U.S. patent application number 09/549989 was filed with the patent office on 2002-04-18 for articulating cannula.
Invention is credited to Balceta, Jobert, Thornton, Peter.
Application Number | 20020045915 09/549989 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22727388 |
Filed Date | 2002-04-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020045915 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Balceta, Jobert ; et
al. |
April 18, 2002 |
Articulating cannula
Abstract
A cannula possessing a distal region and a proximal region, a
slider mounted on the cannula, and a manipulator wire connecting
the distal region and the slider, is articulated by proximal and
distal displacements of the slider with respect to the distal end
of the cannula.
Inventors: |
Balceta, Jobert; (San Jose,
CA) ; Thornton, Peter; (Los Altos, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Lyon & Lyon LLP
633 W Fifth St
Suite 4700
Los Angeles
CA
90071-2066
US
|
Family ID: |
22727388 |
Appl. No.: |
09/549989 |
Filed: |
April 14, 2000 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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09549989 |
Apr 14, 2000 |
|
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09196942 |
Nov 20, 1998 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
606/200 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M 2210/125 20130101;
A61M 25/0041 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
606/200 |
International
Class: |
A61M 029/00; A61M
031/00 |
Claims
We claim:
1. An articulating cannula for use in a medical procedure,
comprising: a flexible distal region adapted to enter a vessel; a
proximal region; a primary lumen extending from said distal region
through said proximal region for delivery of fluids; a slider
slidably mounted on said cannula; and a manipulator wire affixed to
said flexible distal region and to said slider whereby movement of
said slider bends said flexible distal region with respect to said
proximal region.
2. The cannula of claim 1, further comprising: a blood filter
device disposed about said distal region.
3. The cannula of claim 2, wherein said blood filter device is
disposed within said primary lumen and wherein said blood filter
device comprises an umbrella frame.
4. The cannula of claim 2, wherein said blood filter device is
disposed within a secondary lumen of said cannula and wherein said
blood filter device comprises an adjustable frame.
5. The articulating cannula of claim 1 further comprising: a
diverter disposed about said flexible distal region.
6. The articulating cannula of claim 5 wherein said diverter
comprises a hollow tube comprising a substantially cylindrical or
conical wall impermeable to emboli, said hollow tube being
substantially flexible, wherein said hollow tube is releasably
carried by an insertion cannula disposed within said primary lumen
of said articulating cannula.
7. The articulating cannula of claim 1, further comprising: a
balloon disposed about said distal region; and a secondary lumen in
fluid communication with said balloon.
8. The articulating cannula of claim 7 further comprising: a
tertiary lumen port distally located on said cannula with respect
to said balloon; and a tertiary lumen in fluid communication with
said tertiary lumen port.
9. The articulating cannula of claim 1, further comprising: a
manipulator wire tube in which said manipulator wire is disposed;
and a clamp attached to said slider, said clamp having a closed
position fixing said slider to said cannula, said clamp having an
open position in which said slider may be slidably displaced on
said cannula.
10. The articulating cannula of claim 1, further comprising: an
anchor attached to the distal end of said distal region wherein
said manipulator wire attaches to said anchor.
11. The articulating cannula of claim 1, further comprising: a
plurality of grooves on said handle; and wherein said clamp
comprises at least one radially disposable ball on said slider
which is biased into said grooves in said closed position.
12. The articulating cannula of claim 9, further comprising: a
plurality of grooves on said handle; and wherein said clamp
comprises at least one cam axially mounted on said slider wherein
said cam is biased into said grooves in said closed position.
13. The articulating cannula of claim 1 further comprising: a coil
spring integrally associated with said distal region.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of
annular rings associated with said distal region.
15. An articulating cannula for use in a medical procedure,
comprising: a distal region adapted to enter a vessel; a proximal
region; a primary lumen extending from said distal region through
said proximal region for delivery of fluids; a slider slidably
mounted on said cannula; means for clamping said slider whereby
said clamping means has a closed position fixing said slider to
said cannula and whereby said clamping means has an open position
in which said slider may be slidably displaced on said cannula; and
a manipulator wire affixed to said distal region and to said
slider, whereby movement of said slider bends said distal region
with respect to said proximal region.
16. The articulating cannula of claim 15 wherein said clamping
means comprises a screw threadably disposed within said slider and
configured to frictionally engage said cannula in said closed
position.
