U.S. patent application number 15/912687 was filed with the patent office on 2018-07-12 for implanted magnets retrieval system and method.
The applicant listed for this patent is Cook Medical Technologies LLC. Invention is credited to Shaun Davis Gittard, Kanishka Ratnayaka.
Application Number | 20180193061 15/912687 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55524681 |
Filed Date | 2018-07-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180193061 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gittard; Shaun Davis ; et
al. |
July 12, 2018 |
IMPLANTED MAGNETS RETRIEVAL SYSTEM AND METHOD
Abstract
A method of retrieving a pair of previously implanted magnets
from a patient's body includes maneuvering a guide catheter, which
includes a guide magnet affixed to its distal end, toward the
implantation site of the implanted magnets. The guide magnet is
magnetically coupled to one of the implanted magnets in an
orientation in which a through hole of the guide magnet is in
register with through holes of the first and second implant
magnets. An elongate capture member is slid through the lumen of
the guide catheter until one of a proximal segment and a distal
segment extends through the through holes of the guide magnet and
the implanted magnets. An abutment segment of the elongate capture
member, which separates the proximal segment and the distal segment
is maneuvered into contact with the magnets. Then, the abutment
segment, the guide magnet and the implanted magnets are moved as a
group away from the implantation site.
Inventors: |
Gittard; Shaun Davis;
(Winston-Salem, NC) ; Ratnayaka; Kanishka;
(Washington, DC) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Cook Medical Technologies LLC |
Bloomington |
IN |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55524681 |
Appl. No.: |
15/912687 |
Filed: |
March 6, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14788920 |
Jul 1, 2015 |
9943335 |
|
|
15912687 |
|
|
|
|
62053949 |
Sep 23, 2014 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 2017/00876
20130101; A61B 2017/00986 20130101; A61B 2017/1107 20130101; A61B
2017/003 20130101; A61B 2017/1139 20130101; A61B 17/52 20130101;
A61B 2017/00358 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61B 17/52 20060101
A61B017/52 |
Goverment Interests
GOVERNMENT RIGHTS
[0001] This invention was created in the performance of a
Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the National
Institutes of Health, and Agency of the Department of Health and
Human Services. The Government of the United States has certain
rights in this invention.
Claims
1. A method of retrieving previously implanted magnets from an
implantation site, the implanted magnets include a first implant
magnet magnetically coupled to a second implant magnet, and a
through hole defined by the first implant magnet being in register
with a through hole defined by the second implant magnet, the
method comprising the steps of: maneuvering a guide catheter toward
the implantation site, and the guide catheter defines a lumen and
includes a guide magnet affixed to a distal end, and the guide
magnet defining a through hole in communication with the lumen;
magnetically coupling the guide magnet to one of the first implant
magnet and the second implant magnet in an orientation in which the
through hole of the guide magnet is in register with the through
holes of the first implant magnet and the second implant magnet;
sliding an elongate capture member through the lumen until one of a
proximal segment and a distal segment extends through the through
holes of the guide magnet, the first implant magnet and the second
implant magnet, and wherein the elongate capture member includes an
abutment segment that separates the proximal segment from the
distal segment; and moving the abutment segment, the guide magnet,
the first implant magnet and the second implant magnet as a group
from the implantation site while the abutment segment contacts one
of the guide magnet, the first implant magnet and the second
implant magnet.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the distal segment of the elongate
capture member extends through the through holes of the guide
magnet, the first implant magnet and the second implant magnet;
coupling a grasping element of a pull to the distal segment of the
elongate capture member; and the step of moving the abutment
segment includes moving the pull away from the implantation
site.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the moving step includes detaching
the first implant magnet and the second implant magnet from tissue
at the implantation site by positioning an outer catheter in
contact with the tissue in opposition to a force of the abutment
segment onto the one of the guide magnet, the first implant magnet
and the second implant magnet.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the abutment segment includes an
expandable cross section that has a first configuration in which
the expandable cross section is smaller than the through holes of
the guide magnet, the first implant magnet and the second implant
magnet, and a second configuration in which the expandable cross
section is larger than the through holes of the guide magnet, the
first implant magnet and the second implant magnet; the sliding
step includes moving the proximal segment through the through holes
of the guide magnet, the first implant magnet and the second
implant magnet, then sliding the abutment segment through the
through holes of the guide magnet, the first implant magnet and the
second implant magnet while the expandable cross section is in the
first configuration; changing the expandable cross section from the
first configuration to the second configuration; and moving the
abutment segment into contact with one of the first implant magnet
and the second implant magnet.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the guide catheter is a first
guide catheter, and the guide magnet is a first guide magnet;
