Distal protection device with local drug infusion by physician to maintain patency

Abstract

The present invention provides for a local drug delivery mechanism for use with a protection device. An infusing device is used to charge the drug into the catheter lumen toward a distal portion of the lumen having a plurality of drug delivery exit ports. The drug exits the ports into the patient's vascular system and is able to flow toward a filter maintaining the patency of the filter.

1 . Apparatus for maintaining patency of an apertured device implanted in a vessel in an animal body through which fluid flow occurs, comprising:
 a patency maintenance drug introduction head, positionable in the vessel proximate and upflow relative to the device, for dispensing a patency maintenance drug;   an elongate member having a lumen therethrough, a distal end in fluid communication with a cavity in said drug introduction head and a proximal end remote from said introduction head and external to the body of the animal;   a reservoir at said proximal end of said elongate member and in fluid communication with said lumen; and   a charger, associated with said reservoir, for volitionally urging patency maintenance drug in the reservoir into and through said lumen, into said cavity and into the vessel at said introduction head.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said drug introduction head includes a wall which defines said cavity therewithin, and wherein said wall has a plurality of exit ports passing therethrough. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said reservoir and said charger comprise a syringe mated to said elongate member at said proximal end thereof. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said drug introduction head and said elongate member are unitarily formed. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said drug introduction head comprises an expanded portion of said elongate member. 
   
   
       6 . A medical device, comprising:
 a protection member which permits passage of a fluid therethrough, an elongate tubular member having a head positioned proximate said protective member, said head having a plurality of exit ports for delivering a drug to said protective member to induce continued patency of said protective member and a charger for remotely inducing delivery of the drug through said exit ports.   
   
   
       7 . The medical device of  claim 6 , wherein said protective member is a filter. 
   
   
       8 . The medical device of  claim 7 , wherein said filter is expandable about a hostwire. 
   
   
       9 . The medical device of  claim 7 , wherein said filter has a hostwire extending within said tubular member. 
   
   
       10 . A device for delivering a drug to a distal protection device to maintain patency thereof, said device comprising a tubular member having a wall, a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen, defined by said wall, through said tubular member extending from said proximal end to said distal end, said wall having an exterior surface, said tubular member having a plurality of apertures formed through said wall proximate said distal end of said tubular member and allowing flow of the drug from said lumen to the exterior of said wall proximate and at a location up-flow of the distal protection device, and a charger mounted to said tubular member remote from said apertures and external to a body of a patient to whom the drug is to be delivered, for volitionally inducing flow of the drug through said apertures. 
   
   
       11 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein said plurality of apertures are spaced fully around said wall. 
   
   
       12 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein said wall has an axial dimension, and wherein said plurality of apertures are spaced along at least a portion of said axial dimension. 
   
   
       13 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein said plurality of apertures are formed in a spiral pattern along said wall. 
   
   
       14 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein a distal portion of said wall is enlarged. 
   
   
       15 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein said drug is in a liquid form, and wherein said device is constructed to channel and deliver said drug. 
   
   
       16 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein said drug is infused into said lumen of said tubular member. 
   
   
       17 . A filter device, comprising:
 an expandable filter portion; and   a drug delivery portion including a tubular member having a wall and having a first end, a second end and a lumen through said tubular member extending from said first end to said second end, said wall having an exterior surface and said tubular member having a plurality of apertures formed through said wall to allow fluid communication of a drug from said lumen to the exterior of said wall.   
   
   
       18 . Apparatus for delivering a drug to a distal protection device to maintain patency thereof, said apparatus comprising a tubular member having a wall, a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen, defined by said wall, through said tubular member extending from said proximal end to said distal end, said wall having an exterior surface, said tubular member having a plurality of apertures formed through said wall proximate said distal end of said tubular member and allowing flow of the drug from said lumen to the exterior of said wall proximate the distal protection device, and a charger mounted to said tubular member remote from said apertures, for inducing flow of the drug through said apertures.