17. A method of cannulating fluids to a patient, comprising the
steps of: providing an articulating cannula, comprising: a distal
region adapted to enter a vessel; a proximal region; a primary
lumen extending from said distal region through said proximal
region for delivery of fluids; a slider slidably mounted on said
cannula; a clamp attached to said slider, said clamp having a
closed position fixing said slider to said cannula, said clamp
having an open position in which said slider may be slidably
displaced on said cannula; and a manipulator wire affixed to said
distal region and to said slider whereby movement of said slider
bends said distal region with respect to said proximal region;
inserting said cannula into a vessel of a patient while said slider
is positioned such that said distal and proximal regions are in a
relatively straight line; and applying a proximal force to said
slider, whereby said manipulator wire bends said distal region with
respect to said proximal region.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of
inflating a balloon located about the distal portion of said
cannula whereby the blood vessel is substantially occluded.
19. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of inserting
an umbrella frame blood filter device through the primary lumen of
said cannula into the blood vessel.
20. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of inserting
an adjustable frame blood filter device through a secondary lumen
of said cannula into the blood vessel.
21. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of inserting
a diverter through the primary lumen of said cannula into the blood
vessel.
Description
INTRODUCTION
[0001] This invention relates to medical devices, and more
particularly relates to an articulating cannula for use in
cardiopulmonary bypass surgery, heart surgery, and other medical
procedures.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] During heart surgery and other operations, surgeons often
clamp major vessels to occlude blood flow within the vessels.
Because such clamping may cause trauma to the blood vessel,
catheters with occluding balloons have been developed. For example,
Nasu, U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,708, discloses a catheter or cannula with
an L-shaped distal region. About the end of the distal region is
positioned a vessel-occluding balloon. Such a device requires an
insertion point adjacent to where the distal end of the catheter
will be located. Alternatively, rather than use the L-shaped device
as disclosed by Nasu, a surgeon could insert a flexible cannula
such as disclosed by Grinfeld et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,344,
into, for example, the femoral artery and guide the distal end to
where therapy is desired. If necessary, balloons at the distal end
are then inflated.
[0003] However, both methods of therapy have certain drawbacks. For
instance, an L-shaped catheter is not easily inserted into a vessel
because the distal end is at right angles to the main shaft of the
catheter. Thus, a surgeon must make an incision of a size adequate
to accommodate the necessary maneuvering before insertion into the
vessel. Instead, if a flexible cannula is inserted from the
ascending aorta or femoral artery, the surgeon must contend with
the difficulties and dangers of remotely guiding the distal end
into its desired location. Therefore, there is a need in the art
for an articulating cannula which can be inserted through a less
invasive incision than required for a rigid L-shaped cannula and
which avoids the difficulties of remotely guiding a flexible
cannula.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] This invention provides an articulating cannula for vessel
occlusion, cardioplegia delivery, perfusion, aspiration, and other
uses. The flexible distal end of the cannula is provided with a
manipulator wire attached to an anchor. The manipulator wire
extends up the rigid proximal shaft of the cannula and ends in a
positionable slider or other tensioning mechanism.
[0005] By proximally positioning the slider with respect to the
manipulator wire anchor, the distal end of the cannula bends into a
desired angle. In one embodiment, a toroidal balloon surrounds the
distal end of the cannula and is in fluid communication with a
secondary lumen of the cannula. Inflation of the toroidal balloon
with fluid injected through the secondary lumen occludes the vessel
and prevents the cannula tip from injuring the vessel walls. A
tertiary lumen which allows therapeutic fluids to be injected
upstream of the artery occlusion may be proximally located with
respect to the toroidal balloon. Therapeutic fluids delivered
through the tertiary lumen include fluids for cardioplegia.
[0006] In an alternate embodiment, the articulating cannula can
include a blood filter device disposed within the primary lumen of
the cannula. In this embodiment, the blood filter device may
comprise an insertion tube, an umbrella frame, an end plate, a
mesh, and an adjustment device. Alternatively, the blood filter
device may be disposed in a secondary lumen which opens proximally
with respect to the distal end of the cannula. In this embodiment,
the blood filter device may comprise a shaft, an adjustable filter
frame disposed at the distal end of the shaft, a mesh, and
optionally, a cantilever beam.
