Cryocath Technologies Inc.

Medtronic Cryocath LP

Cyrocath Technologies, Inc.

Leonilda Capuano

Robert A Martin

Daniel Nahon

John W Lehmann

Miriam Lane

Marwan Abboud

Philippe Marchand

Fredric L Milder

Jean-Luc Pageard

Claudia Lueckge

Claudia Lückge

Johnny Al Asmar

David Holtan

Abderrahim Benrabah

Ken Chen

Jean-Pierre Lalonde

Willard W Hennemann

Patrick Chauvet

Dan Wittenberger

Sean Carroll

Claudia L&uuml;ckge

Michael J Urick

Jean-Pierre LaLonde

Michael Urick

Margaret Yoklavich

Jean Pierre Lalonde

A method is disclosed for treating an aneurysm or vascular defect by cooling a target tissue region of the aneurysm or vascular defect to a temperature below body temperature for a preselected time period. The method entails thickening, strengthening, or increasing the density of a blood vessel wall by cooling the blood vessel wall with a cryogenically cooled device. The method also includes irradiating the inner wall of a blood vessel around an aneurysm or vascular defect with various forms of energy to delay or halt aneurysm or vascular defect formation. An energy-emitting element is disposed on the distal end portion of a catheter device to be disposed proximate the aneurysm. Various forms of energy, including visible light energy, laser light energy, ultrasound, microwave and radiofrequency sources may be used to irradiate and treat the aneurysm. In addition, the method may include irradiating a tissue site concomitantly with other treatments, including the delivery of vaso-occlusive compounds, mechanical intravascular devices, or an endovascular graft to the target tissue region.

Method for treatment of aneurysms

An elongated catheter device with a distal balloon assembly is adapted for endovascular insertion. Coolant injected through the device may, in different embodiments, directly cool tissue contacting the balloon, or may cool a separate internal chamber. In the first case, the coolant also inflates the balloon, and spent coolant is returned to the handle via a return passage extending through the body of the catheter. Plural balloons may be provided, wherein a secondary outer balloon surrounds a primary inner balloon, the primary balloon being filled with coolant and acting as the cooling chamber, the secondary balloon being coupled to a vacuum return lumen to serve as a robust leak containment device and thermal insulator around the cooling chamber. Various configurations, such as surface modification of the balloon interface, or placement of particles, coatings, or expandable meshes or coils in the balloon interface, may be employed to achieve this function.

Endovascular cryotreatment catheter

A method is disclosed for treating an aneurysm by cooling a target tissue region of the aneurysm to a temperature below temperature for a preselected time period. The method entails thickening, strengthening, or increasing the density of a blood vessel wall by cooling the blood vessel wall with a cryogenically cooled device. In particular, a device having a heat conductive cooling chamber is disposed proximate to the aneurysm site; and a cryogenic fluid coolant is directed to flow inside the chamber to create endothermic cooling relative to the aneurysm. The method also promotes the growth of collagen and elastin in vascular tissue. Tissue cooling temperatures range from &plus;20 to &minus;20 degrees Celsius. The duration of treatment by application of cooling ranges from 15 seconds to up to 20 minutes or more. The method includes treating the aneurysm both from inside and outside the blood vessel wall forming the aneurysm.

Method and device for treatment of aneurysms

A medical implement that employs a mechanically supported expandable element. In one embodiment, the mechanically supported expandable element is a balloon. In another embodiment, the mechanically supported expandable membrane is a balloon disposed within a cryogenic catheter usable to treat tissue. A variety of illustrative mechanical support schemes are possible.

Mechanical support for an expandable membrane

A catheter is attached to an elongated catheter body adapted for endovascular insertion with a balloon assembly at its distal end. Coolant injected through the catheter body may, in different embodiments, directly cool tissue contacting the balloon, or may cool a separate internal chamber. In the first case, the coolant also inflates the balloon, and spent coolant is returned to the handle via a return passage extending through the body of the catheter. A valve may regulate back pressure in the return passage to coordinate the flow of coolant into and out of the balloon so as to both inflate the balloon and achieve cryogenic cooling at the surface of the balloon. The coolant is biologically safe, and may be liquid carbon dioxide. Plural balloons may be provided adjacent the cooling segment, and one balloon may be shaped to treat the ostium of a vessel. Preferably, thermal conductivity of the balloon wall is enhanced by inclusion of thermally conductive material, such as metal, which may be introduced as a component of a composite elastomer material, or as a patterned metal layer that defines a pattern of thermally conductive treatment regions of the balloon surface. Patterns formed by printing, lithography or other means with copper, silver or other highly thermally conductive material enhance through-conduction characteristics of the wall so icing preferentially occurs to stimulate tissue destruction and vascular regeneration. Suitable patterns include spirals, dots, arrays of separated segments, or meandering curves which allow expansion of the balloon body without introducing delamination, localized stress cracking or separation of the balloon material. The conductive patterns may include patterns such as waffle-iron or other arrays of small lesions that are effective to treat the endovascular wall. When separate media are used for cooling and for balloon expansion, the cooling chamber may have a large diameter, and the balloon may form a thin shell or cuff. In that case, the balloon may be quickly inflated with a medium such as a saline to provide a quickly deployed and compliant contact structure of excellent conductivity.

A cryogenic catheter includes an outer flexible member having a cryogenic fluid path defined by an injection tube disposed in the outer flexible member. The injection tube is slidably disposed within the outer flexible member. A guide member may be provided to support the injection tube within the outer flexible member. A wire is attached to the injection tube at one end and further attached to a spool to provide for take-up of the wire.

Adjustable position injection tubing

Growing community of inventors

Pointe-Claire, Canada

Leonilda Capuano