Aortic catheter with flow divider and methods for preventing cerebral embolization

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Accordingly, the invention is a catheter with a fluid flow control member called a deflector or a fluid flow divider positioned near the distal end of the catheter for dividing a first lumen into two channels near a point where a second lumen branches from the first lumen, and for perfusing the branch lumen.
The invention will be described more specifically herein relating to an aortic catheter having a divider positioned in the aortic arch proximate the arch vessels.
The flow divider may be formed in a variety of configurations.
In general the flow divider will have an undeployed or collapsed state and an expanded or deployed state.
The flow divider may be deployed from an exterior surface of the catheter shaft, or it may be deployed from within a lumen in the catheter shaft.
In embodiments wherein the flow divider is coupled to an exterior surface, the flow divider will preferably have an undeployed state wherein the flow divider is contained in a relatively small volume around the circumference of the distal end (nearest the heart) of the catheter, having an exterior circumference that is preferably not significantly larger than the exterior circumference of the catheter.
In embodiments wherein the flow divider is deployed from within the catheter, the flow divider preferably has an undeployed state that is sized and configured for storage within a lumen in the catheter.
In both configurations, the catheter will generally have a deployed state in which the length and width of the flow divider is sufficient to divide blood flow in the aorta in the vicinity of the ostia of the arch vessels.
The flow divider may comprise one or more inflatable chambers or one or more selectively deployable shrouds.
The inflatable chambers may be relatively non-compliant or they may be compliant, exhibiting elastic behavior after initial inflation to closely fit the aortic lumen size and curvature.
The catheter may further include one or more additional or auxiliary flow control members located upstream or downstream from the flow divider to further segment the patient's circulatory system for selective perfusion to different organ systems within the body or to assist in anchoring the catheter in a desired position