maneuvering a second guide catheter toward the implantation site,
and the second guide catheter defines a lumen and includes a second
guide magnet affixed to a distal end, and the second guide magnet
defining a through hole in register with the lumen; magnetically
coupling the second guide magnet to an other one of the first
implant magnet and the second implant magnet in an orientation in
which the through hole of the second guide magnet is in register
with the through holes of the first implant magnet and the second
implant magnet; and the step of moving the abutment segment
includes moving the abutment segment, the first guide magnet, the
first implant magnet, the second implant magnet and the second
guide magnet as a group away from the implantation site.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the moving step includes detaching
the first implant magnet and the second implant magnet from tissue
at the implantation site by positioning an outer catheter in
contact with the tissue in opposition to a force of the abutment
segment onto the one of the guide magnet, the first implant magnet
and the second implant magnet; wherein the abutment segment
includes an expandable cross section that has a first configuration
in which the expandable cross section is smaller than the through
holes of the guide magnet, the first implant magnet and the second
implant magnet, and a second configuration in which the expandable
cross section is larger than the through holes of the guide magnet,
the first implant magnet and the second implant magnet; the sliding
step includes moving the proximal segment through the through holes
of the guide magnet, the first implant magnet and the second
implant magnet, then sliding the abutment segment through the
through holes of the guide magnet, the first implant magnet and the
second implant magnet while the expandable cross section is in the
first configuration; changing the expandable cross section from the
first configuration to the second configuration; and moving the
abutment segment into contact with one of the first implant magnet
and the second implant magnet.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the guide catheter is a first
guide catheter, and the guide magnet is a first guide magnet;
maneuvering a second guide catheter toward the implantation site,
and the second guide catheter defines a lumen and includes a second
guide magnet affixed to a distal end, and the second guide magnet
defining a through hole in communication with the lumen;
magnetically coupling the second guide magnet to an other one of
the first implant magnet and the second implant magnet in an
orientation in which the through hole of the second guide magnet is
in register with the through holes of the first implant magnet and
the second implant magnet; the step of moving the abutment segment
includes moving the abutment segment, the first guide magnet, the
first implant magnet, the second implant magnet and the second
guide magnet as a group away from the implantation; wherein the
distal segment of the elongate capture member extends through the
through holes of the guide magnet, the first implant magnet and the
second implant magnet; coupling a grasping element of a pull to the
distal segment of the elongate capture member; and the step of
moving the abutment segment includes moving the pull away from the
implantation site.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the moving step includes detaching
the first implant magnet and the second implant magnet from tissue
at the implantation site by positioning an outer catheter in
contact with the tissue in opposition to a force of the abutment
segment onto the one of the guide magnet, the first implant magnet
and the second implant magnet.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the elongate capture member is
moved in a same direction during the sliding step and the step of
moving the abutment segment.
10. A method of retrieving previously implanted magnets from an
implantation site, the implanted magnets include a first implant
magnet magnetically coupled to a second implant magnet, and a
through hole defined by the first implant magnet being in register
with a through hole defined by the second implant magnet, the
method comprising the steps of: sliding an elongate capture member
through the through holes of the first implant magnet and the
second implant magnet, and wherein the elongate capture member
includes an abutment segment that separates a proximal segment from
a distal segment; and moving the abutment segment, the first
implant magnet and the second implant magnet as a group from the
implantation site.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the moving step is performed
while the abutment segment contacts one of the first implant magnet
and the second implant magnet.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein the elongate capture member is
guided during the sliding step by a guide magnet that defines a
through hole; and magnetically coupling the guide magnet to one of
the first implant magnet and the second implant magnet in an
orientation in which the through hole of the guide magnet is in
register with the through holes of the first implant magnet and the
second implant magnet.
13. The method of claim 12 including a step of maneuvering a guide
catheter toward the implantation site, and the guide catheter
defines a lumen and includes the guide magnet affixed to a distal
end, and the through hole of the guide being in communication with
the lumen.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the sliding step includes moving
the elongate capture member through the lumen until one of the
proximal segment and the distal segment extends through the through
holes of the guide magnet, the first implant magnet and the second
implant magnet.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of moving the abutment
segment is performed while the abutment segment is in contact with
the guide magnet.