[0007] In yet another alternate embodiment, the articulating
cannula can include a diverter associated with the distal region of
the cannula. The diverter can take a number of forms, including a
"windsock" embodiment. The diverter will allow the surgeon to
deflect blood flow from entering other vessels during procedures
such as plaque removal.
[0008] The articulation of the cannula may be summarized as
follows. In operation, prior to insertion in a vessel, the surgeon
may manipulate the slider distally so that the flexible distal end
of the cannula is unbent. This allows the surgeon to insert the
cannula at right angles to the vessel. As the distal tip of the
cannula enters the vessel's lumen, the surgeon begins to proximally
position the slider (tensioning mechanism) so as to bend the distal
tip of the cannula. This process of inserting and bending the
cannula continues until the surgeon is satisfied with the
positioning of the cannula's distal end. At this point, the distal
end of the cannula lies substantially parallel to the vessel within
the vessel's lumen.
[0009] After positioning the distal end of the cannula in the
vessel, the surgeon may then inflate the toroidal balloon in order
to occlude the vessel. Alternatively, a filter mesh may be deployed
within the vessel circumferentially about the distal portion of the
cannula. In addition, after positioning the distal end of the
cannula, the surgeon may deploy a diverter in the vessel.
[0010] In practice, this grants the surgeon the advantage of using
a flexible catheter without the need to remotely guide a flexible
catheter or cannula. Moreover, the surgeon does not contend with an
L-shaped catheter's disadvantage of insertion maneuvering and
associated incision size. The present invention allows the
practitioner to use minimally invasive surgical techniques that
promote faster healing and are less traumatic to the patient.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1a is a side elevational view partially broken away of
the invention with a vessel-occluding toroidal balloon
circumferentially disposed about the distal region.
[0012] FIG. 1b is a perspective view of the distal region of the
invention with an umbrella frame blood filter device
circumferentially disposed about the distal region of the
cannula.
[0013] FIG. 1c is a side elevational view of the distal region of
the invention in which a coil spring surrounds the distal region of
the cannula.
[0014] FIG. 1d is a cross-sectional view taken on line 1d-1d FIG.
2a is an exploded cut-away view of the anchor and the tip cover
connecting to the manipulator wire, manipulator wire tube and the
slider.
[0015] FIG. 2b is an enlarged view of the tip cover and the
toroidal balloon taken along line 2b-2b of FIG. 2a.
[0016] FIG. 2c is a cross-sectional view of the slider taken along
line 2c-2c of FIG. 2a.
[0017] FIG. 3a is a cross-sectional view of the slider and the
proximal region of the cannula wherein the slider employs a camming
mechanism in order to engage the proximal region of the
cannula.
[0018] FIG. 3b is a cross-sectional view of the slider and the
proximal region of the cannula wherein the slider employs a bolt or
screw which passes through a threaded hole and frictionally bears
against the proximal region of the cannula.
[0019] FIG. 4 illustrates a cross section of the slider according
to one embodiment of the invention.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a side elevational view according to one
embodiment of the invention wherein the distal end of the cannula
is associated with an umbrella frame blood filter device inserted
in the main lumen of the cannula.
[0021] FIG. 6a is a side elevational view of the invention
according to one embodiment in which the distal portion of the
cannula has been inserted into a vessel and articulated and in
which a filter mesh device is inserted in a secondary lumen of the
cannula.
[0022] FIG. 6b is a cross sectional view of the blood filter device
taken along line 6b-6b of FIG. 6a.
[0023] FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the invention according
to one embodiment in which the distal portion of the cannula is
associated with a diverter in its compressed state.
[0024] FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the invention according
to one embodiment in which the distal portion of the invention is
associated with a diverter deployed in the vessel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] The present invention is directed towards an articulating
cannula for use in cardiopulmonary bypass surgery and other medical
procedures. One embodiment of the articulating cannula according to
the present invention is shown in FIG. 1a. A flexible distal region
10 of the cannula, made of, for example, flexible polyvinyl
chloride or polyethylene, is attached to a rigid proximal region
20. Proximal region may be constructed of rigid polyvinyl chloride,
polyethylene, silicone, polycarbonate, or other suitable materials.
Extending down both the proximal region 20 and distal region 10 is
primary lumen 8 ending in primary lumen port 5. Primary lumen 8
extends proximally down the cannula and ends in input port 115
through which therapeutic fluids may be pumped. An anchor 30 is
affixed about the end of the distal region 10 of the cannula.
