Other

Pq Bypass, Inc.

Radius Medical Technologies, Inc.

Saratoga, Inc.

Sun Star Technology, Inc.

Heuser, Richard R.

Richard R Heuser

Richard A Lotti

Kumar Jambunathan

James D Joye

Eugene Edward Reis

Shinji Hara

Richard M DeMello

Kumar Ganesan Jambunathan

A system for deploying a stent-graft from the femoral artery into the femoral vein and back into the femoral artery in order to bypass a femoral occlusion comprises a penetration catheter and a guidewire capture and stabilization catheter. The penetration catheter may be advanced contralaterally to a location above the occlusion and the capture and stabilization catheter may be introduced upwardly through the femoral vein. The penetration tool on the penetration catheter is used in multiple steps to deploy guidewires which are then used to deploy the stent-graft in the desired location.

Methods and systems for bypassing occlusions in a femoral artery

Embodiments herein provide differential dilation stents for use in percutaneous interventions, such as transluminal bypass procedures. In some embodiments, the stents may be used in the process of creating an arteriovenous (AV) fistula during a percutaneous bypass procedure, and such stents may have two or more specialized regions that are configured to adopt a predetermined diameter, shape, and/or tensile strength upon insertion in order to suit the needs of the vessel or procedure. The disclosed stents may be used for creating and/or maintaining an arterial/venous fistula for bypass of an occlusion in a cardiac artery using a cardiac vein, or the femoral artery, for example using the tibial or popliteal vein.

Differential dilation stent and method of use

Wire systems for the ablation of occlusions within blood vessels are provided. Systems include one or more wires configured for percutaneous insertion in a blood vessel, the wires configured to ablate an occlusion within the blood vessel. In some embodiments, a wire is gradually tapered near its distal end so that it can be used to pierce occlusions. In some cases, it may be used to dilate existing microchannels within occlusions. In some embodiments, a capture device is inserted towards the occlusion from either the same or opposite side as the tapered wire, and is used to draw the wire through the occlusion.

Systems and methods for ablation of occlusions within blood vessels

A catheter introducer system is provided with a catheter sheath having a valve providing for a friction fit around a catheter. The friction fit is selectively adjustable to vary between a first configuration for longitudinal movement of the catheter through the valve and a second configuration for holding the catheter longitudinally in place. The valve may include a chuck to grip the catheter radially. The chuck may include an annular base and an opposed annular clamp, and a washer disposed between the base and the clamp. At least one of the base and the clamp may include a beveled surface that forces the washer radially inwardly as the base and the clamp are drawn together. The system also includes one or more dilators layered within the sheath. One or more of the dilators may include a preformed arcuate portion configured to access a targeted branched vessel. The layered dilators and sheaths are typically softer and more hydrophilic proceeding from the innermost dilator out to the sheath. The dilator may be reinforced by a wire embedded in the body of the dilator. The distal tip of the sheath may be stiffened by a ring affixed adjacent the distal end. The sheath may include in the innermost dilator a trocar formed of a flexible, hollow outer wire and an inner stiff needle, which can extend beyond the wire for piercing and be withdrawn to relax the wire for advancement of the dilator.

Catheter introducer system

The catheter apparatus may be used to assist in creating a fistula between two adjacent blood vessels. The apparatus includes a catheter for inserting into a first blood vessel which lies adjacent to a second blood vessel, the catheter having a plurality of openings through which a physician may navigate a piercing tool. The physician maneuvers the tip of the catheter to a position within the first blood vessel adjacent to a portion of the first blood vessel wall in which the physician intends to create an opening. The physician may then rotate the piercing tool within the catheter and extend the piercing tool through one opening at a time, without rotating the catheter, until the physician chooses an opening that is properly aimed at the second blood vessel. Such a configuration allows for a wide arc of potential firing space.