16. The method of claim 10 wherein the moving step includes
detaching the first implant magnet and the second implant magnet
from tissue at the implantation site by positioning an outer
catheter in contact with the tissue in opposition to a force of the
abutment segment onto the first implant magnet and the second
implant magnet.
17. The method of claim 10 wherein the elongate capture member is
moved in a same direction during the sliding step and the step of
moving the abutment segment.
18. The method of claim 10 wherein the elongate capture member is
moved in opposite directions during the sliding step and the step
of moving the abutment segment.
19. The method of claim 10 wherein the abutment segment is
changeable from a first configuration that is smaller than the
through holes of the first implant magnet and the second implant
magnet, and a second configuration in which the abutment segment is
larger than the through holes of the first implant magnet and the
second implant magnet; wherein the sliding step is performed when
the abutment segment is in the first configuration; and wherein the
moving step is performed when the abutment segment is in the second
configuration.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to a retrieval
system for implanted magnets, and more particularly to a magnetic
retrieval system for a pair of implanted magnets that define
through holes in register with each other.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Magnetic compression and anastomosis is a strategy by which
first and second magnets are located in respective volumes within a
patient. The two magnets are magnetically linked to compress the
walls defining the respective volumes together. For instance,
co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 8,556,919 teaches a delivery system for
magnet anastomosis in which the tissue compressed between a pair of
implanted magnets causes a necrosis of the walls of the stomach and
jejunum until an anastomosis is formed. This reference suggests
that, after the anastomosis is formed, the implanted magnets can
pass through the body naturally or can be removed by strategies
such as laparotic removal, or possibly an endoscopic removal. While
these strategies for removal of implanted magnets may be attractive
and feasible for creating an anastomosis in the digestive system,
these suggested retrieval strategies may not be realistically
feasible in other body volumes, such as creating an anastomosis
between two cardiovascular passageways in a patient.
[0004] The present disclosure is directed toward one or more of the
problems set forth above.
SUMMARY
[0005] In one aspect, a magnet retrieval system includes a guide
catheter that defines a lumen and includes a guide magnet affixed
to a distal end, and the guide magnet defines a through hole in
communication with the lumen. An elongate capture member is
slidably received in the lumen and includes an abutment segment
separating a proximal segment from a distal segment. A first
implant magnet is magnetically coupled to a second implant magnet.
A through hole defined by the first implant magnet is in register
with a through hole defined by the second implant magnet. The
magnet retrieval system has a retrieval configuration in which the
guide magnet is magnetically coupled to one of the first implant
magnet and the second implant magnet, and one of the proximal
segment and the distal segment of the elongate capture member
extends through the through holes of the guide magnet, the first
implant magnet and the second implant magnet. Also, the abutment
segment is in contact with one of the guide magnet, the first
implant magnet and the second implant magnet.
[0006] A method of retrieving previously implanted magnets from an
implantation site includes maneuvering a guide catheter toward the
implantation site. The implanted magnets include a first implant
magnet magnetically coupled to a second implant magnet, and a
through hole defined by the first implant magnet is in register
with a through hole defined by the second implant magnet. The guide
catheter defines a lumen and includes a guide magnet affixed to a
distal end. The guide magnet defines a through hole in
communication with the lumen. The guide magnet is magnetically
coupled to one of the first implant magnet and the second implant
magnet in an orientation in which the through hole of the guide
magnet is in register with the through holes of the first implant
magnet and the second implant magnet. An elongate capture member is
slid through the lumen until one of a proximal segment and a distal
segment extends through the through holes of the guide magnet, the
first implant magnet and the second implant magnet. The elongate
capture member includes an abutment segment that separates the
proximal segment from the distal segment. The abutment segment, the
guide magnet, the first implant magnet and the second implant
magnet are moved as a group from the implantation site while the
abutment segment contacts one of the guide magnet, the first
implant magnet and the second implant magnet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a partial schematic view of a pair of implanted
magnets positioned at an implantation site in a patients body;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a guide catheter being
maneuvered toward the fear of implanted magnets of FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a guide catheter of FIG. 2
magnetically coupled to the pair of implanted magnets at the
implantation site;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an elongate capture
member being slid through the lumen of the guide catheter of FIG. 3
from one direction while a grasping element of a pull approaches
the implantation site from an opposite direction;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the grasping element
coupled to a distal segment of the elongate capture member of FIG.
