Patent ID: 8322347
Filing Date: 2012-12-04
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
1. A method for delivering a retroperfusion therapy to an ischemic area of a brain comprising the steps of: identifying the location of a penumbral region within a brain; re-routing arterial blood flow from an artery into the proximal end of a first catheter for receiving arterial blood flow, the first catheter comprising a proximal end for receiving the arterial blood flow, a distal end for allowing the arterial blood flow to flow therethrough and an interior extending between the proximal end and the distal end; inserting a first guidewire into a vein and advancing the guidewire through the vein into the penumbral region of the brain; advancing a second catheter over the first guidewire, through the vein and into the penumbral region of the brain, the second catheter comprising an open proximal end, a distal end, an interior extending between the open proximal end and the distal end, and a plurality of orifices disposed thereon, each of the orifices in fluid communication with the interior of the second catheter; coupling the proximal end of the second catheter with a flow unit, the flow unit comprising an elongated body having an open proximal end configured to couple with the distal end of the first catheter, an open distal end configured to couple with the open proximal end of the second catheter, an interior extending between the open proximal end and the open distal end and configured to allow arterial blood to flow therethrough, and a chamber coupled with the elongated body and configured to regulate the flow rate and pressure of the arterial blood flow flowing through the interior of the flow unit; coupling the distal end of the first catheter with the proximal end of the flow unit such that the interior of the first catheter and the interior of the flow unit are in fluid communication; supplying the penumbral region of the brain with arterial blood flow by allowing the arterial blood to flow in a pulsatile fashion through the first catheter, into and through the interior of the flow unit, into and through the second catheter, and into the vein at the location within the penumbral region; and regulating the pressure and flow rate of the arterial blood flowing through the interior of the elongated body of the flow unit through operation of the chamber.