US20110172697A1 - Medical Device, Method And System For Temporary Occlusion Of An Opening In A Lumen Of A Body - Google Patents

Abstract

A medical system is disclosed that has three basic components; a retractable sheet, a first balloon that has a centrally arranged hollow, and a collapsible/expandable support structure at the hollow. The first balloon is for instance mounted/molded onto the exterior surface of the support structure. The aggregate of support structure and the first balloon is positioned, and once the sheet has been retracted from the first balloon, the first balloon is inflated. The support structure may be self-expandable or expandable by an expansion unit, such as a further balloon arranged at its inside. The lumen of the support structure is chosen to be smaller than that of a main lumen. The outside diameter of the inflated first balloon is chosen to be larger than the interior diameter of the main lumen. This procedure may be done using standard Seldinger technique and fluoroscopy. This makes the system user friendly and increases patient safety, as a well established clinical method may be used with some modifications according to the invention.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This application claims priority to International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2009/061982,International Filing Date 15 Sep. 2009, entitled Medical Device, Method And System For Temporary Occlusion Of An Opening In A Lumen Of A Body, which claims priority to Swedish Patent Application No. 0850015-9 filed 15 Sep. 2008 entitled Medical Device And System For Temporary Occlusion Of An Opening In A Lumen Of A Body And Method Of Temporary Occluding A Fluid Flow Through Such Opening and to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/097,315 filed 16 Sep. 2008 entitled Medical Device And System For Temporary Occlusion Of An Opening In A Lumen Of A Body And Method Of Temporary Occluding A Fluid Flow Through Such Opening, all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• This invention pertains in general to the field of medical devices, systems and procedures. More particularly the invention relates to temporary occlusion of an opening in a lumen of a body. Such occlusion may block a fluid flow from a body main lumen through an opening thereof, e.g. into a body branch lumen, while maintaining a liquid flow through the main lumen of the body. Even more particularly, the invention relates to a medical device, system, and method facilitating or providing such temporary occlusion. In embodiments the medical system comprises an inflatable balloon.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• For certain medical procedures it is desired to close off fluid flow through an opening of a body lumen, such as in or into a lumen in a patient's body, during the medical procedure.
• For instance for local drug administration, drugs are delivered to an organ via a blood vessel. Then, during a certain time after delivery, it is desired to shut off blood flow to the organ via the blood vessel.
• During surgical treatment of certain organs, e.g. during acute surgery, it is desired to controlled shut off blood flow to the area of treatment. Also, during planned surgery, it may be desired to controlled shut off a fluid flow through an opening in a lumen.
• Hitherto surgical clamps or clips are used to quench blood supply through vessels. However, this may not be possible during acute surgery. Also, supply vessels are sometimes difficult to reach for the surgeon. Thus, major bleeding may occur. Moreover, the clamping of vessels leads to vascular trauma, which is undesired.
• One way of occluding a vessel would be using an inflatable balloon in the vessel itself in order to create a temporary total occlusion of the vessel.
• Hitherto, inflatable dilation balloons were used to treat strictures, stenoses, or narrowings in various parts of the human body. Known medical procedures involving inflatable, catheter based and transvascularly deliverable, dilation balloons include percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), which may be used to reduce arterial build-up such as caused by the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaque. These procedures involve passing an inflatable dilation balloon in a catheter over a guidewire to a stenosis with the aid of a guide catheter. The guidewire extends from a remote incision to the site of the stenosis, and typically across the lesion. The balloon catheter is passed over the guidewire, and ultimately positioned across the lesion.
• Once the dilation balloon is positioned appropriately across the lesion, (e.g. under fluoroscopic guidance), the balloon is inflated, which breaks the plaque of the stenosis and causes the arterial cross section to increase. Then the balloon is deflated and withdrawn over the guidewire into the guide catheter, and from the body of the patient. A stent prosthesis may be permanently implanted to provide support for the atherosclerotic artery. When such a device is to be implanted, the balloon catheter carries the prosthesis on its balloon and is deployed at the site of the stenosis. The balloon is inflated to circumferentially expand and thereby implant the prosthesis. Thereafter, the balloon is deflated and the catheter and the guidewire are withdrawn from the patient.
• However, known inflatable angioplasty dilation balloons are designed to provide their effect under as short time as possible, in order to avoid ischemia distal to the occlusion. A background is that a total occlusion of a coronal vessel for instance may cause a heart thump or skip and may lead to angina akin to a heart attack because the vessel is completely blocked while the balloon is inflated. Another issue is that, the pressure from the blood flow on the proximal part of a standard dilation balloon may cause it to displace in the vessel. When trying to compensate this, e.g. with higher inflation pressure or larger balloon diameter in relation to the vessel inner diameter, this may cause vascular trauma.
• When applied in lumen of the urinal tract, trauma and displacement of occlusion balloons is also an issue.
• Inflatable balloons have been developed previously that have a through channel, such that the blood flow through the vessel under treatment is not completely blocked during the procedure. Several patents and patent applications have been published on tubular flow-through balloons for partially occluding a blood vessel. Some examples are US2007/0067010, U.S. Pat. No. 6,506,180, U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,517 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,745. However, the prior disclosed inflatable balloons having a through channel are not suitable for use in applications for occluding lateral openings in vessels, such as ostia of side branch vessel occlusion. For instance, these known balloons would not have sufficient stability. Due to the fact that a counter force is lacking, the balloons would be “sucked into” the side branch lumen and not reliably occlude the side branch lumen. Positioning of these known balloons would be uncontrolled at lumen branch sites. Also, these known balloons may easily harm the surrounding tissue due to high inflation pressures resulting in rock-like inflated balloons. This results also in a reduced flexibility of the balloons, which is not advantageous when aiming at sealing a side branch lumen fluid tight. A suspension or attenuation is not provided by inflated balloons that are inflated to be stiff.
• Occasionally, the angioplasty balloon fails to deflate, after the relatively short inflation time, which may cause serious injuries or even death to patients due to the blood flow blockage.
• Furthermore, such existing balloons may be difficult to maneuver into some lumen, as e.g. side branch vessels, for instance due to small size thereof, and/or anatomy restrictions as e.g. narrow bifurcations from main vessels.
• Therefore, existing inflatable dilation balloons are not intended or suitable for long term occlusion of lumina.
• Moreover, existing dilation balloons are not intended or suitable for reliable long-term occlusion of vessels, as e.g. during a surgical procedure.
• Besides the aforementioned risk of inducing ischemia distal to the occlusion, total occlusion of major blood vessels has other drawbacks. For instance, when occluding peripheral vessels, once blood flow is restored, the release of toxic components, which built up during the occluded phase, into the circulation may cause severe side effects, such as vasodilatation that can be clinically difficult to handle sometimes. In addition, embolic material may be released into a blood vessel, in particular when removing the aforementioned clamps or clips. Embolic particles, which may include thrombus, atheroma and lipids, may become dislodged by surgical or catheter manipulations and enter the bloodstream, embolizing in the brain or other vital organs downstream. Cerebral embolism can lead to neuropsychological deficits, stroke and even death.
• U.S. Pat. No. 6,183,492 discloses a catheter that includes an introducer and a flow isolator adapted for disposition in a primary conduit to facilitate flow in the primary conduit while inhibiting flow into intersecting secondary conduits. The flow isolator may include a tubular braiding and a surrounding balloon structure. The flow isolator is released from a catheter and the braiding elastically self-expands to a size smaller than the vessel diameter. Then the device is positioned at the intersection and the balloon is inflated for inhibiting flow into the intersecting secondary conduits. A primary application disclosed is peripheral, hepatic surgery.
• However, the devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,183,492 are difficult to position in lumen of high flows, e.g. in vessels close to the heart. This is partly due to the fact that the flow isolator disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,183,492 is not suited for applications were a large inner diameter is necessary for a high flow through the primary conduit. Such applications are for instance in vessels close to the heart. When positioning a flow isolator in a vessel close to the outflow of the heart, the cardiac output should be influenced as little as possible. Another issue with the inflatable device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,183,492 is that it released from a catheter and then positioned in a fluid flow to a vessel intersecting position. In high flow vessels, this would make a reliable sealing of secondary conduits difficult, as the device could not be quickly enough positioned before tumbling and generating turbulent flow in the primary conduit. Also, inflating the balloon in such an environment would make the aforementioned difficulties worse, increase pressure upstream the device, and influence cardiac output substantially.
• Thus, there is a need for a novel or improved medical system, device and method of temporary occluding an opening or structural weakening in lumina in a body, or for preventing an undesired fluid flow out of an opening in a lumen over an extended time.
• Hence, an improved medical system, device, method, and medical procedure would be advantageous and in particular allowing for increased flexibility, versatility of application including high-flow applications, cost-effectiveness, and/or patient safety would be advantageous.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention preferably seek to mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more deficiencies, disadvantages or issues in the art, such as the above-identified, singly or in any combination by providing a medical device, a medical system, a kit, and a method of temporary occluding an opening or supporting a weakened wall of a body lumen according to the appended patent claims.
• Fluid communication through the opening is temporary prevented, e.g. a fluid flow from a main lumen of a body through an opening in the main lumen at a site inside the body is prevented.