4;
[0012] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the magnetic retrieval system
being moved as a group by a pull from the implementation site;
[0013] FIG. 7 shows an elongate capture member according to another
aspect of the present disclosure being slid in the lumen of the
guide catheter toward the implantation site;
[0014] FIG. 8 is a schematic view that shows the elongate capture
member of FIG. 7 with its abutment segment enlarged to contact the
implanted magnets;
[0015] FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the magnetic retrieval
system moving as a group away from the implantation site according
to another aspect of this disclosure;
[0016] FIG. 10 is a schematic view of an implantation site with a
second guide catheter approaching from an opposite side of the
implanted magnets;
[0017] FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing an elongate capture
member being slid through the lumens of the first and second guide
catheters; and
[0018] FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing the magnetic retrieval
system being moved as a group away from the implantation site
according to another aspect of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] Referring initially to FIG. 1, a pair of previously
implanted magnets 13 are located at an implantation site 12 in a
patient's body 10. The implanted magnets 13 may have been placed
the patient's body 10 to create an anastomosis between two
cardiovascular passageways, or the volumes. After the implanted
magnets 13 have been in the patient's body 10 for a prescribed
period of time, such as several weeks, there may be a desire or
need to remove the implanted magnets 13 from the patient's body 10.
This disclosure teaches a method and apparatus for retrieving the
implanted magnets 13. Depending upon which strategy is utilized,
the implanted magnets 13 may be retrieved via a single entry into
the patient, such as that first entry site 18, or may utilize two
entry sites, such as second entry site 19, in order to retrieve the
implanted magnets 13. In most instances, each of the implanted
magnets 13 would likely have been originally positioned in the
patient's body 10 via two separate entry sites which may have been
in close proximity to first and second entry sites 18 and 19, or
could have been located elsewhere without departing from the scope
of the present disclosure.
[0020] Referring now in addition to FIGS. 2 and 3, the previously
implanted magnets 13 include a first implant magnet 14 magnetically
coupled to a second implant magnet 16. A through hole 15 defined by
the first implant magnet 14 is in register with a through hole 17
defined by the second implant magnet. The first implant magnet 14
may be located in a first volume 21, which may be a first
cardiovascular passageway, and the second implant magnet 16 may be
located in a second volume, which may be a second and different
cardiovascular passageway. Tissue 11 that defines portions of the
first and second volumes 21, 22 is squeezed between first implant
magnet 14 and second implant magnet 16. A method of retrieving the
previously implanted magnets 13 includes maneuvering a guide
catheter 33 toward the implantation site 12 utilizing techniques
well known in the art via first entry site 18. Guide catheter 33
defines a lumen 34 and includes a guide magnet 35 affixed to a
distal end 36. The guide magnet 35 defines a through hole 37 in
communication with lumen 34. The magnetic poles (S, N) of the first
implant magnet 14 and the second implant magnet 16 are arranged
such that the implanted magnets 13 naturally magnetically couple in
the configuration shown so that through holes 15 and 17 are in
register. Likewise, the north and south poles of the guide magnet
35 are configured such that the guide magnet 35 tends to be
attracted to second guide magnet 16 to magnetically couple in the
configuration shown in FIG. 3, rather than being attracted toward
magnetic coupling along different surfaces. The guide catheter 33
is maneuvered until the guide magnet 35 magnetically couples to one
of the first implant magnet 14 and the second implant magnet 16 in
an orientation in which the through hole 37 of the guide magnet is
in register with the through holes 15, 17 of the first implant
magnet 14 and the second implant magnet 16. In the illustrated
embodiment, guide magnet 35 is shown magnetically coupled with
second implant magnet 16. The portion of the procedure shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3 is common to the various different methods and
devices illustrated in the following Figures for retrieving the
previously implanted magnets 13.