Attached to the anchor 30 is the end of a manipulator wire 40. An
anchor ball 45 at the end of manipulator wire 40 secures the
manipulator wire 40 to the anchor 30. Manipulator wire 40, in the
embodiment shown, is disposed in a stainless steel hypodermic
manipulator wire tube 48. Manipulator wire 40 is preferably
constructed out of 316 L stainless steel wire. Alternatively a
woven stainless steel cable or other suitable materials may be
used. Manipulator wire 40 and tube 48 extend proximally from the
distal region 10 of the cannula to the proximal region 20. The
proximal end of manipulator wire 40 is attached to a slider 50
that, in one embodiment, is circumferentially disposed about the
handle region 60 of the cannula. Slider 50 frictionally engages
handle region 60 through a clamping mechanism and is positionable
in a proximal and distal direction so as to bias manipulator wire
40 proximally or distally, thereby bending or straightening distal
region 10. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the slider's
clamping mechanism frictionally engages teeth 65 on handle region
60 by biasing radially movable balls 130 into grooves 68 on handle
region 60.
[0026] Because distal region 10 bends into a desired angle, such as
a right or L-shaped angle when slider 50 is proximally displaced on
handle 60, a coil spring 110, illustrated in FIG. 1c, may be
integrated with the distal region 10 so as to prevent kinking of
the lumen 8. Alternatively, a rigid or braid reinforced lumen could
also be used to prevent kinking. In addition, coil spring 110 would
provide resiliency so as to keep distal region 10 and proximal
region 20 in line with one another when slider 50 is positioned
distally with respect to handle 60. Use of a plurality of separated
rings instead of coil spring 110 would provide an equivalent
protection against kinking.
[0027] Circumferentially disposed about the distal region 10 of the
cannula is a toroidal balloon 70 that is in fluid communication
with a secondary lumen 75 of the cannula. Secondary lumen 75
proximally extends from toroidal balloon 70 to a proximal
projection 76. Proximal projection 76 may include a valve 77
operated by stopcock 78. Fluid, such as pressurized air or water
distends toroidal balloon 70 by injection into port 79 of proximal
projection 76. Toroidal balloon 70 is preferably made out a soft
resilient material such as polyurethane, silicone, or latex rubber
so as to expand and substantially or-completely occlude the desired
vessel. Toroidal balloon's 70 size can be varied depending upon the
size vessel being occluded.
[0028] Proximal to toroidal balloon 70 is a tertiary lumen port 80
connecting to tertiary lumen 85. Tertiary lumen 85 proximally
extends to a tertiary proximal projection 86. Therapeutic fluids
pumped down inlet 88 of tertiary proximal projection 86 provide
fluids to vessel structures upstream of the toroidal balloon
70.
[0029] Tertiary proximal projection 86 may optionally be fitted
with a valve and stopcock similar to those shown on the proximal
projection 76.kdf.
[0030] The relationship of the various lumens is illustrated in
FIG. 1d. Although the secondary lumen 75 and tertiary lumen 85 are
disposed on opposite sides of the cannula in the embodiment
illustrated, their exact location and their relationship to the
location of manipulator wire tube 48 and manipulator wire 40 is not
critical to the overall functioning of the invention.
[0031] The anchor 30 may be associated with a conical tip cover 120
as illustrated in FIG. 2a. Lumen port 5 would then exit through tip
cover 120 as illustrated in FIG. 2b. A pocket on anchor 30 receives
anchor ball 45 of manipulator wire 40. Many other ways exist to
bond manipulator wire 40 to anchor 30 such as welding, gluing and
the like. In a preferred embodiment, manipulator wire 40 is
disposed in a stainless steel hypodermic manipulator wire tube 48
which extends from anchor 30 to slider 50. At its proximal end,
manipulator wire is attached to slider 50 with a proximal anchor
ball 135. Many other suitable attachment methods exist, including
welding and gluing.
[0032] The clamp or clamping mechanism by which slider 50 can be
slidably positioned proximally or distally on handle 60 can be
implemented in many ways. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3a,
slider 50 could be attached to cam 140. Cam 140 is biased, using a
spring 170 or other suitable means, so that flat region 142 of cam
140 abuts sidewall 66 of groove 68 on handle 60. When slider 50 is
moved proximally with respect to handle 60, curved surface 144 of
cam 140 causes cam 140 to rotate out of groove 68 on axis 143.
