FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device and a method for controlling the flow of a fluid like blood through a vessel, in particular for intravascular reduction of the vessel lumen. The device and method can be used tor the treatment o medical conditions that require the reduction of blood flow and blood pressure distal to the site of device a replication.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Congenital heart disease with increased pulmonary blood flow requires stage- by-stage treatment when the risk of performing total surgical correction is high or impossible. The first stage in reducing pulmonary blood flow is surgical banding o the pulmonary artery. In case of dilated ca rd io m y opa thy in children and adults this kind of operation will improve the functional status o the patient and significantly delay the necessity for heart transplantation. There is great need for this kind of operation because the number of patients is increasing every year. Nowadays, endovascular interventions can often substitute surgical treatment and are less traumatic. Nevertheless, pulmonary artery banding is still performed surgically. This is mainly due to the tact that the devices that were developed for endovascular pulmonary artery banding are bulky and need a large diameter of the delivery system, and thus, cannot be safely used in children.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a device and a method for controlling the flow of a fluid through a vessel, in particular for adjustable intravascular flow restriction. Further objects and advantages of the invention are described hereinafter. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The above mentioned object can be achieved by a device according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 8.

Disclosed is inter alia a medical device for controlling the flow of blood through a vessel comprising a stent, a membrane, a rigid member and a thread. The membrane is used to reduce the vessel lumen while the stent is preferably only used to fix the device in the vessel. Disclosed is also a method for controlling the flow of blood through a vessel using such a device wherein the membrane forms an opening and the thread forms a loop around said opening and by pulling at one end of the thread the loop is tightened and the size of the opening is red uced.

In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention are described. The featu es mentioned in respect of said embodiments are to be individually considered preferred features and they may be implemented individ ually or in any combination provided such features do not exclude each other.

Ad va n tageo u s ly , by pulling on the thread the length of the free membrane edge and/ or the diameter of the opening defined by said edge is reduced.

The optionally present rigid member can have the function of centering the membrane (and/ or the opening) in relation to the stent axis. The rigid member can also have the function of fixing and/ or holding the thread. The member can for example be a tube.

For introducing the device into a vessel a stabilizing catheter can be used.

Optionally, the thread can be pulled outwards through the stabilizing catheter.

It is preferred that after pulling on the thread the exposed part of the thread is cut off, preferably adjacent to the base of the stent. For cutting the thread a cutting catheter can for example be used. Optionally, the thread can be put between the turns of a spiral of such a catheter for the fixation of the thread during the cut off.

Of particular interest is a medical device for controlling the flow of a liquid through a vessel wherein the device comprises a stent part, a membrane part, a thread, and preferably a rigid member. The membrane part is attached to the stent part and forms a flow opening (i.e. an opening tor the fluid to pass through the device), wherein the size of the flow opening is adjustable by means of a thread which extends along and/ or around and/ or adjacent to the flow opening. Even though other solutions are possible it seems most useful if the thread forms a loop around the flow opening.

By pulling on the thread the length of the part of the thread that is arranged along and/ or around and/ or adjacent to the flow opening can preferably be reduced. Alternatively or in addition the length of the edge of the flow opening can preferably be reduced by pulling on the thread.

The device can be used as an alternative way to conventional surgical pulmonary artery banding. One of the advantages is that there is no necessity for general anesthesia and artificial lung ventilation. This can significantly reduce the time in the operating room, in the intensive care unit and in the hospital.

Therefore, the costs will be significantly reduced.

Disclosed is also a method for the treatment of medical conditions that require the reduction of blood flow and/ or the reduction of blood pressure, wherein the device disclosed in this document is used for this purpose. The device can be applied within a vessel to reduce the lumen of the vessel and thereby reduce blood flow past the device and/ or pressure distal to the location of the device.

The membrane part is preferably in the form of a tube with two openings at the two opposing ends. The two opposing ends comprise a first free and/ or unattached end and a second end, wherein the second end is attached to the stent part.

Preferably, the first end of the membrane part is located downstream of the second end of the membrane part when the device is located inside the vessel.

When the flow opening is completely open the membrane part can be essentiall cylindrical. When the size of the flow opening is reduced the

membrane part can be t unnel-shaped.

Preferably, the membrane part along its second end and/ or along its outer circumference is sealabiy connected to the stent part to avoid fluid to pass between the membrane part and the stent part.

The membrane part tu rther comprises a guide for the thread. The guide extends along the first end (preferably along and/ or adjacent to the flow opening at the first end of the membrane part). From there the guide can preferably extend outwardly and/ or in the direction of the second end of the membrane part and/ or in the direction of the stent part. Alternatively or in addition, the guide can extend between the first end and the second end of the membrane part. Preferably, the thread's point of exit from the device is located closer to the second end of the membrane part than to the first end of the membrane part and/ or it is located adjacent to the sten part.