[0021] Referring now in addition to FIGS. 4-6, after guide catheter
33 has been properly positioned with guide magnet 35 magnetically
coupled to second implant magnet 16 as shown in FIG. 3, an elongate
capture member 40 may be slid through lumen 34 until one of a
proximal segment 41 and a distal segment 43 extends through the
through holes 37, 17, 15 of the guide magnet 35, second implant
magnet 16 and first implant magnet 14, respectively. The elongate
capture member 40 includes an abutment segment 42 that separates
the proximal segment 41 from the distal segment 43. In this
embodiment, abutment segment 42 may have a cross section 44 that is
larger than the through hole 37 of guide magnet 35. Cross section
44 may be a fixed cross section. In other embodiments, the abutment
segment 42 may have an expandable cross section that has a low
profile configuration that allows abutment segment 42 to pass
through the through holes of the guide and implanted magnets 35,
13. Depending upon the state of the tissue 11 trapped between the
first implant magnet 14 and the second implant magnet 16, the
distal tip of the elongate capture member 40 may need to be
sufficiently sharp to puncture through the necrosis. In this
version, the abutment segment has a fixed shape 47 and the cross
section 44 is smaller than lumen 34, but larger than the though
hole 37 of guide magnet 35. In the strategy illustrated in FIGS.
4-6, a pull 50, which includes a grasping element 51 may approach
implantation site 12 via passageway 21 and second entry site
19.
[0022] FIG. 5 shows a complete magnet retrieval system 30 in a
retrieval configuration 29 in which guide magnet 35 is magnetically
coupled to one of the first implant magnet 14 and second implant
magnet 16, and one of the proximal segment 41 and distal segment 43
of the elongate capture member 40 extends through the through holes
37, 17, 15 of the guide magnet 35, second implant magnet 16 and
first implant magnet 14, respectively. Finally, the retrieval
configuration 29 includes the abutment segment 42 in contact with
one of the guide magnet 35, the first implant magnet 14 and the
second implant magnet 16. In this embodiment, the abutment segment
42 is in contact with the guide magnet 35 as shown in FIG. 5. After
achieving the retrieval configuration 29, the abutment segment 42,
the guide magnet 35, the first implant magnet 14 and the second
implant magnet 16 are moved as a group 75 from the implantation
site 12 under the action of pull 50 pulling elongate capture member
40 toward the second entry site 19 through which pull 50 gained
access to the patient's body 10. Moving the group 75, which
includes abutment segment 42, guide magnet 35, second implant
magnet 17 and first implant magnet 15, is accomplished by moving
the pull 50 away from the implantation site 12. In the
illustration, grasping element 51 is shown as a snare, but those
skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous other structures
could be substituted, including but not limited to a grasping
element in the form of forceps, or possibly even a strategy in
which distal segment 43 is received in a wire mesh that is pinched
together as a grasping element to capture distal segment 43 of
elongate capture member 40. Those skilled in the art will
appreciate that guide catheter 33 follows with guide magnet 35 as
pull 50 pulls the entire assembly out of the patient's body 10
through second entry site 19 leaving a passage 20 between the first
volume 21 and the second volume 22 of the patient's cardiovascular
system. When this occurs, a tissue fragment 24, which was squeezed
between first implant magnet 14 and second implant magnet 16 may
detach and be carried away with group 75. After the proximal
segment 41 of elongate capture member 40 and the entire guide
catheter 33 exit the patient's body 10, the procedure according to
one aspect is completed.
[0023] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the edges of
tissue 11 adjacent the pair of implant magnets 13 may grow together
over time while the implanted magnets were positioned in the
patient's body so that the tissue 11 itself defines passage 20
possibly without the need for any artificial support or other
permanent device. Also shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 on the right hand
side are an optional second guide catheter 60 and/or an optional
outer catheter 58 that may be utilized in the procedure in a manner
described infra.
[0024] Referring now to FIGS. 7-9, an alternative retrieval process
utilizes an elongate capture member 140 with an abutment segment
142 that has an expandable cross section 144. Like the earlier
embodiment, elongate capture member 140 includes a proximal segment
141 separated from a distal segment 143 by abutment segment 42. The
expandable cross section 144 has a first configuration 145 in which
the expandable cross section 144 is smaller than the through holes
37, 17, 15 of guide magnet 35, second implant magnet 17 and first
implant magnet 14, respectively. The expandable cross section 144
may be changed to a second configuration 146 as shown in FIG. 8 in
which the expandable cross section 144 is larger than the through
holes 37, 17, 15 of the guide magnet 35, the second implant magnet
16 and the first implant magnet 14. Those skilled in the art will
appreciate that FIGS. 7-9 were preceded by the steps shown in FIGS.