Because cam 140 is biased into grooves 68, as slider 50 is moved
proximally to the adjacent proximal groove 68, cam 140 will rotate
down into the adjacent proximal groove 68 on axis 143 so as to fix
slider 50 to handle 60 in a new, proximally displaced position.
This process can be repeated until slider 50 provides the desired
proximal bias to manipulator wire 40, thereby bending distal region
10 of the cannula to a desired angle with respect to proximal
region 20. A lever 146 rigidly attached to cam 140 at axis 143 can
be used to rotate cam 140 up out of groove 68 and maintain cam 140
out of grooves 68 as the slider is distally positioned, thereby
straightening distal region 10 with respect to proximal region
20.
[0033] An alternative clamp or clamping mechanism for positioning
slider 50 to handle 60 is illustrated in FIG. 3b. Slider 50 has a
threaded hole 150 through which a bolt 145 is threaded. In this
embodiment handle 60 does not require teeth 65 and grooves 68. As
bolt 145 is rotated into threaded hole 150, bolt 145 frictionally
bears against handle 60 and secures slider 50 in a fixed position
with respect to handle 60. Those of ordinary skill in the art will
realize that many other clamping mechanisms could be constructed
without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
[0034] In the preferred embodiment, clamping mechanism of slider 50
is constructed according to the invention of Lee, U.S. Pat. No.
4,893,810, the contents of which are incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety. The invention of Lee is commercially
available as the "Grip Fast".TM., manufactured by S.M.I., Inc. As
illustrated in FIG. 4, this embodiment of the clamping mechanism
comprises a collar body 160 with an axial flange 161.
Circumferentially disposed about collar body 160 is collar sleeve
162 with a tension ring 163 having a tapered inner surface. The
tapered inner surface bears against balls 130 that in turn are
disposed in windows 165 on collar body 160. A spring 170 biases
collar body 160 with respect to sleeve 162 so that balls 164 are
forced into windows 165 by the tapered inner surface of tension
ring 163. This causes balls 130 to frictionally engage teeth 65 on
handle 60 (illustrated in FIG. 1), thereby clamping slider 50 to
handle 60.
[0035] In order to bend the distal region 10 of the cannula, the
health practitioner or surgeon grips the collar sleeve 162 of
slider 50 and displaces it proximally with respect to handle 60.
This proximal movement compresses spring 170 so that tension ring
163 is displaced proximally with respect to balls 130. This
proximal displacement allows the balls 130 to move up out of groove
68 on handle 60 so that slider 50 can be proximally displaced with
respect to handle 60.
[0036] Because manipulator wire 40 is fixed to axial flange 161 of
collar body 160, manipulator wire 40 proximally displaces anchor
30, thereby bending distal region 10 of the cannula. In order to
straighten this bent distal region 10 of the cannula, the surgeon
follows an analogous procedure. However, rather than displace the
slider 50 proximally on handle 60 of the cannula, the surgeon now
displaces the slider 50 distally on handle 60 of the cannula. This
distal movement releases the tension on manipulator wire 40 so that
distal region 10 of the cannula straightens with respect to
proximal region 20 of the cannula.
[0037] In an alternate embodiment, distal region 10 may be combined
with a blood filter device 90 disposed within the primary lumen 8
of the cannula as illustrated in FIG. 1b. In this embodiment, the
blood filter device may comprise an insertion tube 200, an
activation tube 201, an umbrella frame 202, an end plate 204, a
mesh 206, and an adjustment device 212 (illustrated in FIG. 5).
[0038] As shown in FIG. 1b, the umbrella frame 20 comprises a
plurality of arms 208. The arms are sonically welded to a socket
210, which in turn is adhesive bonded to the insertion tube 200
which is dimensioned to fit within the main lumen 8 of the cannula
without unnecessarily impeding blood flow. Alternatively, the
socket 210 may be connected to the insertion tube 200 by welding or
epoxy. The insertion tube 200 may be constructed with commercially
available material such as polyvinyl, polyurethane, or other
plastics. The arms 208 of the umbrella frame 202 are made of
plastic or thin gauge metal. Because of the flexibility of this
material, the arms 208 bend without the need for extra parts such
as hinges. This simplifies assembly and reduces the chance of
misassembly.