The thread is arranged within the guide. It forms a loop around the opening at the first end of the membrane part and/ or the thread completely or partially encircles the opening. Preferably, the thread also extends between the first end and the second end. The thread exits the device at one place. Part of the thread is thus exposed and accessible. It is preferred that the thread exits the guide at the second end of the membrane part and/ or near the base of the stent.

According to an embodiment, the membrane part comprises a lumen that extends between two opposing ends of the membrane part (first and second end), wherein each of said ends has an opening that connects with and allows for fl uid flow through said lumen. In particular, the membrane part provides a passage (for the fluid transported by the vessel, preferably blood) that extends between said first and second end. The opening at the first end (the "flow opening") preferably provides the smallest cross-section along the passage and/ or determines the flow rate through the passage.

According to one aspect, the flow opening constitutes the only opening or the largest opening of the device allowing the fluid to flow past the device.

The rigid member preferably extends between the first end and the second end of the membrane part and/ or between the flow opening and the stent part.

The member is " rigid" in the sense that it is more rigid than the membrane part. There can be one, two, three or more such rigid members.

The rigid member preferably extends along the guide and/ or between the first end and the second end of the membrane part.

In particular, the rigid member is a tube, preferably made of metal or plastic, wherein the tube forms the part of the guide extending between the first end and the second end of the membrane part. In this case the thread can be movably arranged within the tube. If there is more than one rigid member, of course only one of them could be in the form of a tube to act as guide for the thread.

The rigid member can hel centering the flow opening at the first end of the membrane part within the vessel and/ or within the stent part. In particular, the rigid member can help prevent the first end of the membrane part from being drawn in the direction of the second end and/ or in the direction of the stent when the thread is pulled on.

According to an aspect the thread is movable relative to the guide into a first direction to reduce the size of the flow opening (and/ or to tighten the loop of the thread) and into a second direction to increase the size of the flow opening

(and/ or to enlarge the loop of the thread).

For example, the force required to move the thread into the second direction can be equal or higher than the force required to move the thread into the first direction.

It is preferred that the minimum force required to move the thread into the second direction is higher than 0.3, 0.4 or 0.5 and/ or lower than 5, 3 or 1 Newton.

Alternatively or in addition the minimum force required to move the thread into the second direction can be higher than the maximum force exerted by the fluid on the device.

The adjustment of the required force can be achieved in different ways. For example, a narrowing of the guide can create increased friction between the guide and the thread (compared to the average friction between the guide and the thread).

According to one aspect the rigid member in the form of a tube has a

coarctation that holds the thread. The degree of coarctation is determined in such a way that the force required tor the movement of the thread past the coarctation is preferably more than 0.3 or 0.5 and/ or less than 1.5 or 1 Newton. This allows for the thread to move in the tube during banding and reliable fixation of the thread in the tube after the banding. At one point the thread can be fixed and/ or attached to the rigid member and/ or to the guide, for example by a narrowing of the guide or the tube (if the rigid member is a tube). Consequently, it is not only possible that both ends of the thread exit the device and/ or the guide but also that only one end of the thread exits the device and/ or the guide. According to one embodiment the loop which the thread forms can be essentially P-shaped with only one end of the thread exiting.

The function of the stent part is to hold the device in a fixed position relative to the vessel and/ or to secure the device in the vessel and/ or to secure the device to the wall of the vessel.

The stent part is adapted to contact an inner surface of the vessel for securing the device inside the vessel and/ or to the inner surface of the vessel. Preferably, the stent part is held in place by exerting a radially outward pressure on the vessel.

For example, the stent part can be expandable and/ or can have an adjustable diameter wherein the maximum diameter of the stent part is preferably larger than the diameter of the vessel into which the device is to be implanted.

Alternatively or in addition the diameter of the stent part can be more than 0.5, 1, or 2 and/ or less than 4 or 3 Millimeters larger than the diameter of the vessel into which the stent is implanted.

According to one aspect, the stent part is adapted to sealably connect along its outer surface and/ or along its outer circumference to the inner surface of the vessel to avoid fluid to pass between the stent part and the vessel surface.

The length of the stent part can preferably be more than 30, 40 or 50 and/ or less than 150, 120 or 100 percent of the diameter of the stent part.

The stent part is connected to the membrane part, preferably at one end of the stent part and/ or membrane part. The membrane part and the stent part can (from where they are connected) extend into opposite directions or into the same direction (preferably the direction of fluid flow), wherein the latter is preferred. According to an aspect of the invention the membrane part is arranged within the stent part and/ or an outer surface of the tube-shaped membrane part faces an inner surface of the stent part.