Catheter system for connecting adjacent blood vessels

A catheter introducer system is provided with a catheter sheath having a valve providing for a friction fit around a catheter. The friction fit is selectively adjustable to vary between a first configuration for longitudinal movement of the catheter through the valve and a second configuration for holding the catheter longitudinally in place. The valve may includes a chuck to grip the catheter radially. The chuck may include an annular base and an opposed annular clamp, and a washer disposed between the base and the clamp. At least one of the base and the clamp may include a beveled surface that forces the washer radially inwardly as the base and the clamp are drawn together. The system also includes one or more dilators layered within the sheath. The layered dilators and sheaths are typically softer and more hydrophilic proceeding from the innermost dilator out to the sheath. The dilator may be reinforced by a wire embedded in the body of the dilator. The distal tip of the sheath may be stiffened by a ring affixed adjacent the distal end. The sheath may include in the innermost dilator a trocar formed of a flexible, hollow outer wire and an inner stiff needle, which can extend beyond the wire for piercing and be withdrawn to relax the wire for advancement of the dilator.

A catheterization guidewire system provides a first wire for percutaneous insertion in a blood vessel. The first wire may include a lumen running from one end to the other, and a handle adjacent the proximal end for manipulation of the first wire about and along a central axis. A second wire may be inserted in the blood vessel over the first wire, and may have a handle adjacent a proximal end. With the first and second wires coupled together, either of the handles of the first and second wires may be used to manipulate both wires. The wires may be manipulated relative to one another by simultaneous use of both handles. The first wire may have a rigidity selected to allow crossing of a bifurcation in the blood vessel. A third wire, which may also have a handle, may be inserted in the blood vessel over the second wire. A catheter for insertion over at least one of the first, second, and third wires may be provided with a balloon and a stent placement apparatus.

Catheter guidewire system using concentric wires

A catheter system is provided for creating a fistula between blood vessels, using a first catheter with a piercing tool adjacent its distal end, and a second catheter with a receptor adjacent its distal end. The receptor includes an opening and a channel providing a guide surface for receiving the piercing tool. The receptor and piercing tool include one or more magnets to draw the piercing tool into the channel of the receptor. The piercing tool and the receptor are provided with a complementary configuration, such as a mating conical shapes. A third catheter may be provided with a double balloon for use in sealing off the fistula site. The piercing tool may be provided on a metal guidewire that includes a lumen with a distal opening. The piercing tool may include a base and a needle coupled to the base at a nominal angle of at least about 20-degrees. The piercing tool may be selectively moved between an extended position wherein the needle is positioned outside the guidewire at the nominal angle and a retracted position wherein the needle is positioned substantially within the guidewire.

A stent is provided with a multi-layer structure, combining one or more mesh layers with one or more film layers. The film layer(s) are configured to substantially prevent growth of an inner lining of a blood vessel, where the stent is placed, through the mesh layer(s). The end-to-end length of the film layer(s) may be greater than the lengths of the mesh layer(s) by at least about 0.5 mm. The mesh and film layers include a radiopaque portion adjacent their ends to provide an X-ray indication of whether the mesh layer(s) have expanded beyond the ends of the film layer(s). If the stent includes inner and outer film layers and a middle mesh layer, the film layers may be sealed together adjacent the ends, encasing and fixing in place the middle layer. The mesh layer may be constructed to be more compliant adjacent its distal end and to expand more rapidly in response to expansion of a balloon catheter as compared to a middle portion of the mesh layer.

Stent with covering and differential dilation

According to a method of occluding a bodily fluid vessel, a catheter is provided that has a first passage. The first passage has an occlusion element housed therein. The catheter is positioned in the vessel, and the occlusion element is moved out of the passage and into the vessel to thereby occlude the vessel. A catheter is also disclosed that may be used with the above method.

Methods and apparatus for treating body tissues and bodily fluid vessels

A stent system is provided for percutaneous insertion in an artery of a main stent which includes at least one peripheral aperture defined through the stent wall. The stent system also includes a peripheral stent configured to be inserted into the peripheral aperture of the main stent. The peripheral stent extends, when inserted in the peripheral aperture, generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main stent. The stent system may further include a guidewire, insertable through the peripheral aperture, for maneuvering the main stent into place in the artery. The guidewire may be tapered toward its distal end. The stent system may also include a dilation device for dilating the peripheral stent within the peripheral aperture. The stent system may further include a tube inserted through the peripheral aperture of the main stent.

Growing community of inventors

Phoenix, AZ, United States of America

Richard R Heuser