• According to a first aspect of the invention, a medical device is provided. The medical device is a medical occlusion device adapted to temporary facilitate or provide occlusion of a fluid flow from a main lumen of a body into an opening in a wall of the main lumen at a site inside said body. The medical device is collapsible and expandable for transluminal delivery to and from the site, and comprises a first inflatable balloon and at least one support structure. The first inflatable balloon has a longitudinal dimension that extends substantially between a proximal end and a distal end of the first inflatable balloon. The first inflatable balloon further has a radially inner wall and a radially outer wall. The radially inner wall and a radially outer wall are arranged at a radial distance from each other when the first balloon is in an inflated state. The first balloon surrounds with its inner wall an inner hollow when in the inflated state. The medical device is thus configured to provide a longitudinal fluid flow passage through the inner hollow. The support structure is at least one collapsible and expandable support structure, which is longitudinally arranged at least partly between the proximal end and distal end of the first balloon, and radially arranged at the inner wall of the first balloon. The support structure, when in an expanded state, is configured to support a patency of the inner hollow of the first balloon in the inflated state thereof. The outer wall of the first balloon is devised for at least partly apposition to an inner wall of the main lumen at the site. The medical device is thus devised to keep a passage of the fluid through the main lumen open, and a passage of the fluid into or through the opening is substantially sealed, blocked, cut off, or obstructed, when the device is deployed at the site.
• In embodiments, the support structure may be a wire mesh, net, or similar frame.
• According to a second aspect of the invention, a medical system is provided. The medical system is devised for temporary closure of an opening of a main lumen of a body at a site inside the body. The system comprises at least one medical device according to the first aspect of the invention, and a catheter comprising a catheter shaft and a catheter sheath. The aggregate of the medical device is associated with the catheter shaft at a distal end portion thereof, and the catheter sheath is arranged to restrict expansion of the aggregate when positioned in the catheter sheath. Furthermore, in an embodiment, the catheter sheath is retractable from the catheter shaft to allow expansion of the aggregate at the site for the temporary closure. Alternatively, or in addition to the catheter sheath, an expansion unit may be comprised in the system, arranged to provide an active expansion of the support structure.
• The catheter shaft may comprise a guidewire lumen for passage of a guidewire to position the catheter within the main vessel at the site, and at least one inflation lumen for inflating at least the first balloon. The guidewire is arranged in the guidewire lumen.
• According to a third aspect of the invention, a kit is provided. The kit is a kit comprising at least two of the medical devices according to the first aspect of the invention. The individual medical devices are spaced apart from each other and interconnected to each other by a fluid leakage tight interconnection unit, which is comprised in the kit. The interconnection unit is adapted to provide a through-flow of fluid between inner hollows of first balloons of the individual medical devices.
• The interconnection unit may be a tubular interconnection unit having a fluid tight tubular wall between a proximal end and a distal end of the tubular interconnection unit. The proximal end of the tubular wall is connected to a distal opening of the inner hollow of a proximal of the medical devices. The distal end of the tubular wall is connected to a proximal opening of the inner hollow of a distal of the medical devices in order to provide a fluid channel between the inner hollows.
• In an embodiment, a proximal of the medical devices of the kit is adapted to be positioned proximally of an opening in a lumen, e.g. proximally of an ostium of a branch lumen into a main lumen. Further, a distal of the medical devices is adapted to be positioned distally of the opening, e.g. the ostium. The tubular wall is non-elastic and flexible and adapted to be arranged along the ostium, in the main lumen and at a distance from the ostium, without contacting tissue of the main lumen, ostium or branch lumen. Arteriosclerotic plaque may often deposit at tissue of ostia at vessel branch sites. Thus, the generation of debris into the side branch vessel upon removal of the occlusion device is advantageously avoided.
• A plurality of openings may be occluded by a device or kit as described above.
• According to a fourth aspect of the invention, a method is provided. The method is a method of temporary occluding a fluid flow from a main lumen of a body into an opening in the main lumen at a site inside the body. The method comprises transluminally delivering a medical occlusion device in a collapsed state thereof to the site, and expanding the medical occlusion device at the site at least partly by inflating a first inflatable balloon of the medical occlusion device substantially between a proximal end and a distal end thereof, thus appositioning an outer wall of the first balloon at least partly to an inner wall of the main lumen at the site, and keeping open a passage of the fluid in the main lumen through a inner hollow of the first inflatable balloon interior of an inner wall thereof, and thus substantially sealing off a passage of the fluid into or through the opening when the medical occlusion device is deployed at the site, and providing a longitudinal fluid flow through the inner hollow, and after an occlusion time and transluminally retracting the re-collapsed medical occlusion device from the site.
• Further, the method may comprise radially expanding a support structure. The expanding is performed in a longitudinal extension of the medical device at least partly between the proximal end and distal end of the first balloon, at an inner wall of the first balloon, thus supporting a patency of the inner hollow by the support structure. The expansion of the support structure is performed actively. Active expansion is either based on intrinsic properties of the support structure itself, or on expansion units.
• Active expansion of the support structure itself are based on self-expansion of the structure, e.g. based on elasticity and/or a shape memory effect.
• Active expansion provided by an expansion unit may be based on balloon inflation, or expansion caused by other units, e.g. wire based control of a degree of expansion of the support structure. Inflating a second balloon that is at least partly arranged inside the inner hollow and the support structure, will provide an active expansion.
• The second balloon is inflated to an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the first balloon. A wire manipulated from the proximal end of the catheter used for delivery of the medical device may provide the active expansion, e.g. by a relative movement of the support structure to the catheter sheath while being affixed to the latter in at least one point. Expanding a cage of a wire mesh initiated by a central control wire is an example for such a wire manipulation determining the degree of expansion of the support structure (seeFIG. 11bor12).
• This provides for a high flow through the main lumen of the device. Such high flow applications are for instance in vessels close to the heart. Cardiac output is substantially not influenced as a large diameter inner lumen is provided for a flow through the main vessel. The device may be positioned in the aorta, or the arteria pulmonalis while cutting off connection to side vessels, openings or tissue wall weakening, while maintaining a natural high flow and cardiac output in the main lumen.
• Moreover, due to the fact that a counter force providing support structure is provided, the balloons are not “sucked into” the side branch lumen and reliably occlude the side branch lumen.
• The aggregate of support structure and balloon is not detached from the delivery unit. The aggregate is released from a catheter at the site of the opening. As the aggregate is not released from the delivery unit, the delivery is made under great patient safety, and the deployment and sealing procedure is well controlled. The aggregate is reliably kept in position and not washed away by a radially outwardly applied force, which is further improved by the delivery device that is not detached therefrom.
• An active expansion beyond a normal or relaxed or natural diameter of the support unit is provided either by self-expansion or an expansion unit. Thus it is provided a control of a sealing effect of the balloon—at the same time without increasing inflation pressure of the balloon.
• A scale provided at the proximal catheter end can make the current expansion of the support structure visible.
• This procedure may be done using standard Seldinger technique and fluoroscopy. This makes the system user friendly and increases patient safety as a well established clinical method may be used with some modifications according to the invention.
• The device may act as a clot filter when expanded in place.
• Further embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims, wherein features for the second and subsequent aspects of the invention are as for the first aspect mutatis mutandis.
• The system is intended for usage in many different clinical situations where occlusion of a fluid flow from a main lumen into an opening, e.g. an ostium of a side branch lumen is desired. For instance, occlusion of blood flow into a vessel side branch is desired but where the blood flow still can pass through the main vessel.
• In embodiments, the device may also be provided and used as a balloon for aortic valvuloplasty and post stent dilatation of percutaneous aortic valves, eliminating the need for rapid pacing, avoiding its negative consequences.
• The system and device may be applied to many other body lumina including for example lumina within the central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, urinary tract and the heart/cardiovascular system.
• In an embodiment, the system has three basic components; a retractable sheath and/or an expansion unit, a first balloon that has a centrally arranged hollow, and a collapsible/expandable support structure at the hollow. The first balloon is for instance mounted/molded onto the exterior surface of the support structure. The aggregate of support structure and the first balloon is positioned and once the sheet has been retracted from the first balloon, the first balloon can be inflated. The support structure may be self-expandable or expandable by an expansion unit, such as a further balloon arranged at its inside. In an embodiment, the lumen of the support structure is chosen to be smaller than that of the vessel lumen. In an embodiment, the outside diameter of the inflated first balloon is chosen to be larger than the interior diameter of the main vessel lumen.
• The method may be applied in the field of cancer treatment. For instance, cytostatics drugs are delivered to a tumor infested organ. Then, during a certain time after drug delivery, it is desired to shut off blood flow to the organ via the blood vessel in order to let the cytostatica become effective and not being washed out prematurely. This is made by applying the medical device of embodiments described herein for occluding an opening of a branch vessel leading to the organ under cytostatica treatment.
• The method may be applied during surgical treatment of certain organs, e.g. during acute surgery. Here, it is desired to controlled shut off blood flow to the area of treatment. Also, during planned surgery, it may be desired to controlled shut off a fluid flow through an opening in a body lumen.
• Other circumstances where it is desired to temporary close off communication through a body lumen by the above method are as follows. It may be desired to close off the opening of an aneurysm or weakened tubular wall from the main lumen. This may comprise protecting the lumen wall at or in the vicinity of the opening or weakening from a fluid pressure in the main lumen until the weakening is treated or the opening closed, for instance by surgical procedures or application of medical repair devices.
• The devices are applicable where a damage in a vessel wall is present. Other applications are organs that have branch lumen or vessels.
• Medical devices of embodiments described herein facilitate or provide this temporary occlusion in such indications or procedures.
• Some embodiments of the invention provide for blood flow through a main lumen while blood flow into a side branch lumen is effectively occluded.
• Embodiments provide for atraumatic sealing of an opening in a body lumen.
• A graft may be delivered over the outer balloon to repair a damage or weakening in embodiments.
• The medical device is in embodiments intended for usage mainly in vascular surgery in operating rooms with access to fluoroscopy imaging facilities (hybrid OR). The medical device may be used in both acute and elective surgery.
• The term “occlude” in the present context should be interpreted in a broad sense and means to block or stop up communication, e.g. a passage of flow. It may comprise direct obstruction of an opening as well as indirect closure of fluid flow to, into, via, through and past an opening. Openings are in particular openings in body lumen walls, such as lateral openings, ostia, aneurysm openings, etc.
