Devices and methods for treating acute kidney injury

Abstract

A catheter devices/systems and methods therefrom are described herein for treating acute kidney injury, especially the contrast-induced acute kidney injury wherein the devices may prevent the contrast dyes from entering into kidney and/or facilitate blood flow of kidney by said catheter system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of preventing acute kidney injury from contrast agent introduced into vasculature of a subject, the method comprising:
 positioning a proximal portion of a catheter device comprising a catheter shaft and an occlusive element in an abdominal aorta of the subject adjacent renal artery ostia of the subject, wherein one or more longitudinal position indication features are disposed on the occlusive element;   deploying the occlusive element of the catheter device to occlude the renal artery ostia;   confirming occlusion of the renal artery ostia when the occlusive element is deployed by observing the appearance of the one or more longitudinal position indication features;   introducing a bolus of the contrast agent into the abdominal aorta of the subject while the occlusive element is deployed to occlude the renal artery ostia, thereby preventing the contrast agent from entering into renal arteries of the subject; and   collapsing the occlusive element after the bolus of the contrast agent has been introduced, thereby allowing blood flow to the renal arteries to resume.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein positioning the proximal portion of the catheter device comprises observing a position of one or more position indication features and positioning the proximal portion of the catheter device in response to the observed position. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more position indication features comprise a radio-opaque marker, and wherein observing the one or more position indication feature is done using x-ray imaging. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein confirming occlusion of the renal artery ostia comprising observing the appearance of a bowed section in the one or more longitudinal position indication features. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more longitudinal position indication features comprises one or more longitudinal radio-opaque markers and wherein the bowed section is observed using x-ray imaging. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein positioning the proximal portion of the catheter device comprises observing a orientation of an orientation element disposed on a distal portion of the catheter device and positioning the proximal portion of the catheter device in response to the observed orientation, wherein the orientation element is aligned with the occlusive element and configured to indicate the orientation of the occlusive element when positioned adjacent renal artery ostia of the subject. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the occlusive element comprises a first expandable member disposed on a first lateral side of the proximal portion and a second expandable member disposed on a second lateral side of the proximal portion, wherein deploying the occlusive element comprises expanding the first and second expandable members, and wherein collapsing the occlusive element comprises collapsing the first and second expandable members. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein expanding the first and second expandable members comprises simultaneously expanding the first and second expandable members. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein collapsing the occlusive element comprises collapsing the occlusive element after a pre-determined amount of time. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein deploying the occlusive element and introducing the bolus of the contrast agent are synchronized.