Method of operating a microvalve protection device

摘要

An endovascular valve device for use in a vessel during a therapy procedure includes a catheter having at its distal end a valve. The valve is constructed of a braid of elongate first filaments coupled together at their proximal ends in a manner that the first filaments are movable relative to each other along their lengths. The first filaments have a spring bias that radially expands the valve. A filter is provided to the braid formed by electrostatically depositing or spinning polymeric second filaments onto the braided first filaments. The lumen of the catheter is in communication with the center of the valve. The device is used to provide a therapy in which a therapeutic agent is infused into an organ.

主权项

1. A method of infusing a therapeutic agent into a fluid-filled vessel during a procedure, comprising:
a) providing a device having,
i) a catheter including a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between said proximal and distal ends such that the therapeutic agent can be infused into said proximal end and out of said distal end of said lumen; andii) a valve coupled to said distal end of said catheter, said valve integrated with a porous filter having pores sized to prevent passage of the therapeutic agent,
(A) said valve initially under restraint in a radially collapsed first configuration,(B) upon release of said restraint, said valve biased to expand outwardly within the vessel into a relatively expanded second configuration, wherein in the second configuration said valve permits fluid to flow past said valve in an upstream to downstream direction, and(C) said valve further movable into a third configuration adapted to capture all of the therapeutic agent flowing against said valve in a downstream to upstream direction,said valve automatically dynamically movable between said second and third configurations based on the relative fluid pressures located proximal and distal said valve,wherein when said pressure distal said valve is greater than said pressure proximal said valve, said valve automatically moves from said second configuration to said third configuration, and when said pressure proximal said valve is greater than said pressure distal said valve, said valve moves from said third configuration to said second configuration, andwherein when said valve is in said third configuration, said valve blocks upstream passage of blood past said valve at fluid pressure below a threshold level, permits upstream passage of blood past said valve at fluid pressure exceeding a threshold level, and captures the therapeutic agent at fluid pressures below and above said threshold level; b) inserting the device into the vessel such that said valve dynamically responds to the relative pressures located proximal and distal said valve within the vessel; and c) infusing the therapeutic agent into the vessel through the catheter.