Preferably, the membrane part is made of a tube-shaped membrane, wherein the membrane is preferably made of polytetrafluoroethy ene.

It is useful if the membrane is folded at the first end of the membrane part to form two layers, an outer layer of the membrane part and an inner layer of the membrane part. In this case the guide and/ or the thread can be arranged between the two layers. For example, the surfaces of the two layers facing one another can form the guide for the thread. In particular, the part of the guide extending along the first end (preferably along and/ or adjacent to the opening at the f irst end) of the membrane part and/ or the part of the guide that extends between the first end and the second end of the membrane part can be formed in this manner.

According to an aspect of the invention the rigid member is also arranged between the two layers of the membrane.

The membrane a d v a n t a ge o u s 1 y forms the connection between the membrane part and the stent part. For example, the membrane can continue from, the membrane part to the stent part, wherein the membrane preferably forms a layer on the outside of the stent part facing away from the membrane part.

Alternatively or additionally the membrane can be wrapped around the thread along the first end of the membrane part and/ or wrapped around the stent.

A method for controlling the flow of a fluid (preferably blood) through a vessel and/ or for adjustably reducing a vessel lumen can comprise pulling on a thread fo ming a loop around a flow opening of a device positioned in the vessel, thereby tightening the loop and reducing the size of the flow opening. Preferably, such a method makes use of the device described in this document.

If necessary, the diameter of the flow opening can be increased, for example by introducing an object (which is preferably not part of the device) into the flow opening and/ or by applying pressure in a radially outward direction on the edge of the flow opening. The object can tor example be a balloon and by inflating the balloon the flow opening can be enlarged. Other methods are however possible. For example, it the thread is sufficiently rigid it may be pushed into the device (and/ or it may be pushed in the direction opposite to the direction it was pulled to reduce the diameter of the opening) thereby increasing the diameter of the flow opening. Such a step is also helped by the presence of a rigid member as described in this document.

The device can be introduced into a vessel and/ or guided to (for example along the vessel) and positioned at a predetermined position within a vessel. Preferably this is done using a catheter. In this case the thread can be pulled out through the catheter.

Preferably, before pulling on the thread a catheter is placed adjacent to the point of exit of the thread from the device to stabilize the device.

The point of exit of the thread from the device is preferably located at the second end of the membrane part. In particular, the point of exit can be formed by the guide and/ or the tube (if the rigid member is a tube).

After pulling on the thread and/ or after the loop has been tightened and the diameter of the opening at the first end of the membrane part has been reduced the part of the thread exiting the device can be cut away, for example using a cutting catheter, wherein the cutting catheter preferably comprises a spiral tube and the thread is positioned between the turns of the spiral of the catheter for fixation of the thread while the part of the thread is cut off.

The device is intended for intravascular reduction of the vessel lumen, and can be used in medical conditions that require reduction of a blood flow and/ and or reduction of the pressure distal from the site of device implantation.

The device is intended for adjustable reduction of the lumen of a vessel by endovascular access. It can be used for congenital and acquired heart defects when pulmonary artery banding is indicated. The device should be used in specialized hospitals that provide cardiovascular care for children and adults.

According to one embodiment the device comprises a stent, a membrane, a tube and a thread. Reduction of the vessel lumen is achieved with the help of the membrane. The stent is preferably not involved in reduction of the vessel lumen, it provides a fixation function for the whole device. The device enables to significantly reduce the diameter and the length of the device, as compared to devices that use metal parts of a stent to reduce the lumen.

According to one aspect the device comprises an outer part of the device (preferably the described stent part) and an inner part of the device (preferably the described membrane part). The outer part is adapted to contact the vessel and to anchor the device and/ or secure it in place within the vessel, whereas the inner part has an opening (preferably the described flow opening) the size of which can be adjusted. The inner part is ring- or tube-shaped, wherein one end (preferably the described second end) and/ or a base portion of the ring or tube is attached to the outer part of the device and an opposing end (preferably the described first end) and/ or a front portion of the ring or tube comprises the opening. Preferably, the opening is the only and/ or largest opening through which the fluid

(preferably blood) which is transported by the vessel can pass to get from one (upstream) side of the device to the other (downstream) side. The size of the opening can be reduced by pulling at a thread that partially or completely encircles the opening, preferably arranged in the form of a loop. The thread is arranged within the inner part of the device and exits the device preferably at the base portion close to where it is connected to the outer part so that the exit poin is close to the wall of the vessel. The inner part is flexible and/ or made of a membrane.

