Catheterizing body lumens

摘要

A method and related medical devices include delivering a catheter into a lumen of a subject. The catheter can include a generally tubular member having a lumen, a proximal region, and a distal region, and an inflatable member carried by a portion of the generally tubular member. The method can also include curving the portion of the generally tubular member that carries the inflatable member within the lumen of the subject, and disposing a material (e.g., an embolic material or a contrast agent) into the lumen of the generally tubular member.

主权项

1. A method for embolizing one or more branches of a portal vein for slowing or stopping blood flow to segments of a liver, the method comprising:
delivering a catheter into a branch of the portal vein of a subject, the catheter comprising:
a generally tubular member having a proximal region and a distal region, the generally tubular member defining a lumen, andan inflatable member carried by a portion of the generally tubular member; inflating the inflatable member to occlude the branch of the portal vein and to curve the portion of the generally tubular member that carries the inflatable member within the branch of the portal vein of the subject such that the portion of the generally tubular member that carries the inflatable member extends in a first direction generally along the branch of the portal vein of the subject; disposing at least one first embolic material into the lumen of the generally tubular member and delivering the at least one first embolic material into the branch of the portal vein of the subject to slow or stop blood flow to a first segment of the liver and to redirect the blood flow to a second segment of the liver, after delivering the at least one first embolic material, deflating the inflatable member, after deflating the inflatable member, rotating the portion of the generally tubular member that carries the inflatable member within the branch of the portal vein of the subject, after rotation, inflating the inflatable member to curve the portion of the generally tubular member that carries the inflatable member within the branch of the portal vein of the subject such that the portion of the generally tubular member that carries the inflatable member extends in a second direction generally along the branch of the portal vein of the subject, the second direction generally opposite the first direction, and then disposing at least one second embolic material into the lumen of the generally tubular member and delivering the at least one second embolic material into the branch of the portal vein of the subject to slow or stop blood flow to the first segment of the liver and to redirect the blood flow to the second segment of the liver.