• The term “diameter” should not be construed as merely comprising dimensions of circular cross sections of units, but may also encompass other dimensions of different shapes of the units, e.g. oval, substantially flat, rectangular, etc. The shape may be chosen in dependence of the desired application of the device, system or kit, the particular anatomical site of application, the access way to that site, etc.
• The term “support” in the present context should be interpreted in a broad sense and means a source of structural strength, holding up, carrying, reinforcing, sustaining, or bearing.
• The term “opening” in the present context should be interpreted in a broad sense and means not only a physically open through structure, like a branch vessel, but also ruptures or other structurally weakened tissue walls of body lumen which will potentially open when not protected, such as present at aneurysms.
• It should be emphasized that the term “comprises/comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• These and other aspects, features and advantages of which embodiments of the invention are capable of will be apparent and elucidated from the following description of embodiments of the present invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which
• FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing illustrating a medical occlusion device when positioned at a branch lumen;
• FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing showing an enlarged portion ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view in longitudinal direction of a medical occlusion device;
• FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a medical system during occlusion of a side branch vessel;
• FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a kit of medical occlusion devices when stopping fluid flow into a side branch lumen;
• FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of another medical occlusion device positioned at an abnormal lumen opening;
• FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a method of temporary occluding a fluid flow from a main lumen of a body into a branch lumen at a branch site inside the body;
• FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of another medical occlusion device positioned at an aneurysm of the main lumen;
• FIGS. 9aand9bare schematic illustrations of another medical occlusion device having a unidirectional flow direction unit in an inner hollow thereof;
• FIGS. 10aand10bare cross sectional views through a medical occlusion devices at an opening in a body lumen;
• FIGS. 11aand11bare side views of an embodiment of a medical occlusion device;
• FIG. 12 is a side view of an embodiment of a medical occlusion device; and
• FIGS.13,14,15a,13,14,15b,and13,14,15care two lateral views and a cross sectional view of further medical occlusion device in an extended delivery shape, an expanded shape, and inserted at an opening in a body lumen, respectively.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
• Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The terminology used in the detailed description of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings is not intended to be limiting of the invention. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.
• The following description focuses on embodiments of the present invention applicable to body lumen in form of blood vessels and in particular to a side branch blood vessel branching from a main blood vessel, or other openings in blood vessels, e.g. ruptures, or openings into aneurysms. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this application but may be applied to many other body lumina including for example lumina within the central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, urinary tract and the heart/cardiovascular system. In addition, weakened lumen walls, such as aorta aneurysm in an early stage before rupturing, are another field of application of medical devices of the invention.
• In an embodiment of the invention according toFIG. 1, amedical device1 is shown. The medical device is adapted to temporary occlude a fluid flow from amain lumen80 of a body into abranch lumen90 at abranch site100 inside the body, or to close another type of opening or weakening85 in atissue wall81 surrounding the lumen.Main lumen80 has atissue wall81 andbranch lumen90 has atissue wall91. Theopening85 of thebranch lumen90 into themain lumen80 is also called ostium. The body is a human or animal body, e.g. a body of a mammal.
• The medical device is collapsible and expandable for transluminal delivery to and from thebranch site100. InFIG. 1 thedevice1 is shown in its expanded state, deployed and released put of a delivery catheter, and positioned at abranch lumen90 and preventing a fluid flow from the main80 into theside branch lumen90. However, thedevice1 remains affixed to the delivery unit via awire45. That means theside branch lumen90 is fluidly disconnected from themain lumen80. Communication or a flow of fluid through the ostium into the side branch lumen is blocked. This is done in an effective way. Positioning is made in accordance with medical procedures to which the medical practitioner is well acquainted, which will be described further below.
• Themedical device1 comprises an aggregate of a firstinflatable balloon10 and asupport structure20. The firstinflatable balloon20 has a longitudinal dimension that extends substantially between aproximal end portion11 and adistal end portion12 thereof. Thefirst balloon1 comprises a radially arrangedinner wall15 and a radiallyouter wall16 at a radial distance therebetween when thefirst balloon1 is in an inflated state, as shown inFIG. 1. In the collapsed state, or when theballoon10 is not inflated, also theouter wall16 may be adjacent the support structure, besidesinner wall15. When the first balloon is in the inflated state, theinner wall15 surrounds or encircles an inner hollow19 configured to provide a longitudinal fluid flow passage through the inner hollow19, see for instance the arrows illustration such a flow inFIG. 4. Thefirst balloon10 may be inflated via one ormore inflation lumen17.
• The aggregate comprises at least onesupport structure20. InFIG. 1 thesupport structure20 is illustrated as a tubular member. Embodiments of the medical device comprise at least one collapsible andexpandable support structure20, longitudinally arranged at least partly between theproximal end11 anddistal end12 of thefirst balloon10, and radially arranged at theinner wall15 thereof. Thesupport structure20 may also extend beyond theends11,12 of the balloon, see e.g.FIG. 11b.Thesupport structure20, when in an expanded state, supports a patency of the inner hollow19 of thefirst balloon10 in the inflated state thereof.
• Thus several advantages are achieved. Thefirst balloon10 is substantially kept in a desired substantially toroid or doughnut shape, independent of the anatomical surrounding situation. Furthermore, the passage through the aggregate, allowing fluid flow through thefirst balloon10 at thebranch site100, is reliably upheld. Movements of the body at thebranch site100, e.g. by vessel contractions or pulsatile flows of fluid in themain lumen80, do substantially not influence the sealing effect of the aggregate, maintaining the cut-off communication at the opening of the branch vessel.
• Thesupport structure20 also provides a counter force to the elasticity of awall81 of a lumen in which the aggregate is positioned and inflated. In addition, a counter force to an inward movement of theinner balloon wall15 is provided by the support structure, maintaining the lumen open to a large extent, which allows for a low profile of theballoon10 cushion in relation to the entire diameter of the body lumen. Thus a more reliable fixed positioning in the lumen is provided as the balloon is pressed between the vessel, acting inwards, and the support structure, and acting as counter point and/or outwards.
• In addition the sealing at the tissue wall is effectively improved by this force provided by thesupport structure20. Moreover, the tissue of the lumen wall is treated gently and not injured. The cushion effect of theinflated balloon10, having an inherent flexibility of its gently inflated toroid lumen, allows for an advantageous appositioning of the lumen wall.
• Inflation pressures of the first balloon are chosen, such that the balloon is inflated such that the suspension effect of the inflated balloon between the support structure and the lumen wall is provided. Thefirst balloon10 is not inflated to such an extent as to expand the lumen wall such that damages occur in this wall. Inflation pressure is provided such that a reliable sealing is provided, which might be verified in real-time, e.g. by fluoroscopy and suitable contrast agents. This inflation pressure is magnitudes lower than that needed for conventional angioplasty balloons. Still, the device is reliably kept in position and not washed away. A certain degree of expansion of thetissue wall81 by the expanded aggregate may be allowed.
• Theouter wall16 of the first balloon is devised for at least partly apposition to an inner wall of themain lumen80 at thebranch site100. As shown inFIG. 1, the outer wall is in apposition to the lumen wall proximally and distally of theostium85.
• In other embodiments, as e.g. shown inFIG. 5, the entire outer wall, or at least a radially outer portion thereof, may be in apposition to themain lumen80 inner tissue wall surface. The radially outer portion may be substantially straight in longitudinal extension of theballoon10.
• In this manner a fluid passage through themain lumen80 is kept open and a communication through the opening, e.g. as a passage of fluid, into thebranch lumen90 is substantially sealed when thedevice1 is deployed and expanded and inflated at thebranch site100. At the same time, thedevice1 is anchored reliable at the branch site in themain lumen80 against the wall of the lumen and by remaining affixed to the delivery system, e.g. a delivery wire, catheter, etc.
• When the device is given a suitable longitudinal dimension, it may cover a plurality of openings and thus occlude flow into these openings. This may be advantageous, if several openings are positioned at different radial and longitudinal positions of the lumen. Also, in case the lumen wall is sensitive, e.g. there is a risk of lumen wall rupture, a lumen wall weakening, or a plurality of smaller openings, these conditions are advantageously sealed off by embodiments of the invention, including devices having long longitudinal extensions, or other embodiments, as e.g. shown and described with reference toFIG. 5. The balloon has a longer longitudinal extension than the opening or weakening of thetissue wall81.
• Theinner wall15 andouter wall16 are coaxially arranged in relation to each other and the inner hollow19 is centrally arranged within theinner wall15 and within thesupport structure19, when expanded. Further, thesupport structure20 is a tubular support structure comprising a generally cylindrical body arranged at an inner wall boundary of thefirst balloon10 to thehollow center19. Thesupport structure20 is positioned coaxially with thefirst balloon10 in thehollow center19 at the inner boundary of thefirst balloon10.
• Thesupport structure20 may be self expandable. In these embodiments, the support structure is restricted to expand during delivery to the branch site or opening, e.g. by means of a catheter sheath44 (FIG. 4). When the aggregate is released from the restriction, e.g. by retractingsheath44, the selfexpandable support structure20 radially expands, together with thefirst balloon10 getting inflated, whereby the first balloon is expanded, and the aggregate is positioned at theopening85, as e.g. shown inFIG. 1.
• The self expanded, relaxed or natural diameter of thesupport structure20 is larger than the diameter of theinner wall15 of the balloon in its relaxed or natural diameter when inflated with the necessary inflation pressure to obtain a reliable sealing of theopening85. The self expanded, relaxed or natural diameter of thesupport structure20 may even be larger than theouter wall16 diameter or the natural diameter oflumen80. In this manner, a outwardly orientedforce151 is permanently present during the temporary sealing of theopening85.
• The expanded state of the aggregate is shown in cross section inFIG. 10a.
• Thesupport structure20 may be affixed to theinner wall15 by suitable fixation units, such as glue, threads, anchoring elements, etc. The support structure may also be provided separate from thefirst balloon10 and releasably affixed to thefirst balloon10 inner wall by an active radially outwardly oriented expansion force in the released state.
• In other embodiments, thesupport structure20 is not self expandable and needs to be expanded by an expansion unit to an expandedstate20a,e.g. by means of a delivery unit. Thesupport structure20 is for instance balloon expandable and/or expandable by other active expansion units.