The device described in this document is preferably a medical device for application in a vessel (in particular a blood vessel), for example a vessel of the body of a living animal or a living human being, in particular a human child and/ or an adolescent human. The device can be used to control the flow of a fluid (in particu ar blood) through a vessel (in particular a blood vessel) and/ or to adjustably reduce a vessel lumen (in particular by endovascular access) and/ or for the treatment of a medical condition that requires the reduction of fluid flow and/ or fluid pressure (in particular distal to and/ or downstream of the site of device application). Disclosed is also a method for the a fore m e n t i o ned purpose(s) in which a device of the kind described in this document is used. Preferably, in the context of this document the word "distal" means

downstream of the device in respect of the flow of fluid (in particular blood).

According to a preferred definition, the direction perpendicular to a radial direction of the stent part and/ or of the membrane part is defined as the "axial direction" of the device.

If the device or its parts are mentioned and if it is not clear from the context which state is meant preferably the device in its implanted state (inside a vessel) and alternatively in its non-implanted state (outside the vessel) shall be disclosed.

According to a preferred embodiment the device comprises a stent part providing a flow channel for the fluid and a flexible membrane part within the stent part that closes the flow channel off except for a flow opening. A thread is arranged within the membrane part with one end exi ting the device and thus being accessible. The thread forms a loop around the flow opening and by pulling on the thread the loop can be constricted which leads to a reduction of the size of the flow opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 A is a lateral view of the device; the part of the membrane creating banding is closed. FIG. IB is a front cross section view of FIG. 1 A.

FIG. 2A is a lateral view of the device; the part of the membrane creating banding is opened. FIG. 2B is a front cross section view of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 is a cross section of the proxima part of the device; the part of the membrane creating banding is closed.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial view of the cross section of the proximal part of the device; the part of the membrane creating banding is opened.

FIG. 5 shows the device installed as a flow restrictor in the main pulmonary artery.

FIG. 6 is a cross section view of a cutting catheter. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following a preferred embodiment of the invention is described. All figures 1 A through 6 show the same embodiment.

The depicted device comprises a stent 1 (forming a stent part of the device), a membrane 2 (forming a membrane part of the device) and a thread 3.

In all figures the stent 1 is opened and the proximal part of the stent 1 is partially covered by a layer 2a of the membrane. The part of the membrane creating the banding (i.e. a restriction of the blood flow) is the free edge 2b of the membrane which can be closed (as shown in FIG. 1 A - FIG. IB) or opened, as shown in FIG. 2 A - FIG. 2B. Co r res po n d i n g 1 y , the opening provided by the device for the blood to pass which is defined by the free edge 2b of the membrane is larger in the described opened state and smaller in the closed state. In the opened position the device does not hinder the blood flow, as the free edge 2b of the membrane is placed along the stent.

The membrane 2 is a one-piece tube that is rolled twice: once inside the stent 1 and once around the loop-forming part 3a of the thread (see FIG. 3 - FIG. 4). Thus, there is one membrane layer 2a outside the stent and two membrane layers 2c, 2d inside of it: an external layer 2c and an internal layer 2d. The loop forming part 3a of the thread and a metal tube 4 are arranged between the internal 2d and the external 2c layer.

The thread 3 has three parts: a part that forms a loop 3a; a fixation part 3b inside the tube 4; an adjusting part 3c that is exposed and thus accessible.

The device is placed in the trunk of the pulmonary artery 7 above the sinotubular junction (FIG. 5). The banding is achieved by tightening the loop of the thread 3, which leads to a red uction of the diameter of the free membrane edge 2b. In order to prevent stent dislocation during traction, the stabilizing catheter 6 is placed right up to the tube 4. The thread 3 can be pulled out through the stabilizing catheter 6 (FIG. 3).

The necessary degree of banding is achieved under pressure control in the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery. If necessary the lumen can be increased by ba loon dilatation. Increase and decrease of the vessel lumen can be performed repeatedly. Once the best diameter of banding is achieved, the thread 3 is cut off at the base of the stent 1 with a special cutting catheter (FIG. 6). The cutting catheter is a spiral tube 8, comprised of an elastic wire and a wire 9 with a sharp tube 10 at the end. The thread 3 is fixed among spiral turns and cut off with the help of the sharp tube 10.

The inner diameter of the membrane tor banding remains stable due to fixation of the thread 3b in the tube 4 with coarctation 5 (FIG. 3). After the adjusting part of the thread 3c has been removed, it is impossible to further reduce the 1 umen. The increase of the lumen is possible at any time by balloon dilatation.

stent

membrane

a layer of membrane outside the stentb tree edge of membrane

c external layer of membrane inside the stentd internal layer of membrane inside the stent thread

a loop forming part of the thread

b fixation part of the thread

c adjusting part of the thread

metal tube

coarctation

stabilizing catheter

pulmonary artery

spiral tube of cutting catheter

wire of cutting catheter

0 sha p tube of cutting catheter