Methods and systems for treatment of acute ischemic stroke
Patent No. US10646239 (titled "Methods and systems for treatment of acute ischemic stroke") on Aug 30, 2018. The application was issued on May 12, 2020.
What is this patent about?
’239 is related to the field of neurointerventional surgery, specifically focusing on methods and devices for accessing the cerebral vasculature to treat acute ischemic stroke. Traditional transfemoral access routes are often hindered by extreme tortuosity and the risk of dislodging embolic debris from the aortic arch. This invention addresses the need for a more direct, stable, and efficient pathway to the brain by utilizing a transcervical approach through the common carotid artery.
The underlying idea behind ’239 is to minimize the mechanical resistance and 'step-off' transitions that typically occur when navigating large-bore catheters through the tight curves of the internal carotid artery. By utilizing a tapered inner member that fits precisely within a distal catheter, the system creates a smooth, continuous profile that tracks over a guidewire without catching on vascular anatomy. This structural synergy allows a relatively large aspiration catheter to be advanced much further into the delicate cerebral vessels than previously possible.
The claims of ’239 focus on a method for advancing a specialized system of devices distal to the petrous portion of the internal carotid artery. The method requires a catheter and a single-lumen inner member to be locked into a specific advancement configuration where the inner member’s distal portion extends beyond the catheter tip. This inner member must feature a diameter that tapers distally and a flexibility gradient that ensures its leading edge is significantly more flexible than the catheter it precedes.
In practice, the system is advanced as a single unit, with the inner member acting as a high-performance dilator that bridges the gap between a fine guidewire and the larger treatment catheter. This coaxial advancement is critical for navigating the 'S-shaped' carotid siphon. Once the target treatment site is reached, the inner member is removed, leaving the large-bore catheter in place to provide maximum suction force for mechanical thrombectomy or to serve as a conduit for other interventional tools.
This approach differs from prior solutions by eliminating the 'tri-axial' mismatch where multiple nested catheters create ridges that can damage vessel walls or impede progress. By integrating a flexibility transition directly into the tapered inner member, the invention allows for a shorter, straighter transcervical path that significantly reduces the time required to restore blood flow. This streamlined navigation is essential in stroke treatment, where reducing 'door-to-recanalization' time is the primary determinant of patient outcomes.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical Landscape
In the early 2010s when ’239 was filed, neurointerventional procedures for treating ischemic stroke were typically implemented using a transfemoral access route, where catheters were navigated from the femoral artery through the aortic arch to reach the cerebral vasculature. At a time when systems commonly relied on long, flexible guide catheters to traverse this tortuous anatomy, hardware constraints made the rapid delivery of large-bore thrombectomy devices non-trivial due to the risk of dislodging embolic debris from the aortic arch or carotid origins. Furthermore, standard practices for managing embolic risk during clot retrieval often relied on manual aspiration via syringes, which made the precise control of flow rates and the maintenance of continuous suction difficult for a single operator.
Prosecution Position
The disclosed invention represents a technical advancement in neurovascular intervention through the integration of a direct transcervical access architecture that provides a shorter, less tortuous path to cerebral occlusions compared to traditional routes. By establishing an access point in the common carotid artery above the clavicle, the system enables a structural shift that bypasses the aortic arch, thereby reducing the risk of procedural embolic showers and improving the speed of device delivery. The technical solution achieves enhanced procedural control by combining a transcervical access sheath with a distal catheter and a specialized inner member that creates a smooth transition for guidewire navigation, overcoming the constraints of vessel delicacy and access difficulty. This configuration enables a more stable platform for aspiration and mechanical thrombectomy, facilitating the rapid restoration of blood flow while minimizing the potential for distal embolization.
Claims
The patent contains a total of 30 claims, with claim 1 serving as the sole independent claim. This independent claim focuses on a method for performing medical procedures in cerebral vessels by utilizing a specific system of devices, including a catheter and a tapered, flexible inner member, that are advanced concurrently into the internal carotid artery. The dependent claims generally serve to further define the physical dimensions and flexibility gradients of the inner member, specify additional procedural steps such as the use of stent retrievers or negative pressure for clot removal, and detail the delivery of therapeutic agents or the navigation of specific arterial branches.
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US10646239
- Application Number
- US16117753A
- Filing Date
- Aug 30, 2018
- Publication Date
- May 12, 2020
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO , Google Patents