[0039] FIG. 5 illustrates how the blood filter device 90 is
actuated within the cannula. The insertion tube 200 and activation
tube 201 extend proximally from socket 210 in the main lumen 8 of
the cannula to the blood filter device port 214. The activation
tube 201 extends from the blood filter device port 214 to the
adjustment device 212 housed in blood filter device handle 216. In
the embodiment illustrated, the adjustment device 212 is a linear
actuation device, comprising a thumb switch 218 which is attached
to a guide frame 220 which in turn is attached to the activation
tube 201 via a bond joint. Thumb switch 218 comprises a base 222
and a ratchet arm 224 that moves along a ratchet slot 226, locking
in predetermined intervals in a manner known in the art. Sliding
the thumb switch 218 proximally from the distal region 10 of the
cannula retracts the activation tube 201, which in turn draws the
end plate 204 towards the socket 210. This causes the arms 208 of
the umbrella frame 202 to bend and the mesh 203 to open and enable
the trapping of emboli in the blood. Sliding thumb switch 218
distally pushes the activation tube 201 in the direction of the
mesh 204. The activation tube 201 then pushes the end plate 204
away from socket 210, causing the arms 208 of the umbrella frame to
straighten and mesh 204 to close. Further details of a blood filter
device comprising an umbrella frame are described in Barbut et al,
U.S. application Ser. No. 08/970,956, filed Nov. 14, 1997, the
contents of which are incorporated by reference as if set forth in
their entirety herein.
[0040] In an alternate embodiment, the blood filter device may be
located proximally from primary lumen port 5 and comprise an
adjustable flexible frame rather than an umbrella frame. This is
illustrated in FIG. 6a, wherein the distal region 10 of the cannula
has been inserted into a vessel and articulated. In this
embodiment, the blood filter device 90 is inserted in a secondary
lumen 230 of the cannula which ends in a secondary lumen port 232.
Extending proximally from the blood filter device 90 is a flexible
insertion guide 234. By distally or proximally displacing flexible
insertion guide 234, blood filter device 90 can be inserted into a
vessel or withdrawn from the vessel into secondary lumen 230.
[0041] As illustrated in FIG. 6b, blood filter device 90 comprises
a flexible frame 236, a cantilever beam 238, and a filter mesh 206.
Cantilever beam 238 is attached to frame 236 at its distal end and
freely slides within flexible insertion guide 234 at its proximal
end. Further details of a blood filter device incorporating a
flexible frame 236 and a cantilever beam 238 are described in
Ambrosio, U.S. application Ser. No. 09/070,660, filed Apr. 29,
1998, the contents of which are incorporated by reference as if set
forth in their entirety herein. Alternatively, distal region 10 can
be combined with a diverter 100 as illustrated in FIG. 7 and FIG.
8. The use of diverter 100 allows the surgeon to prevent emboli
from entering, for example, the carotid arteries during surgery. A
diverter may take a number of forms, including a "snowshoe" and a
"windsock" configuration. Mackenzie, U.S. application Ser. No.
08/994,391, filed Dec. 23, 1997, the contents of which are
incorporated by reference in their entirety as if set forth herein,
describes these diverter configurations in more detail. In the
"windsock" embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the
diverter 100 comprises a substantially cylindrical or conical wall
250 impermeable to emboli, compressibly disposed within an
insertion cannula 260 which is disposed within the primary lumen 8
of the cannula. The diameter of insertion cannula 260 is sized such
that fluid flow within the primary lumen 8 of the cannula is
relatively unimpeded. Prior to insertion in the vessel, the
clinician guides the diverter insertion cannula, which is
constructed from a suitably flexible material, down a secondary
projection 290 of the cannula into the main lumen 8. A piston rod
270 having a piston 280 at its distal end pushes the proximal end
of the diverter to drive it out of the main lumen of the cannula
into the blood vessel. The diverter is self-expanding and its
proximal end is anchored within the vessel with an anchoring
mechanism 280. The anchoring mechanism may comprise a sleeve
adapted to frictionally engage the lumen of the vessel or any one
of the following: one or more sutures, one or more clips, one or
more hooks, or adhesive material.
[0042] While various embodiments of the present invention have been
described above, it should be understood that they have been
presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the
breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by
any of the above-described exemplary embodiments but should be
defined only in accordance with the following claims and their
equivalents.
* * * * *