherein the at least one side hole provides fluid communication between the lumen of the catheter tube and an interior of the implanted balloon device while extended within the implanted balloon device. 
     
     
         8 . A deflation catheter device, comprising:
 a catheter tube having a lumen, a proximal end, and a distal end;   a hollow needle device disposed within the lumen of the catheter tube and configured to extend beyond the distal end of the catheter tube to puncture a wall of an implanted balloon device;   a handle disposed at a proximal end of the catheter tube and attached to the stylet, wherein the handle is configured to controllably advance, retract, and rotate the needle device relative to the catheter tube; and   a suction port disposed at a proximal end of the catheter tube and being in fluid communication with the lumen of the catheter tube.   
     
     
         9 . The deflation catheter device of  claim 8 , wherein the needle device further comprises:
 a sharpened needle tip at a distal end of the needle device;   a channel extending axially within the needle device; and   an obturator within the channel.   
     
     
         10 . The deflation catheter device of  claim 9 , wherein a smooth transition from the needle tip to a portion of the obturator is provided when the obturator is in an extended state. 
     
     
         11 . The deflation catheter device of  claim 10 , further comprising a spring in the channel tending to place the obturator in the extended state. 
     
     
         12 . The deflation catheter device of  claim 9 , wherein the sharpened needle tip is exposed and the smooth transition removed when the obturator is in a retracted state. 
     
     
         13 . The deflation catheter device of  claim 12 , wherein the obturator is configured to be retracted by retracting a portion thereof at a proximal end of the catheter tube. 
     
     
         14 . The deflation catheter device of  claim 12 , wherein the obturator is configured to be retracted by applying low pressure within the channel relative to a pressure exterior to the channel. 
     
     
         15 . The deflation catheter device of  claim 12 , wherein the obturator is configured to be retracted by pressing it against the implanted balloon device. 
     
     
         16 . A method of deflating a balloon, comprising:
 providing a deflation catheter device comprising a catheter tube and a stylet within the catheter tube;   delivering the deflation catheter to an implanted balloon device with the stylet being retracted relative to the distal end of the catheter tube;   positioning the catheter tube against a surface of the implanted balloon device;   actuating a handle to advance the stylet relative to the catheter tube and the implanted balloon device, whereby the stylet contacts and punctures a wall of the implanted balloon device;   advancing at least a portion of the catheter tube through the wall of the implanted balloon device; and   aspirating fluid from within the implanted balloon device through the lumen from a distal end thereof to a suction port at a proximal end of the lumen without removing the stylet from the catheter tube.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein actuating the handle simultaneously rotates the stylet. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: retracting the stylet within the lumen to be concealed by the distal end of the lumen. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: removing the deflation catheter from the balloon. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: reusing the deflation catheter to deflate additional balloons without reloading the stylet into the catheter tube. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising: retrieving the implanted balloon device from an implant location.