University of Minnesota

Other

Nexgen Medical Systems, Incorporated

Leland Stanford Junior University

University of Virginia Patent Foundation

John Kucharczyk

George T Gillies

Michael E Moseley

Stephanos Finitsis

William C Broaddus

Charles Loeb Truwit

James Leo Pokorney

Helen L Fillmore

Richard Latchaw

Haiying Liu

Craig J Pagan

Finitsis Stephanos

Anthony A Wittfeldt

Dino De Cicco

A device capable of capturing and facilitating the removal of a thrombus in blood vessels (or stones in biliary or urinary ducts, or foreign bodies) uses a soft coil mesh with the aid of a pull wire or string to engage the surface of a thrombus, and remove the captured thrombus. The soft coil mesh is formed by an elongated microcoil element that forms the helical elements of a macrocoil element. The microcoil element provides a relatively elastic effect to the helical elements forming the macrocoil and allows for control of gripping forces on the thrombus while reducing non-rigid contact of the device with arterial walls. The use of multiple coil mesh elements, delivered through a single lumen or multiple lumens, preferably with separate control of at least one end of each coil, provides a firm grasp on a distal side of a thrombus, assisting in non-disruptive or minimally disrupted removal of the thrombus upon withdrawal of the device.

Thrombus removal system and process

Non-invasive imaging methods and minimally invasive sensing methods are used for assessing the viability of cells implanted in the central nervous system for therapeutic purposes and for detecting the transformation of such cells, including embryonic stem cells, into brain tumors. In particular, the present invention provides an imaging means for differentiating normal cell proliferation and angiogenesis following a cell implant from abnormal tumor growth and neovascularization associated with teratoma-inducing implanted embryonic stem cells.

Imaging methods for early detection of brain tumors following embryonic stem cell implants

A cell delivery catheter having one of more apearutres is used to positon and deliver cells to an implant site in a patient.

Cell delivery catheter and method

A method is disclosed for the delivery of therapeutic agents into tissues, blood vessels, and body ducts of the human body. A novel catheter enables controlled directing of emitted drug delivery to assist control of drug dwell time in targeted areas. One coaxial catheter embodiment provides capability for locating an outer lumen of the system into the target region, with localization of said outer lumen carried out by use of appropriate medical imaging modalities. In one embodiment, an inner lumen of the catheter means is primed with the agent to be delivered, and recirculated flow of the agent through pluralities of appropriately positioned port holes on the two lumens then occurs via one or more active and/or passive flow driving and guiding techniques intrinsic to the design of the coaxial catheter system. Another coaxial catheter embodiment carries and emits agent in an outer cannula and recaptures agent plus liquid or fluids in the body (such as blood, bile, serum, stable (non-flowing) liquid or kinetic liquid) in an inner cannula.

Catheter systems for delivery of agents and related method thereof

The invention is an apparatus and method for treatments and targeted drug delivery into a living patient, particularly but not exclusively using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The apparatus and method are useful in delivery to all types of living tissue and uses MR Imaging to track the location of drug delivery and estimating the rate of drug delivery. An MR-visible drug delivery device positioned at a target site (e.g., intracranial delivery) delivers a diagnostic or therapeutic drug solution into the tissue (e.g., the brain). The spinal distribution kinetics of the injected or infused drug agent are monitored quantitatively and non-invasively using water proton directional diffusion MR imaging to establish the efficacy of drug delivery at a targeted location.

Magnetic resonance apparatus for use with active electrode and drug deliver catheter

A catheter is used for medical treatments within an organism. The catheter comprises at least one lumen. Within the at least one lumen are at least two microcatheters, with at least one of the at least two microcatheters being connected to a source of liquid material to be delivered to the organism and another of the at least two microcatheters being connected to a system capable of effecting a medical treatment other than delivery of the liquid.

MR-compatible devices

A multi-lumen, multi-functional catheter system comprising a plurality of axial lumens, at least one lumen supporting a functionality other than material delivery and material removal.

Multi-probe system

A device and method for monitoring intracranial pressure during magnetic resonance (MR) image-guided neurosurgical procedures, such as intracranial drug delivery procedures, wherein an MR-compatible microsensor pressure transducer coupled to a pressure sensing diaphragm located a) at the tip, b) on a lateral side, and/or c) in multiple locations of an MR-compatible catheter is inserted into a lateral cerebral ventricle, cerebral cistern, subarachnoid space, subdural or extradural spaces, venous sinuses, or intraparenchymal tissue locations under MR imaging guidance, and is used to record intracranial pressures over hours to days in patients undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic neurologic interventions.

Intracranial pressure monitoring device and method for use in MR-guided drug delivery

This invention provides a method and a device for treating hemodynamically significant aneurysms especially in the intracranial and extracranial circulation regions using either X-ray fluoroscopy or real-time magnetic resonance (MR) imaging guidance. An MR-visible parachute-shaped occlusion device, e.g., containing multiple elongated filamentary loops made of a memory metal, elastomeric hydrogel or other expansile material, is deployed into the aneurysm by radial expansion of the expansile material outwardly into contact with the interior aneurysm surface. The device is firmly positioned against the interior aneurysm surface using a coating which adheres to that interior aneurysm surface. The device may be filled with a hardenable polymer for permanent and complete aneurysm occlusion. Wide-neck aneurysms may be treated with the same device, with the addition of a temporary balloon expanded in the parent vessel to allow expansion of the occluding device within the aneurysm, instillation of the polymer into the device, and detachment of the device from the transporting catheter. Detachment of the aneurysm occlusion device from a transport catheter is achieved by mechanical, electrical and/or chemical decoupling. A coating applied to the surface of the parachute device may induce thrombotic occlusion of the aneurysm by timed delivery of biologic modifier drugs which promote collagen formation, fibroblast growth, and endothelial ingrowth within the aneurysm. The catheter systems may have attached microcoils or may be impregnated with MR-visible agents to permit visualization in MR imaging systems.

Device and method for the endovascular treatment of aneurysms

A magnetic stereotaxis system (MSS) is functionally integrated with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system to provide a non-invasive, radiation-free modality for integrated MRI/MMS tracking and guiding of an interventional medical device. Shielding is provided between regions where the patient is moved so that magnetic fields from one procedure do not interfere with the function or materials used in the other procedure. A process is described where a patient is moved on a track from one procedural field to another procedural field with the shield available between different zones provides for the procedures. A computer is associated with the system to supervise performance of a variety of functions and procedures within the surgical environment.

Combined magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic stereotaxis surgical apparatus and processes

The present invention comprises a device and method for targeted drug delivery, and especially intracranial inflsion or retroperfusion drug delivery using nonlinear magnetic stereotaxis in combination with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and/or X-ray visualization. An MR-visible and/or X-ray visible drug delivery device is positioned by non-linear magnetic stereotaxis at a site such as an intracranial target site, its location is verified via MR imaging, and it is then used to deliver a biologically active material such as a diagnostic or therapeutic drug solution into that site (such as the brain) at constant or variable rates. The spatial distribution kinetics of the injected or infised drug agent may be monitored quantitatively and non-invasively using real-time MR-imaging such as water proton directional diffusion MR imaging, to establish the efficacy of targeted drug delivery.

Growing community of inventors

Reno, NV, United States of America

John Kucharczyk