Patent ID: 7182755
Filing Date: 2007-02-27
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A method for the treatment of thrombosed hemodlialysis access grafts or fistulas defining a shunt positioned between an arterial side and a venous side, comprising the following steps: inserting a balloon catheter within the shunt, the balloon catheter including a distal balloon and at least one infusion aperture located proximally of the distal balloon; advancing the balloon catheter within an arterial anastomosis at an artery-shunt juncture; inflating the distal balloon; injecting a thrombolytic agent through the at least one infusion aperture of the balloon catheter into the shunt to chemically destroy clot material within the shunt, wherein by applying the thrombolytic agent with the distal balloon inflated at the arterial anastomosis the possibility of the clot material moving into the artery is prevented and there is no need to worry about the migration of the clot into the arterial system and the resulting complications; and pulling the inflated distal balloon toward the venous side, eradicating the arterial plug.