Volcano Corporation

Other

American Interventional Technologies, Inc.

Joe E Brown

Matt D Pursley

Mary Lynn Gaddis

Marja Pauliina Margolis

Kenneth Salce

Stephen V Ward

D Joe Clark

Methods and devices are disclosed that, in various embodiments and permutations and combinations of inventions, diagnose and treat Pulmonary Embolism or associated symptoms. In one series of embodiments, the invention consists of methods and devices for identifying patients whose Pulmonary Embolism or associated symptoms are caused or exacerbated, at least in part, by blockages of one or more of the patient's internal pulmonary veins. In some instances, stenoses or other flow limiting structures or lesions in the patient's affected veins are identified. Further, in some instances the nature of such lesions and whether there is a significant disruption of blood pressure, or both, is ascertained. In some embodiments, methods and devices for applying one or more therapies to the blockages in the patient's pulmonary veins are provided.

Pulmonary embolism therapeutic methods using therapeutic delivery devices and systems

Methods and devices are disclosed that, in various embodiments and permutations and combinations of inventions, diagnose and treat Deep Vein Thrombosis or associated symptoms. In one series of embodiments, the invention consists of methods and devices for identifying patients whose Deep Vein Thrombosis or associated symptoms are caused or exacerbated, at least in part, by blockages of one or more of the patient's internal peripheral veins. In some instances, stenoses or other flow limiting structures or lesions in the patient's affected veins are identified. Further, in some instances the nature of such lesions and whether there is a significant disruption of blood pressure, or both, is ascertained. In some embodiments, methods and devices for applying one or more therapies to the blockages in the patient's peripheral veins are provided.

Deep vein thrombosis therapeutic methods using therapeutic delivery devices and systems

Methods and devices are disclosed that, in various embodiments and permutations and combinations of inventions, diagnose and treat Multiple Sclerosis or associated symptoms. In one series of embodiments, the invention consists of methods and devices for identifying patients whose Multiple Sclerosis or associated symptoms are caused or exacerbated, at least in part, by blockages of one or more of the patient's internal jugular veins (IJV) or azygous veins (AZV). In some instances, stenoses or other flow limiting structures or lesions in the patient's affected veins are identified. Further, in some instances the nature of such lesions and whether there is a significant disruption of blood pressure, or both, is ascertained. In some embodiments, methods and devices for applying one or more therapies to the blockages in the patient's IJV or AZV veins are provided.

Multiple sclerosis therapeutic methods using therapeutic delivery devices and systems

Multiple sclerosis therapeutic methods using therapeutic ablation devices and systems

Percutaneous medical procedures are provided, which use endovascular instruments to install mechanical closures for closing vessels, such as veins. The mechanical closures can be one or more sutures that are anchored to the vessel walls and then cinched to closed the vessel. The mechanical closures can also be resilient clips or stents that are expanded within the vessel to pierce the vessel walls, and are then contracted to pull the vessel closed. Various techniques for installing the mechanical closures are also described.

Percutaneous medical procedures and devices for closing vessels using mechanical closures

Methods and devices are disclosed that, in various embodiments and permutations and combinations of inventions, diagnose and treat Multiple Sclerosis, Deep Vein Thrombosis, and/or Pulmonary Embolism or symptoms associated with these maladies. In one series of embodiments, the invention consists of methods and devices for identifying patients whose Multiple Sclerosis, Deep Vein Thrombosis, and/or Pulmonary Embolism or associated symptoms are caused or exacerbated, at least in part, by blockages of one or more of the patient's veins. In some instances, stenoses or other flow limiting structures or lesions in the patient's affected veins are identified. Further, in some instances the nature of such lesions and whether there is a significant disruption of blood pressure, or both, is ascertained. In some embodiments, methods and devices for applying one or more therapies to the blockages in the patient's veins are provided.

Therapeutic delivery devices, systems, and methods for multiple sclerosis, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism

An apparatus and method for filtering intravascular fluids and for delivering diagnostic and therapeutic agents intravascularly is disclosed in which the apparatus has a shape defined by a preset shape of a resilient fiber core. The resilient fiber core is covered by a soft polymer tubing or other polymer material to form a delivery apparatus that takes the shape of the resilient fiber core. Various shapes and structures are disclosed that infuse diagnostic and therapeutic agents through a lumen of the polymer tubing, that deliver the agents in the form of a soluble coating, that circulate or contain a preloaded charge of radioactive material for intravascular radiotherapy, and that deploy filtration devices intravascularly for removing particulate matter from body fluid. The resilient fiber core and soft polymer material permit the construction of a very small apparatus that can be removed easily following treatment. Various deployment systems are disclosed for deploying the filtering and delivery apparatuses into a vessel and for protecting against radiation exposure.