• For this purpose, for instance asecond balloon30 is provided that is adapted to expand thetubular support structure20, and is at least partly arranged inside the inner hollow19 of thefirst balloon10. Thesecond balloon30 is longitudinally at least extending between the proximal end and distal end of thesupport structure20, such that theentire support structure20 is expanded upon inflation of thesecond balloon30, seeFIG. 2.
• Thesecond balloon30 may be deflated and retracted upon expansion of thesupport structure20. Alternatively, or in addition, thesecond balloon30 may also have an inner hollow39. The inner hollow39 allows for a fluid flow therethrough when the second balloon is inflated. In this manner, thesecond balloon30 may be left in place during a time of occlusion of thebranch lumen90. Also, during inflation, the main fluid flow is not entirely reduced.
• For inflation of the balloons, inflation lumina are provided. Afirst inflation lumen17 is associated with thefirst balloon10 and asecond inflation lumen37 is associated with thesecond balloon30.
• FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view in longitudinal direction of themedical occlusion device1 showing theinflation lumen17 extending from acatheter shaft45.Support webs18 are provided for attaching thesupport structure20 to thecatheter shaft45, or central delivery wire, and/or an active expansion unit. The support webs may be arranged as leadingsupport webs18. Thesupport webs18 may be integral with thesupport structure20, such as integral with a mesh, optionally extending longitudinally beyond theballoon10, as shown inFIG. 11bor12. In addition, further support webs may be provided inside the inner hollow19, and at the trailing end of themedical device1. Leadingsupport webs18 facilitate collapsing themedical device1 and re-inserting it into thesheath44 for withdrawing the medical device from thebranch site100 and out of the body. The webs may constitute a filter unit for the fluid flow through themain lumen80 when the aggregate is in place at theopening85. The filter unit may be a blood clot filter. A degree of filtering may be determined by the pick and pitch of a braiding, or a radial and/or longitudinal number of webs, of thesupport structure20.
• Trailing webs facilitate insertion of the aggregate into a catheter, which is automatically collapsed when pushed into a proximal opening of the catheter lumen.
• The first andsecond inflation lumina17,37 may be arranged to be in fluid communication with each other. In these embodiments, simultaneous inflation of both the first and second balloon is provided. This may provide an easy installation of themedical device1 at thebranch site100. The medical practitioner only needs to take care of a single inflation step, whereupon the medical device is securely positioned.
• In another embodiment the first andsecond inflation lumina17,37 are not in fluid communication with each other. Individual inflation of the first and second balloon is provided. This embodiment may be preferred in certain anatomical situations, where e.g. an initial positioning of the device is made by inflating thefirst balloon10, when the support structure is not self expanding. Subsequently, thesecond balloon30 is inflated to expand thesupport structure20, and to thus securely anchor themedical device1 and to provide a support for the inner hollow19 for fluid communication, as well as sealing of theopening85. Further, thesecond balloon30 may then be withdrawn, which leaves a large diameter open lumen through the aggregate for fluid flow. This is in particular of interest for high-flow applications, e.g. close to the heart output in order to maintain cardiac output.
• Thanks to the coaxial arrangement of thefirst balloon10 and thesecond balloon30 in thehollow inner19 of thefirst balloon10, even the second balloon's inner hollow39 provides a longitudinal through-passage through themedical device1 when positioned at thebranch site100.
• Thesecond balloon30 may be arranged to be deflated and retracted upon expanding thesupport structure20. In this manner, the diameter of the through-passage substantially corresponds to the diameter of the inner hollow19, as the support structure is substantially flat compared to the radial extension of the inner hollow19. Thus, the through-flow capacity of the through passage is enhanced in comparison to having thesecond balloon30 arranged therein and determining the diameter of the through passage by its inner hollow39.
• Thesecond balloon30 may have a section with larger diameter in at least one end portion thereof for expanding the support structure in sections with different diameters.
• In some embodiments, thesupport structure20 is at least partly attached to theinner wall15 of thefirst balloon10 on an outside wall surface ofinner wall15 at the inner hollow19 side.
• Thesupport structure20 may alternatively, or in addition be integral with theinner wall15 of thefirst balloon10. Thesupport structure20 may in particular be molded together with theinner wall15.
• Alternatively, thesupport structure20 is attached to theinner wall15 of thefirst balloon10 on an inside wall surface thereof, inside the first balloon. Thus, improved fluid flow in the inner hollow may be provided.
• Thesupport structure20 will, when expanded, the common radial position when in an equilibrium with the counter acting inflation force ofinner wall15 upon inflation of thefirst balloon10.
• In case thesupport structure20 is actively expanded from its collapsed configuration to its expanded configuration by an expansion unit, the retractable sheath may be omitted. A restriction of thesupport structure20 in its collapsed configuration is not necessary.
• For instance, the expansion unit may comprise a pusher or pushing sheath that is arranged to suitably actively expand the non-self-expandable support structure20. The expansion unit may comprise arms or a resiliently expandable structure that pushes thesupport structure20 from its interior outwardly to an expanded, open configuration, where it supports the first balloon and provides the actions and functions described herein.
• The expansion unit may be thesecond balloon30 described above.
• In addition thefirst balloon10 may support the expansion of thesupport structure20 during it is being inflated.
• Thefirst balloon10 may be inflated before, after or during expansion of thesupport structure20, upon release from the delivery catheter atsite100.
• The first balloon has a maximum inflation pressure, as will be explained below with reference toFIG. 10a. The maximum inflation pressure is suitably below a burst pressure of theballoon10. Thefirst balloon10 is inflated to a pressure less than this maximum inflation pressure, at least during positioning at the body site and/or during the entire occlusion/sealing phase. Thus, thefirst balloon10 may be especially tissue friendly positioned in the lumen. A partly inflatedfirst balloon10 provides in particular a soft cushion effect for special soft apposition to wall tissue of the lumen in which it is expanded.
• Thefirst balloon10 may be partly or not at all inflated during expansion of the support structure. It may be folded, bend or doubled for a compact delivery arrangement. Thefirst balloon10 is for instance not inflated during expansion of thesupport structure20. In this manner thesupport structure20 is expanded to a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of thelumen81. Inflation of the first balloon upon expansion of the support structure thus ensures that the first balloon is expanded to a larger diameter than the inner diameter of thelumen81. The inflation degree of first balloon in relation to the maximum inflation pressure provides a selectable degree of tissue anchoring of the medical device at the body site.
• In embodiments the expandedsupport structure20 is configured to bear against the force of the first balloon directed inwardly when inflated. Thus the outward expansion of the first balloon is ensured while preventing that the balloon is sucked into theopening85. A certain degree of radial flexibility to a smaller diameter may occur in equilibrium, seeFIG. 10a.
• When expanded, thesupport structure20 may be releasably locked in its expanded configuration during the time of occlusion. This may for instance be provided by a snap or click mechanism. Bistability of the support structure between two points of minimum energy (collapsed and expanded) may be provided alternatively, or in addition to the locking functionality.
• Thesupport structure20 may be a tubular structure that comprises a mesh of wires. Alternatively, or in addition, it comprises a pattern of struts and connectors, such as a zigzag pattern, as known from stent technology.
• A stent includes a cylindrical frame consisting of a series of helical winds containing a pattern of alternating zigzag bends. The frame may be made of resilient wire or from a piece of laser cut hypo tubing.
• For instance, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,572,647 a method of making such a stent is disclosed, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The laser cut stent for transluminal delivery has windows in its cylindrical wall, the windows giving the stent enhanced flexibility during delivery along said lumen. The method of making such a stent involves removing from the wall of a tube enough material to leave the tube wall penetrated in a multiplicity of separate cut lines, in a pattern which permits the tube to expand. The tube is then expanded and then a plurality of tube wall scrap portions are removed from the tube wall between adjacent cut lines, thereby to introduce a plurality of spacings between adjacent stenting zones of the tube wall surface, these remaining after compression of the tube to a configuration to allow it to be advanced along a tortuous bodily lumen. Advantageously, the material of the tube is a shape memory alloy and the tube is for a self-expanding stent.
• However, stents were hitherto always positioned on the outside of an inflatable balloon for expansion and permanent implantation. Stents are devised for apposition to vessel tissue. In contrast, thepresent support structure20 is devised for apposition to an inner balloon wall, supporting the balloon, and having a toroid balloon sealing cushion between thesupport structure20 and the lumen inner wall tissue.
• Alternatively, or in addition to a tubular structure, the support structure may comprise a plurality ofradial support webs18 in addition or alternatively to the tubular structure disclosed herein. Thewebs18 are arranged from acatheter shaft45 or a delivery wire.Webs18 may for instance be pre-tensioned to provide a radially outwardly directed force supporting the first balloon at thebranch site100.
• A length of thesupport structure20 and a length of thesecond balloon30, if arranged therein, is in an embodiment larger than a length of the longitudinal dimension of thefirst balloon10. This is illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 11b,wherelongitudinal extensions21,22 of thesupport structure20 are shown.
• Thefirst balloon10 shown inFIG. 6 is positioned at anabnormal lumen opening900. The abnormal lumen opening may for instance be a rupture, hole, damage, aperture or other opening. The abnormal opening necessitates a medical measure, e.g. a surgical repair or installation of a graft. The device200 provides temporary occlusion of a fluid flow out of the main lumen through the abnormal opening. During the temporary occlusion time, a medical procedure may be performed in order to remedy the abnormal opening. Upon completion of the medical procedure, the abnormal opening is closed and a leak of fluid through the wall of the main lumen will no longer occur. The temporary occlusion device200 is then removed from the temporary occlusion site.
• Another example is the occlusion of ananeurysm910, as illustrated inFIG. 8. A fluid communication or flow from the main lumen into the aneurysm is stopped, in a similar manner as described above with reference toFIG. 6. Here, a rupture of the aneurysm has not yet occurred and the vessel wall is intact but weakened. A pressure relief is provided by the temporary communication cut off of occlusion device200.
• The opening or abnormal opening in the context of the present application is usually a lateral opening in the wall of the lumen.
• Returning toFIG. 6, it can be seen that the proximal end and/or the distal end of thesupport structure20 is constructed such that it is expandable to a greater outer diameter than an inner diameter of the inner hollow19 of thefirst balloon10.
• Theextensions21,22 at the proximal end and/or distal end of thesupport structure20 may be outwardly flared towards the outer wall of thefirst balloon10 and oriented away from the proximal end and/or distal end of thefirst balloon10, respectively. In this manner, a fluid guide is provided that advantageously minimizes turbulences of fluid flow in themain lumen80 through themedical device1. Further, sealing is improved.