2 and 3. Although not necessary, the elongate capture member 140
may take the form of a malecot that may utilize an actuator pin 148
to change expandable cross section 144 between the first
configuration 145 and the second configuration 146. Those skilled
in the art will appreciate that a wide variety of devices are known
that could be utilized as an elongate capture member 140 with an
abutment segment 142 that has an expandable cross section 144 that
differ in structure and shape from the malecot type device shown,
and those alternative devices would also fall within the intended
scope of the present disclosure. The distal segment 141 is moved
through the through holes 37, 17, 15 of the guide magnet 35, second
implant magnet 16 and first implant magnet 14, respectively. After
the distal segment has passed through the through holes 37, 17, 15,
the abutment segment 142 is passed through the through holes 37, 17
and 15 while the expandable cross section 144 is in the first
configuration 145. The expandable cross section 144 is then changed
from the first configuration 145 to the second configuration 146.
Thereafter the abutment segment 142 is moved into contact with the
first implant magnet 14. The important aspect in this regard is
that the expandable cross section can be maneuvered through the
through holes 37, 17, 15 in the small diameter first configuration
145, but cannot be maneuvered through the through holes 37, 17, 15
in the large diameter second configuration 146 so that the group 75
can be moved together as shown in FIG. 9 in the reverse direction
with the elongate capture member 140. The group includes the
abutment segment 142, the guide magnet 35, the second implant
magnet 16 and the first implant magnet 14 in a reverse direction
and out of the patient's body 10 through the first entry site 18.
Thus, the procedure and device illustrated in FIGS. 7-9 allows the
previously implanted magnets 13 to be removed from the patient's
body 10 utilizing only a single entry site 18. Like the previous
strategy, the removal of the magnetic magnet retrieval system 130
leaves a passage 20 between the first volume 21 and the second
volume 22.
[0025] Referring now to FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, still another strategy
for retrieving a pair of implanted magnets 13 from an implantation
site 12 is shown. The steps shown in FIGS. 10-12 are immediately
preceded by the previously described steps of FIGS. 2 and 3. After
the guide magnet 35 of the first guide catheter is magnetically
coupled to the second implant magnet 16, a second guide catheter 60
is maneuvered toward implantation site 12 via second entry site 19
(FIG. 1). Like the first guide catheter 33, second guide catheter
60 defines a lumen 61 and includes a second guide magnet 62 affixed
to a distal end 63. The second guide magnet 62 defines a through
hole 64 in register with the lumen 61. The second guide magnet 62
is magnetically coupled with one of the first implant magnet 14 and
second implant magnet 16 as shown in FIG. 11 in an orientation in
which the through hole 64 of the second guide magnet 62 is in
register with the through holes 15, 17 of the first implant magnet
14 and the second implant magnet 16. Thereafter, an elongate
capture member 240 is moved through lumen 34 so that distal segment
243 moves through the through holes 37, 17, 15, 64 and into lumen
61. This strategy is similar to the strategy shown with relation to
FIGS. 4-6, except that the distal segment 243 of the elongate
capture member 240 is sufficiently long that a distal portion of
distal segment 243 exits the patient's body 10 through second entry
site 19 before abutment segment 242 comes into contact with guide
magnet 35. This allows for the potential elimination of a separate
pull 50 as shown in the earlier embodiment. Instead, the user may
simply grasp the distal segment 243 (now functioning as a pull) of
the elongate capture member 240 and pull the entire magnet
retrieval system 230, which includes the group 75 out of the
patient's body through second entry site 19. The second guide
catheter 60 ensures that no steering is needed when advancing the
distal segment 243 of elongate capture member 240 from first access
site 18 through the implanted magnets 13 and out of the second
access site 19. Like the earlier embodiments, elongate capture
member 240 includes a proximal segment 241 separated from a distal
segment 243 by an abutment segment 242, which is illustrated in
this embodiment as being a fixed cross section that is larger than
the through holes 37, 64 of the guide magnets 35, 62 and the
through holes 17, 15 of the implanted magnets 13.