Apparatus and method for filtering intravascular fluids and for delivering diagnostic and therapeutic agents

An apparatus and method for delivering diagnostic and therapeutic agents intravascularly in which the apparatus has a shape defined by a preset shape of a resilient fiber core. The resilient fiber core is covered by a soft polymer tubing or other polymer material to form a delivery apparatus that takes the shape of the resilient fiber core. Various shapes and structures are disclosed that infuse diagnostic and therapeutic agents through a lumen of the polymer tubing, that deliver the agents in the form of a soluble coating, and that circulate or contain a preloaded charge of radioactive material for intravascular radiotherapy. The resilient fiber core and soft polymer material permit the construction of a very small apparatus that can be removed easily following treatment. Various deployment systems are disclosed for deploying the delivery apparatuses into a vessel and for protecting against radiation exposure.

Apparatus and method for delivering diagnostic and therapeutic agents

An infusion coil apparatus and method for delivering fluid-based diagnostic and therapeutic agents intravascularly in which an infusion coil is placed in an artery or other vessel at a diseased location, and then fluid-based agents are delivered through the infusion coil to that specific location. The infusion coil apparatus includes a resilient fiber core enclosed in a soft, hollow polymer tubing. The resilient fiber core has a preshaped coil at one end that overcomes the susceptibility of the infusion coil to become uncoiled, while permitting a construction of the infusion coil having a very small diameter. The polymer tubing is radiopaque and has a soft surface for engaging the inside of a vessel. The infusion coil is deployed by a deployment device at a specific site in a vessel to be treated. Once at the delivery site, the deployment device ejects the infusion coil out of a delivery sheath into the vessel. The infusion coil is perforated so that fluid-based agents can be delivered through the infusion coil to the site adjacent the wall of the vessel. Variations in the shape of the coil and in the deployment devices are disclosed.

Infusion coil apparatus and method for delivering fluid-based agents

A method of manufacturing, extruding, milling and welding a high torque, thin monolithic walled guiding catheter having resilient reinforcement material (8, 23, 29, 70, 73) integrally spiralled or braided into monolithic walls (21) of flexible material. A solid lubricant, also referred to as dry lubricant, comprised of either special fluorine containing materials or polymeric organic silicon compounds is embedded into interior and exterior wall surfaces of the catheters. Smooth interior walls (11) are channeled (10) to decrease friction resistance, to trap resistance particles and to dissipate friction heat in the high ratio of surface area to cross-sectional area of small catheters. Number of spirals or braids of reinforcement strands per unit of length, number of layers of strands of the catheters, catheter diameter and progressiveness thereof are designedly different for separate portions of particular catheters. Catheter tips (6) arc machinable immediately adjacent to select density of strands of reinforcement material. Perfusion ports are machinable where desired. Directional bends (7) are positional selectively at distal ends (5) of the catheters (1).

Method of welding a tip to a catheter

A high torque, thin walled guiding catheter has resilient reinforcement material (8, 23, 29, 70, 73) integrally spiraled or braided into monolithic walls (21) of flexible material. A solid lubricant, also referred to as dry lubricant, comprised of either special fluorine containing materials or polymeric organic silicon compounds is embedded into interior and exterior wall surfaces of the catheters. Smooth interior walls (11) are channeled (10) to decrease friction resistance, to trap resistance particles and to dissipate friction heat in the high ratio of surface area to cross-sectional area of small catheters. Number of spirals or braids of reinforcement strands per unit of length, number of layers of strands of the catheters, catheter diameter and progressiveness thereof are designedly different for separate portions of particular catheters. Catheter tips (6) are weldable immediately adjacent to select density of strands of reinforcement material. Perfusion ports are weldable where desired. Directional bends (7) are positional selectively at distal ends (5) of the catheters (1). Methods for manufacture and modification with co-extrusion, miniature milling and welding while maintaining structural integrity with monolithic wall structure are described.

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Lilburn, GA, United States of America

Joe E Brown