Rapid exchange aspiration catheters and their use

Abstract

Methods for the removal of an embolism protection device use aspiration during the drawing of the embolism protection device into the catheter. Generally, the embolism protection device comprises a three dimensional filtering matrix that provides improved filtering without blocking the flow through the patient's vessel. In some embodiments, the embolism protection device can be actuated between a deployed configuration and a removal configuration with a reduced area across the cross section of the vessel lumen. The embolism protection device in the removal configuration can be drawn within the aspiration catheter. The aspiration catheter can have a distal portion with an expanded compartment with an average diameter at least about 20 percent larger than the average diameter of the shaft of the catheter within about 10 centimeters of the expanded compartment. In a rapid exchange version, the rapid exchange segment can have a length of at least about 10 centimeters.

1 . A method for loading a rapid exchange catheter having a shaft with a single lumen, a distal opening and a rapid exchange port, the method comprising guiding a guide structure through the rapid exchange port wherein the loaded catheter has a single lumen with a guide structure extending into a distal opening, through the lumen and out through the port.  
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the shaft has a distal portion with a larger diameter than the average of remaining portions of the shaft.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the catheter comprises a proximal section connected to a suction device in fluid communication with the distal opening.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the suction device comprises a syringe.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the guide structure is a guidewire.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the guide structure is an integrated guiding device comprising a corewire within a tube.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the guide structure is guided to the rapid exchange port using a tube that is removed from the catheter and guide structure once the once the guide structure is through the rapid exchange port.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the rapid exchange port is located adjacent a rapid exchange segment having a length from about 2 cm to about 30 cm.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a grid is located within the lumen of the shaft so that a guide structure is guided to the rapid exchange port due to the grid.  
   
   
       10 . A rapid exchange catheter comprising a suction device, a proximal portion, a distal portion and a shaft attached between the proximal portion and the distal portion, wherein the distal portion comprises a single lumen, a suction port and a guide port adjacent the connection between the shaft and the distal portion and wherein the suction device is attached at the proximal portion to supply suction at the distal end through a continuous lumen extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion.  
   
   
       11 . The rapid exchange catheter of  claim 10  wherein the distal portion has a diameter from about 0.035 to about 0.050 inches.  
   
   
       12 . The rapid exchange catheter of  claim 10  wherein the distal portion has a diameter at least about 20% larger than the diameter of the elongated tubular portion.  
   
   
       13 . The rapid exchange catheter of  claim 10  wherein the distal portion has a length from about 2 cm to about 30 cm.  
   
   
       14 . The rapid exchange catheter of  claim 10  wherein the distal portion comprises an elastomeric material.  
   
   
       15 . The rapid exchange catheter of  claim 10  wherein the suction device comprises a syringe.  
   
   
       16 . The rapid exchange catheter of  claim 10  wherein the distal portion is associated with a radio-opaque marker.  
   
   
       17 . The rapid exchange catheter of  claim 10  wherein the distal portion comprises a radio-pacifier.  
   
   
       18 . The rapid exchange catheter of  claim 1  wherein the distal portion comprises a plurality of materials.  
   
   
       19 . The rapid exchange catheter of  claim 10  further comprising a guide structure extending through the guide port.  
   
   
       20 . A rapid exchange catheter comprising a suction device, a proximal portion, a rapid exchange segment having a distal end and a shaft attached between the proximal portion and the rapid exchange segment, wherein the rapid exchange segment comprises a port adjacent the connection between the shaft, wherein the section device is attached to the proximal portion to supply suction at the distal end through a continuous lumen extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion and wherein the rapid exchange segment has a length of at least from about 2 cm to about 30 cm.  
   
   
       21 . The rapid exchange catheter of  claim 20  wherein the rapid exchange segment with the distal portion having a larger average diameter than the shaft.  
   
   
       22 . The rapid exchange catheter of  claim 20  wherein the suction device comprises a syringe.  
   
   
       23 . The rapid exchange catheter of  claim 20  wherein the distal portion has an average diameter at least about 20 percent larger than the average diameter of the shaft.  
   
   
       24 . The rapid exchange catheter of  claim 20  further comprising a guide structure extending through the port.  
   
   
       25 . The rapid exchange catheter of  claim 20  further comprising a radio-opaque marker.