• Thus, themedical device1 is provided with asupport structure20 that comprises at least aproximal extension21 extending proximally longitudinally beyond theproximal end11 of thefirst balloon10. Theproximal extension21 may comprise a cover or fluid tight layer or coating for tissue friendly contacting an inner tissue wall of themain lumen80 proximally thefirst balloon10. Thus, a fluid guide into the inner hollow19 of thefirst balloon10 is provided upon expansion of thesupport structure20 and itsproximal extension21.
• Thesupport structure20 comprises in embodiments adistal extension22 extending distally longitudinally beyond the distal end of the first balloon. The distal extension may comprise a cover or fluid tight layer or coating for tissue friendly contacting an inner tissue wall of themain lumen80 distally thefirst balloon10, such that a fluid guide out of and/or into the inner hollow of the first balloon is provided upon expansion of thesupport structure20 and itsdistal extension22.
• One or more of theextensions21,22 may be provided as a sealing flange. The sealing flange may be made of a suitable fabric.
• The longitudinal extensions of thesupport structure20 may have a heat set shape to an extension of an outer diameter of the first balloon. The longitudinal extension of the support structure is at least as large as the diameter of theopening85. In this manner, the fluid guide and tissue apposition of the extension to the main lumen inner wall provide a particularly advantageous fluid tight sealing and cut off communication over the opening. Occlusion of a fluid flow intoside branch lumen90 is effectively provided.
• In the embodiment, the first balloon has a balloon body of elongate torus shape, when inflated.
• Theouter wall15 of thefirst balloon10 is at least partly devised for soft tissue apposition to the inner wall of themain lumen80 at a first portion of the outer wall, such that the device is configured to securely and sealingly engage the main lumen. The outer wall is preferably thin walled, providing a tissue friendly apposition to the tissue wall.
• Theouter wall16 and theinner wall15 of thefirst balloon10 may have sections of different rigidity. The different rigidity is for instance provided by different wall thicknesses of the sections of the outer wall and the inner wall. Theouter wall16 of thefirst balloon10 has e.g. proximal and distal end portions that have a wall thickness that is larger than a wall thickness at the central elongate portion of theouter wall16. Thicker portions may advantageously be oriented towards the opening in the delivered state. In this manner, patency of the longitudinal channel of themedical device1 through themain lumen80 is reliably closed off, providing an occlusion of theside branch vessel90.
• A ratio of a maximum outer diameter of thefirst balloon10 in relation to maintained passage lumen diameter of the inner hollow19 is in the range of 40% to 90%. The ratio may be 75% to 90%, such as 80%, 85% or 90%. Such high ratios are possible thanks to the natural expanded diameter of thesupport structure20 being larger than the natural inflated inner diameter of theballoon10.
• Themedical device1 may comprise radiopaque markers. Alternatively, or in addition, thefirst balloon10 is adapted to be inflated with radiopaque material. This facilitates positioning of themedical device1 at thebranch site100 under fluoroscopy.
• The lumina are in specific embodiments blood vessels. Theouter wall15 is configured to be arranged to sealingly cover an ostium of thebranch lumen90 at thebranch site100.
• Thefirst balloon10 is adapted to be inflated over an extended period of time for occluding the ostium to the side branch lumen, e.g. during a surgery of an organ supplied with blood by theside branch vessel90.
• The aggregate of afirst balloon10 andinner support structure20 is re-collapsible after expansion, such that the device is transluminally removable from the branch site and out of the body upon a time of occlusion of thebranch lumen90.
• As shown inFIG. 6, the outer diameter of thefirst balloon10 may be chosen slightly larger than the inner diameter of themain lumen80. In this manner a reliable positioning of themedical device1 in themain lumen80 is provided, while not harming any tissue thereof.
• FIG. 10ais a cross sectional view through a medical occlusion device at an occlusion site in a body lumen. Various forces acting in the expanded state of the aggregate when positioned at anopening85 are illustrated by arrows150-153.
• A first force acts radially inwards and is caused by the pressurizedinner wall15 of theballoon10. Asecond force151 caused by the expansion force of thesupport structure20 counteracts thisfirst force150. The support structure is not fully expanded.
• In case thesupport structure20 is self expandible, the outer diameter of thestructure20 at its relaxed state is larger than the inner diameter of theballoon10 atinner wall15 when inflated and without an acting counter force.
• When the support structure is not self expandable, this state can be provided in various ways. For instance, a wire cage may be actively expanded, an inner balloon having a passageway of its own may be inflated inside thelumen80, webs may resiliently push theinner wall15 radially outwards, etc.
• The dottedline20aillustrates a possible position of thestructure20 when fully expanded without counter force.
• The outwardly orientedexpansion force151 of thesupport structure20 is larger than the inwardly orientedinflation force150. Thus the support structure will be tensioned against thewall15 and may not be affixed to the latter, allowing for a relative movement of the two latter relative each other, whereby deployment, expansion, and retrieval is facilitated due to reduced forces.
• Thelumen wall81 resiliently pushes with aforce153 against the radially outwardly anchoringforce152 of theouter wall16 of theinflated balloon15. Anchoringforce152 of theinflated balloon10 is larger than thelumen force152. Preferably, theoutward inflation force152 is only slightly larger thaninward tissue force153. Once sealing is accomplished, and thanks to the fact of a large opening close to the natural opening oflumen80, the fluid flow in the main lumen will be very little influenced. A pressure drop across the aggregate is kept minimal. Therefore, very low inflation pressures will be sufficient for ensuring a reliable sealing of theopening85
• Themedical device1 may be comprised in amedical system2 devised for temporary closure of abranch lumen90 of amain lumen80 of a body into thebranch lumen90 at abranch site100 inside the body. Thesystem2 comprises, as illustrated inFIGS. 4,5 and11a, at least onemedical device1 acatheter40 comprising acatheter shaft45 and acatheter sheath44. The aggregate of themedical device1 is associated with thecatheter shaft45 at a distal end portion thereof. Thecatheter sheath44 is arranged to restrict expansion of the aggregate when positioned in thecatheter sheath44. Thecatheter sheath44 is retractable from thecatheter shaft45 to allow expansion of the aggregate at thebranch site100 for the temporary closure of the side branch vessel.
• Thecatheter shaft45 comprises a guidewire lumen for passage of aguidewire46 to position thecatheter40 within themain vessel80 at thebranch site100, and at least one inflation lumen for inflating at least thefirst balloon10. Thesystem2 furthermore comprises theguidewire46 arranged in the guidewire lumen of thecatheter shaft45.
• Materials for making the balloons can be polyvinyl-chloride (PVe), cross-linked polyethylene (PE), polyester (PET), polyethylene terephthalate, Nylon, and others. In particular polytetrafluoroethylene PTFE, commercially available as Goretex®, is suitable as a balloon material.
• The medical device is in embodiments intended for usage mainly in vascular surgery in operating rooms with access to fluoroscopy imaging facilities (hybrid OR). The medical device may be used in both acute and elective surgery.
• During surgical treatment of certain organs, e.g. during acute surgery, it is desired to controlled shut off blood flow to the area of treatment. Also, during planned surgery, it may be desired to controlled shut off a fluid flow through an opening in a lumen as part of the surgical procedure. For instance, in a passive peripheral vessel intervention the medical device may be positioned in the peripheral vessel as an initial step of the intervention.
• The device is thus, amongst others, useful for passive interventions, which do not need acute measures.
• FIGS. 9aand9bare schematic illustrations of a medical occlusion device of the type described above having a unidirectionalflow direction unit800 in an inner hollow thereof. By means of the unidirectionalflow direction unit800, the medical device is provided with check valve functionality.
• In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 9, a plurality of valve flaps801,802 provide the check valve function. In other embodiments, the unidirectionalflow direction unit800 may comprise a single valve flap, e.g. a circular valve flap having a central fixation at the guidewire orcatheter shaft45.
• The valve seat may be provided in a separate structure. For instance the valve seat my be provided as a annular ring of thesupport structure20, protruding into the inner hollow.
• Self expandable or balloon expandable transcatheter valve assemblies may be positioned inside thesupport structure20.
• Alternatively, or in addition, thesupport structure20 may be an outer part of a valve assembly for transcatheter delivery. The unidirectionalflow direction unit800 may be an improved valve of the type of minimally-invasive heart valves, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,454,799 of Edwards Lifesciences, prosthetic valves for transluminal delivery, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,018,406 of Corevalve Inc., which are incorporated herein in their entirety for all purposes. In present embodiments, these known permanent valve assemblies are suitably modified for the present invention to be re-collapsible, and surrounded by aninflatable balloon10.
• Thus, a medical device having a unidirectionalflow direction unit800 and a surroundinginflatable balloon10, and associatedsupport structure20, is provided. Applications for such a medical device are for instance medical procedures, where temporary creation of a temporary unidirectional flow is desired. The medical device may provide a simultaneous occlusion of an abnormal opening in the lumen wall.
• An example for such a medical procedure comprises positioning the medical device in the venous system. For instance, the medical device may be positioned at a venous rupture in the venous system. A venous rupture may for instance occur in peripheral or central veins and needs medical treatment.
• Another example is the positioning of temporary heart valves.
• A method of deploying themedical device1 at abranch site100 by means of amedical system2 as described above, will be given further below. Positioning at other openings than ostia to branch vessels is made correspondingly.
• A medical device having an oval cross section is shown inFIG. 10b. Here, a fluid flow is also provided along the volume between theouter wall16 and the lumen wall as illustrated by the hatched sections in the Fig.
• The radial orientation of device in relation to the opening/weakening85 provides a reliable sealing thereof, while the potential maximum fluid flow is increased by multiple flow passages. In addition, a risk of obstruction of the fluid flow in the main channel is reduced as redundancy of flow channels is provided. Furthermore, theadditional flow channel80ais not restricted, in contrast to the main lumen where a delivery unit is centrally arranged and webs or inflation lumen extend radially.
• Akit3 comprises at least twomedical devices1 of the type disclosed above. As illustrated inFIG. 5, a proximalmedical device1aand a distalmedical device1bare comprised in akit3. The aggregates of themedical devices1a,1bare spaced apart from each other and interconnected to each other by a fluid leakagetight interconnection unit50 adapted to provide a through-flow of fluid between inner hollows of first balloons of themedical devices1a,1b.The interconnection unit may extend past one or more openings in the lumen wall.
• In the embodiment, theinterconnection unit50 is a tubular interconnection unit having a fluid tighttubular wall51 between a proximal end and a distal end of the tubular interconnection unit. The tubular wall may be made of a membrane material. Suitable materials comprise polytetrafluoroethylene PTFE, commercially available as GoreTex®. Alternatively, or in addition, graft material may be provided that is reinforced. In this manner, theunit50 is adapted to withstand radial outward expansion beyond a tubular shape of a desired maximum diameter. This diameter is for instance the outer diameter of theballoon10, or the natural inner diameter of the main body lumen.