[0026] In the event that there is some concern that the implanted
magnets 13 will have difficulty detaching from the tissue 11, an
optional outer catheter 58 may be utilized. In particular, in the
embodiment shown in FIGS. 10-12, an optional outer catheter 58 is
shown in FIG. 12. The outer catheter 58 may be slid along the outer
surface of second guide catheter 60 after it has become
magnetically coupled to the implanted magnets 13. Detaching the
first implant magnet 14 and the second implant magnet 16 from
tissue 11 at implantation site 12 may be assisted by positioning
outer catheter 58 in contact with tissue 11 in opposition to a
force 76 of the abutment segment 242 onto the guide magnet 35. As
shown, outer catheter 58 defines a lumen 59 sized to receive both
first guide catheter 33 and second guide catheter 60, as well as
the first and second implant magnets 14, 16. In this optional
variation, the entire magnet retrieval system 230 is slid out of
the patient's body 10 along lumen 59 of outer catheter 58 and
eventually out of second access site 19. This is accomplished, the
outer catheter 58 may also be withdrawn out of the patients body 10
through second access site 19 to complete the procedure.
[0027] Returning briefly to FIG. 9, an optional outer catheter 58
is shown in dashed lines in order to contact and hold tissue 11 in
place when the magnetic retrieval assembly 130 is detached from
tissue 11. In this example, the magnetic retrieval system 130 is
slid through lumen 59 and out of the patient's body 10 through
first access site 18.
[0028] Referring back to again to FIGS. 5 and 6, dotted lines show
an optional use of a second guide catheter 60 and/or an outer
catheter 58. By using a second guide catheter 60, the coupling of
the grasping device 51 of pull 50 may be more easily accomplished.
The outer catheter 58 may be useful in holding tissue 11 in place
while the first implant magnet 14 and the second implant magnet 16
are detached from implantation site 12 responsive to movement of
pull 50 and elongate capture member 40.
[0029] Referring briefly again to FIG. 5, magnet retrieval system
30 may have a pre-retrieval configuration 28 in which the outer
catheter 58 and the abutment segment 42 are located on opposite
sides 70 of a plane 71 separating the first implant magnet 14 and
the second implant magnet 16. As stated earlier, the outer catheter
58 is sized to receive the first guide catheter 33, the second
guide catheter 60, if used, the first implant magnet 14 and the
second implant magnet 16. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4-6 and
10-12, the elongate capture member 40, 240 is moved in a same
direction 77 during both the sliding steps illustrated in FIGS. 4
and 11 as the step in which the abutment segment 42, 242 is moved
away from implantation site 12. This is to be contrasted with the
embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-9 in which the elongate capture member
140 is moved in opposite directions during sliding and abutment
moving steps.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0030] The present disclosure finds general applicability to
strategies for retrieving previously implanted magnets in a
patient's body. The present disclosure finds specific applicability
to retrieving previously implanted magnets 13 from the
cardiovascular system of a patient, but may also have applicability
in retrieving magnets from other passageways or volumes within a
patient's body 10. Finally, the present disclosure finds specific
applicability to retrieving implanted magnets 13 in which the first
implanted magnet 14 and the second implanted magnet 16 include
through holes 15, 17 that are in register at the implantation site
12.
[0031] Although the present disclosure has been illustrated, in one
aspect, as using a grasping element 51 in the form of a snare with
pull 50, those skilled in the art will appreciate that a wide
variety of other instruments are known in the art for grasping and
holding a distal segment of a catheter-like member as shown, and
all of those various devices are considered to fall within the
scope of the present disclosure. In addition, another version of
the strategy described teaches an elongate capture member 140 with
an expandable cross section 144 illustrated in the form of a
malecot that is actuated with an actuator pin 148. Nevertheless,
those skilled in the art will appreciate that other devices are
well known in the art that have the ability to enlarge a segment of
cross section between a diameter that could pass through the
through holes 15, 17 of the implanted magnets 13 and then be
enlarged and be unable to pass back through the same through holes
15, 17 so that the elongate capture member can function as a pull
to retrieve the implanted magnets 13 as best shown in FIGS. 7-9.
Any of the wide variety of devices that have an expandable cross
section capability would also fall within the scope of the present
disclosure.
[0032] It should be understood that the above description is
intended for illustrative purposes only, and is not intended to
limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. Thus, those
skilled in the art will appreciate that other aspects of the
disclosure can be obtained from a study of the drawings, the
disclosure and the appended claims.
* * * * *