• The proximal end of thetubular wall51 is connected to a distal opening of the inner hollow19 of the proximalmedical device1a.The distal end of thetubular wall51 is connected to a proximal opening of the inner hollow of the distalmedical device1b.A fluid channel between the inner hollows of the twomedical devices1a,1bis provided. Themedical devices1a,1b,upon inflation of first balloons thereof, provide a fluid tight positioning thereof against an inner wall of the main lumen and only allow a fluid flow through the inner hollow thereof. As the inner hollows are interconnected to each other by thetubular wall51, a fluid flow into theopening85 orbranch vessel90 is effectively prevented.
• The tubular interconnection unit may have other cross sections than circular, e.g. oval, substantially flat, rectangular, etc.
• The proximalmedical device1ais adapted to be positioned proximally of an ostium of the branch lumen into the main lumen. The distalmedical device1bis adapted to be positioned distally of the ostium. Thetubular wall51 is non-elastic and flexible and adapted to be arranged along the ostium, in the main lumen. It is preferably arranged at a distance from the ostium, without contacting tissue of the main lumen, ostium or branch lumen, as illustrated inFIG. 5. The outer diameter of thetubular wall51 is preferably smaller than the natural inner diameter of the body lumen. Thus, it is avoided that debris is created, which can be flushed into the branch vessel upon removal of the medical devices.
• Thetubular wall51 may comprise a reinforcement structure, such that pressure fluctuations therein substantially do not alter the tubular shape. In addition, a longitudinal substantially straight extension may thus advantageously be provided between thedevices1aand1b.
• Now turning toFIG. 7, amethod7 of temporary occluding a fluid flow from a main lumen of a body into a branch lumen at a branch site inside the body will be described. The method may be performed in an analogous way at other openings or structural tissue wall weakenings in a lumen than the described ostium of a branch vessel.
• Themethod7 for temporary occluding a fluid flow from a main lumen of a body into a branch lumen at a branch site inside the body comprises
• transluminally delivering710 a medical occlusion device in a collapsed state thereof to the branch site, and
• expanding the medical occlusion device at the branch site at least partly by
• inflating720 a first inflatable balloon of the medical occlusion device substantially between a proximal end and a distal end thereof, and expanding a support structure, thus
• appositioning730 an outer wall of the first balloon at least partly to an inner wall of the main lumen at the branch site, and
• keeping open740 a passage of the fluid in the main lumen through a inner hollow of the first inflatable balloon interior of an inner wall thereof, and thus
• substantially sealing off750 a passage of the fluid into the branch lumen when the medical occlusion device is deployed at the branch site, and providing a longitudinal fluid flow through the inner hollow, and after an occlusion time and transluminally retracting the re-collapsed medical occlusion device from the branch site.
• Further, the method comprises radially expanding760 a support structure, longitudinally at least partly between the proximal end and distal end of the first balloon, at an inner wall of the first balloon, thus supporting a patency of the inner hollow by the support structure. The expanding760 the support structure comprises inflating a second balloon at least partly arranged inside side inner hollow and the support structure, and expanding770 the support structure to a diameter smaller than that of the main lumen. Alternatively, or in addition, the expanding760 comprises self expanding the support structure. Alternatively, or in addition, the expanding760 comprises controllably expanding the support structure by a catheter based wire from a proximal end of the catheter.
• The expansion of the support structure is made to a diameter of the latter that is beyond a normal inflated inner diameter of the balloon, thus expanding the inner wall of the balloon radially outwards.
• Inflating720 the first balloon comprises inflating the first balloon to an outside diameter larger than an interior diameter of the main lumen.
• The delivering710 and retracting is performed by using a standard Seldinger technique and fluoroscopy. This makes the system user friendly and increases patient safety as a well established clinical method may be used with some modifications according to the invention.
• The first and second balloon may be concurrently inflated via a common inflation lumen. Alternatively, the first and second balloon may be inflated independently via separate inflation lumina.
• The first balloon and then the second balloon may be sequentially inflated.
• In an embodiment, the method comprises positioning at least two medical occlusion devices at the branch site spaced apart from each other, and interconnecting the medical devices to each other by a fluid leakage tight interconnection unit adapted, thus providing a through-flow of fluid between inner hollows of first balloons of the medical devices.
• The method comprises providing the through-flow through a fluid channel of a tubular interconnection unit having a fluid tight tubular wall between a proximal end and a distal end of the tubular interconnection unit, wherein the proximal end of the tubular wall is connected to a distal opening of the inner hollow of a proximal of the medical devices, and wherein the distal end of the tubular wall is connected to a proximal opening of the inner hollow of a distal of the medical devices in order to provide a fluid channel between the inner hollows.
• The positioning at least two medical occlusion devices at the branch site spaced apart from each other comprises in the embodiment positioning a proximal medical occlusion device of the at least two medical occlusion devices proximally of an ostium of the branch lumen into the main lumen, and positioning of a distal medical occlusion device of the medical devices distally of the ostium, and arranging the tubular wall along the ostium, in the main lumen, and at a distance from the ostium, without contacting tissue of the main lumen, ostium or branch lumen.
• In an embodiment, the lumen is a blood vessel, and the method comprises performing a surgery of an organ supplied with blood by the side branch lumen during at least a part of the occlusion period of time.
• FIGS. 11aand11bare side views of an embodiment of a medical occlusion device. InFIG. 11aacatheter40 with asheath44 is shown having an aggregate of asupport structure20 and aballoon10. Thisstent20 is mounted to two extrusions. In addition to that, aballoon10 with a separate extrusion line is mounted to thestent20 as well.FIG. 11ashows thecatheter40 with ashort sheath44.FIG. 11bshows the tip section of this assembly. The stent and balloon are shown in the expanded and inflated state.
• By advancing thefirst extrusion310 into thesecond extrusion320 at the proximal end of thecatheter40, thestent20 is straightened. Thestent20 can be fixed in this position by screwing themale Luer lock330 at thefirst extrusion310 to the female Luer which is mounted to thesecond extrusion320. A guide wire may be inserted as a supporting wire into the guide wire lumen, i.e. thesecond extrusion320.
• Then thestent20 and theballoon10 can be pulled back into the sheath tip. One may wrap theballoon20 around thestent10 to pull it back into thesheath44, by pulling on allextrusions310,320 together.
• Now thecatheter40 is ready for insertion into the body.
• For expanding the aggregate of balloon and stent, the latter are advanced by pushing all theextrusions310,320 into thesheath44. TheLuer lock330 is unlocked to expand thestent20 as soon as thestent20 is in the correct position.
• By filling theballoon10 with e.g. air or saline, side arms of the vessel are blocked. The maximal inflation volume that is pressed into the balloon, is previously defined to not exceed a threshold that may burst the balloon or collapse the sent. Otherwise the vessel could be blocked.
• FIG. 12 is a side view of an embodiment of a medical occlusion device. Awire45 manipulated from the proximal end of the catheter used for delivery of the medical device may provide the active expansion, e.g. by a relative movement of the support structure to the catheter sheath while being affixed to the latter in at least one point. Expanding a cage of a wire mesh initiated by a central control wire is an example for such a wire manipulation determining the degree of expansion of the support structure, like above with reference toFIG. 11b.
• Theaggregate400 of balloon and support structure is elongated and collapsed by pushing the delivery wire distally. The wire may be locked in this position for delivery. By releasing the delivery wire, the aggregate expands to its natural form thanks to the elasticity of the support structure. From this natural relaxed form of the aggregate, the delivery wire is further drawn back in a relative movement to the catheter, thus actively further expanding the aggregate radially in the body lumen at the site of the opening or weakening in the lumen wall. The balloon is then inflated as described above.
• The end sections of the balloon are cut in an oblique angle in order to facilitate insertion into the catheter and re-insertion into the latter upon withdrawal.
• The balloon is made of two sheets that are welded to each other at the edges.
• The occlusion device is neither released from the catheter nor released from the delivery unit; it remains affixed thereto at all times.
• The device is positioned at the opening and then released from catheter in that position, and expanded and inflated into position, without further longitudinal re-location. The catheter sheath may e.g. be withdrawn in that position.
• FIGS. 13a,13b,13care two lateral views and a cross sectional view of furthermedical occlusion device500 in an extended delivery shape, an expanded shape, and inserted at an opening in a body lumen, respectively.
• The device is brought from the relaxed state (FIG. 13a) to the expanded helical shape by drawing atether line501 in the direction of the arrow inFIG. 13a.
• When positioned at the opening, e.g. of a side lumen, the opening is blocked.
• This embodiment has a small collapsed diameter and is in particular deliverable through narrow passages for delivery to the opening site.
• Instead of aballoon10, a soft, sponge like structure may be used. The structure may swell when it comes into contact with the body fluid in the lumen and thus increase the sealing effect.
• FIGS. 14a,14b,14care two lateral views and a cross sectional view of furthermedical occlusion device600 in an extended delivery shape, an expanded shape, and inserted at an opening in a body lumen, respectively.
• Thedevice600 is if the windpipe design and is brought from the delivery state (FIG. 14a) to the expanded shape by pushing atether line501 in the direction of the arrow inFIG. 14a.
• When positioned at the opening, e.g. of a side lumen, a flow into the opening is prevented, as the entire flow is diverted through the interior of the expandeddevice600.
• Instead of a balloon, a fluidtight fabric610 is provided. This embodiment has a particular high through flow as the proximal end of the fabric has the same diameter as the distal end (which is oriented against the flow direction). The distal end has a soft cushion or inflatable balloon to increase sealing.
• FIGS. 15a,15b,15care two lateral views and a cross sectional view of furthermedical occlusion device700 in an extended delivery shape, an expanded shape, and inserted at an opening in a body lumen, respectively.
• Thedevice700 is brought from the relaxed state (FIG. 15a) to the expanded helical shape by drawing atether line501 in the direction of the arrow inFIG. 15a.
• When positioned at the opening, e.g. of a side lumen, a flow into the opening is prevented, as the entire flow is diverted through the interior of the expandeddevice600.
• Instead of a balloon, a fluidtight fabric610 is provided.
• As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,” “comprises,” “including” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present.
• Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
• While several embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the functions and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended patent claims.
• More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the teachings of the present invention is/are used.
• Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. The present invention is directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended patent claims.

Claims (60)

1. A medical device for temporarily provide sealing off a communication between a high flow main lumen of a body into an opening in a wall of said main lumen at a site inside said body, said medical device comprises a delivery system, wherein said medical device is and remains proximally affixed to said delivery system and is collapsible and expandable for transluminal delivery to and from said site, and comprises an aggregate of:

a) a first inflatable balloon having a longitudinal dimension that extends substantially between a proximal end and a distal end thereof, a radially inner wall and a radially outer wall at a radial distance therebetween when said first balloon is in an inflated state in which said balloon at said inner wall has a natural inner inflated diameter and surrounds an inner hollow for providing a longitudinal fluid flow passage through said inner hollow along said main lumen and past said opening, and when in said inflated state said outer wall of said first balloon is in at least partly apposition to said wall of said main lumen at said site; and

b) at least one collapsible and expandable support structure having an expanded diameter, longitudinally arranged from said proximal end and to within said distal end of said first balloon, and radially arranged at said inner wall, whereby said support structure, when in an expanded state, supports a patency of said inner hollow of said first balloon at least in said inflated state thereof;

wherein said expanded diameter is larger than said inner inflated diameter, and said radial distance is substantially smaller than said inner inflated diameter;

in such a manner that said device substantially keeps a passage of said fluid through said main lumen open and to sealingly shuts off communication through said opening when said device is deployed at said site and said medical device not comprising an agent delivery port for delivery of an agent into said opening.

2. The medical device according toclaim 1, wherein said inner wall and outer wall are coaxially arranged in relation to each other and said inner hollow is centrally arranged within said inner wall, and

wherein said support structure is a tubular support structure comprising a generally cylindrical body arranged at an inner wall boundary of said first balloon to said hollow center; and wherein said support structure is positioned coaxially with said first balloon in said hollow center at said inner boundary of said first balloon.

3. The medical device according toclaim 1, wherein said support structure is self expandable and said expanded diameter is a natural relaxed expanded diameter, wherein said support structure has a diameter that is smaller than said natural relaxed expanded diameter when said first balloon is inflated, whereby said support structure adapt a radially outwardly oriented force when said first balloon is inflated.

4. The medical device according toclaim 1, comprising a second balloon, wherein said support structure is balloon expandable by said second balloon that expands said tubular support to said expanded diameter and at least partly arranged inside said inner of said first balloon, wherein said second balloon is longitudinally at least extending between said proximal end and distal end of said support structure.

5. The medical device according toclaim 4, wherein a first inflation lumen is associated with said first balloon and a second inflation lumen associated with said second balloon; wherein said first and second inflation lumina are in fluid communication with each other, for simultaneous inflation of both the first and second balloon; or wherein said first and second inflation lumina are not in fluid communication with each other, for individual inflation of both the first and second balloon.

6. The medical device according toclaim 4, wherein said second balloon has a longitudinal dimension and a hollow center for providing a passage through said hollow center of said second balloon when said second balloon is in an inflated state.

7. The medical device according toclaim 4, wherein said second balloon is arranged to be deflated and retracted upon expanding said support structure.

8. The medical device according toclaim 4, wherein said second balloon has a section with larger diameter in at least one end portion thereof for expanding said support structure in sections with different diameters.

9. The medical device according toclaim 1, wherein said support structure is attached to said inner wall of said first balloon on an outside wall surface of a said inner hollow.

10. The medical device according toclaim 1, wherein said support structure is integral with said inner wall of said first balloon, in particular at least along a portion molded to each other.

11. The medical device according toclaim 1, wherein said support structure is attached to said inner wall of said first balloon on an inside wall surface thereof inside said first balloon.

12. The medical device according toclaim 1 wherein said support structure comprises a mesh of wires.

13. The medical device according toclaim 1 wherein said support structure comprises a pattern of struts and connectors.

14. The medical device according toclaim 13, wherein said device is collapsible without substantially expanding in length.

15. The medical device according toclaim 1, said support structure comprising a plurality of radial support webs.

16. The medical device according toclaim 1, comprising a second balloon, wherein a length of said support structure and a length of said second balloon if arranged therein, is larger than a length of said longitudinal dimension of said first balloon.

17. The medical device according toclaim 16, wherein said proximal end and/or distal end of said support structure is constructed such that it is expandable to a greater outer diameter a portion thereof at said inner hollow of said first balloon.

18. The medical device according toclaim 17, wherein said proximal end and/or distal end of said support structure is outwardly flared towards said outer wall of said first balloon and oriented away from said proximal end and/or distal end of said first balloon respectively.

19. The medical device according toclaim 1, wherein said support structure comprises a proximal extension radially arranged outwardly and at a distance from a longitudinal axis of said device and extending proximally longitudinally beyond said proximal end of said first balloon in said expanded state.

20. The medical device according toclaim 19, wherein said proximal extension comprises a cover or fluid tight layer or coating for tissue friendly contacting an inner tissue wall of said main lumen proximally said first balloon, such that a fluid guide into said inner hollow of said first balloon is provided upon expansion of said support structure.

21. The medical device according toclaim 1, wherein said support structure comprises a distal extension radially arranged outwardly and at a distance from a longitudinal axis of said device and extending distally longitudinally beyond said distal end of said first balloon in said expanded state.

22. The medical device according toclaim 21, wherein said distal extension comprises a cover or fluid tight layer or coating for tissue friendly contacting an inner tissue wall of said main lumen distally said first balloon, such that a fluid guide into said inner hollow of said first balloon is provided upon expansion of said support structure.

23. The medical device according toclaim 19, wherein a longitudinal extension of said support structure has a heat set shape to an extension of an outer diameter of said first balloon.

24. The medical device according toclaim 1, wherein said first balloon has a balloon body of elongate torus shape when inflated.

25. The medical device according toclaim 1, wherein said outer wall of said first balloon is at least partly devised for soft tissue apposition to an inner wall of said main lumen at a first portion of said outer wall, such that said device is configured to securely and sealingly engage said main lumen,

26. The medical device according toclaim 1, wherein said outer wall and said inner wall of said first balloon have sections of different rigidity.

27. The medical device according toclaim 26, wherein said different rigidity is provided by different wall thicknesses of said sections of said outer wall and said inner wall.

28. The medical device according toclaim 27, wherein said outer wall of said first balloon has proximal and distal end portions that have a wall thickness that is larger than a wall thickness at said first portion of said outer wall.

29. The medical device according toclaim 1, wherein a ratio of a maximum outer diameter of said first balloon in relation to maintained passage lumen diameter of said inner hollow is in the range of 40% to 90%.

30. The medical device according toclaim 29, wherein said ratio is larger than 75% up to 90%, such as 80%, 85%, or 90%.

31. The medical device according toclaim 1, comprising a locking function for releasably locking said support structure in said expanded state.

32. The medical device according toclaim 1, wherein said aggregate is radial flexible upon expansion.

33. The medical device according toclaim 1, wherein said device comprises radiopaque markers, and/or wherein said balloon is inflatable with radiopaque material, or wherein said balloon is filled with radiopaque material when inflated.

34. The medical device according toclaim 1, wherein said lumina are blood vessels, said outer wall is arrangable to sealingly cover an ostium of a branch lumen at said site, and said first balloon is inflatable over an extended period of time for occluding said ostium to said side branch vessel during a surgery of an organ supplied with blood by said side branch vessel.

35. The medical device according toclaim 1, wherein said aggregate is re-collapsible after expansion, such that said device is transluminally removable from said site and out of said body upon a time of occlusion of said flow through said opening.

36. The medical device according toclaim 1, wherein a unidirectional flow unit is arranged in said inner hollow.

37. A medical system devised for temporary closure of an opening of a main lumen of a body at a site inside said body, the system comprising:

at least one aggregate according to any ofclaims 1 to36 and a catheter comprising a catheter shaft and a catheter sheath; wherein

said aggregate of said medical device is associated with said catheter shaft at a distal end portion thereof, and wherein:

said catheter sheath is arranged to restrict expansion of said aggregate when positioned in said catheter sheath, and wherein

said catheter sheath is retractable from said catheter shaft to allow expansion of said aggregate at said site for said temporary closure; and/or.

an expansion unit arranged to provide an active expansion of the support structure upon delivery.

38. The medical system according toclaim 37, wherein said catheter shaft comprises a guidewire lumen for passage of a guidewire to position the catheter within the main lumen at said site, and at least one inflation lumen for inflating at least said first balloon; and wherein said system furthermore comprises a guidewire arranged in said guidewire lumen.

39. A kit of at least two aggregates according toclaim 1, wherein said aggregates are spaced apart from each other and interconnected to each other by a fluid leakage tight interconnection unit adapted to provide a through-flow of fluid between inner hollows of first balloons of said medical devices.

40. The kit according toclaim 39, wherein said interconnection unit is a tubular interconnection unit having a fluid tight tubular wall between a proximal end and a distal end of said tubular interconnection unit, wherein said proximal end of said tubular wall is connected to a distal opening of said inner hollow of a proximal of said aggregates, and wherein said distal end of said tubular wall is connected to a proximal opening of said inner hollow of a distal of said aggregates in order to provide a fluid channel between said inner hollows.

41. The kit according toclaim 40, wherein

said proximal of said aggregates is positionable proximally of an ostium of said branch lumen into said main lumen, and

said distal of said aggregates is positionable distally of said ostium, and wherein said

tubular wall is non-elastic and flexible and arrangable along said ostium, in said main lumen and at a distance from said ostium, without contacting tissue of said main lumen, ostium or branch lumen.

42. The kit according toclaim 40, wherein said wall comprises reinforcement structure.

43. A method for temporary occluding a fluid flow from a main lumen of a body through an opening in said main lumen at a site inside said body, wherein said method comprises

transluminally delivering a medical occlusion device, being affixed to a delivery system, in a collapsed state thereof to said site, and

expanding said medical occlusion device at said site at least partly by

inflating a first inflatable balloon of said medical occlusion device substantially between a proximal end and a distal end thereof, thus

appositioning an outer wall of said first balloon at least partly to an inner wall of said main lumen at said site, and

keeping open a passage of said fluid in said main lumen through a inner hollow of said first inflatable balloon interior of an inner wall thereof, and thus

substantially sealing off a passage of said fluid into said branch lumen when said medical occlusion device is deployed at said site, and providing a longitudinal fluid flow through said inner hollow, and after an occlusion time and transluminally retracting said re-collapsed medical occlusion device from said site.

44. The method according toclaim 43, comprising

radially expanding a support structure, longitudinally from said proximal end and to within said distal end of said first balloon, at an inner wall of said first balloon, thus supporting a patency of said inner hollow by said support structure.

45. The method according toclaim 44, wherein said expanding said support structure comprises inflating a second balloon at least partly arranged inside side inner hollow and said support structure.

46. The method according toclaim 44, comprising expanding said support structure to a diameter smaller than that of the main lumen.

47. The method according toclaim 43, wherein said inflating said first balloon comprises inflating said first balloon to an outside diameter larger than an interior diameter of the main lumen.

48. The method according toclaim 43, comprising performing said delivering and retracting by using a standard Seldinger technique and fluoroscopy.

49. The method according toclaim 44, comprising concurrently inflating said first and second balloon via a common inflation lumen.

50. The method according toclaim 44, comprising individually inflating said first and second balloon via separate inflation lumina.

51. The method according toclaim 50, comprising sequentially inflating said first balloon and then said second balloon.

52. The method according toclaim 43, comprising arranging said outer wall to sealingly cover an ostium of a branch lumen at said site, and keeping said first balloon inflated over an occlusion period of time for occluding said ostium.

53. The method according toclaim 43, comprising positioning at least two medical occlusion devices at said site spaced apart from each other, and interconnecting said medical devices to each other by a fluid leakage tight interconnection unit adapted, thus providing a through-flow of fluid between inner hollows of first balloons of said medical devices.

54. The method according toclaim 53, comprising providing said through-flow through a fluid channel of a tubular interconnection unit having a fluid tight tubular wall between a proximal end and a distal end of said tubular interconnection unit, wherein said proximal end of said tubular wall is connected to a distal opening of said inner hollow of a proximal of said medical devices, and wherein said distal end of said tubular wall is connected to a proximal opening of said inner hollow of a distal of said medical devices in order to provide a fluid channel between said inner hollows.

55. The method according toclaim 54, said positioning at least two medical occlusion devices at said site spaced apart from each other comprising

positioning a proximal medical occlusion device of said at least two medical occlusion devices proximally of an ostium of said branch lumen into said main lumen, and

positioning a distal medical occlusion device of said medical devices distally of said ostium, and

arranging said tubular wall along said ostium, in said main lumen, and at a distance from said ostium, without contacting tissue of said main lumen, ostium or branch lumen.

56. The method according toclaim 43, wherein said lumen is a blood vessel, said method comprising performing a surgery of an organ supplied with blood by said side branch lumen during at least a part of said occlusion period of time.

57. The method according toclaim 43, wherein said medical occlusion device is a medical device comprised in any ofclaims 1 to36.

58. The method according toclaim 43, wherein said opening is an opening to a branch lumen of said main lumen at a branch site, or an abnormal opening of said wall of said main lumen, or an aneurysm of said wall of said main lumen.

59. The method according toclaim 43, further comprising actively expanding said support structure.

60. The method according toclaim 43, wherein said method is a passive intervention.

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