Valvulotome
First Claim
1. A valvulotome device comprising:
- a handle;
a bifurcated assembly operatively engaged to said handle having a distal portion including a cutter head, said cutter head having a plurality of adjustable cutting blades and a proximal portion including a guide head, said guide head having a plurality of adjustable guide fins;
a catheter wire operatively engaged to said cutter head and said guide head through said handle and disposed within said bifurcated assembly, wherein said catheter wire permits remote manipulation of said cutter head and said guide head; and
first and second wedge members operatively engaged to said catheter wire and movably disposed inside said cutter head and said guide head, respectively, and in further operative engagement with said plurality of adjustable cutting blades and said plurality of adjustable guide fins, such that movement of said first and second wedge members controls the movement of said plurality of adjustable cutting blades and said plurality of adjustable guide fins, respectively.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A valvulotome device having retractable cutting blades and guide fins which permits continual centralizing, self-alignment of the cutting blades within the lumen of the vein is disclosed. The valvulotome device comprises a bifurcated assembly having a cutter head and guide head joined by a conduit member permitting communication of a catheter wire running longitudinally through the device. The cutter head and guide head each define a chamber adapted to receive the catheter wire therein. First and second wedge members are operatively engaged to the catheter wire and disposed inside a respective chamber of the cutter head and guide head which permit the surgeon to remotely manipulate the degree to which the cutting blades and guide fins emerge from the cutter head and guide head, respectively, as well as allow rotation of the device about its axis thereby increasing the maneuverability of the device as it is pulled through the vein.
82 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A valvulotome device comprising:
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a handle;
a bifurcated assembly operatively engaged to said handle having a distal portion including a cutter head, said cutter head having a plurality of adjustable cutting blades and a proximal portion including a guide head, said guide head having a plurality of adjustable guide fins;
a catheter wire operatively engaged to said cutter head and said guide head through said handle and disposed within said bifurcated assembly, wherein said catheter wire permits remote manipulation of said cutter head and said guide head; and
first and second wedge members operatively engaged to said catheter wire and movably disposed inside said cutter head and said guide head, respectively, and in further operative engagement with said plurality of adjustable cutting blades and said plurality of adjustable guide fins, such that movement of said first and second wedge members controls the movement of said plurality of adjustable cutting blades and said plurality of adjustable guide fins, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of using a valvulotome device to cut one or more valves of a vein, the method comprising:
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a) providing a valvulotome device comprising a handle operatively engaged to a bifurcated assembly having a distal portion including a cutter head said cutter head having a plurality of retractable, radially oriented cutting blades and a proximal portion including a guide head said guide head having a plurality of retractable, radially oriented guide fins, wherein said catheter wire is operatively engaged to first and second wedge members disposed inside said cutter head and guide head, respectively, and in operative engagement with said plurality of cutting blades and plurality of guide fins such that movement of each first and second wedge members controls said cutting diameter said plurality of cutting blades and said effective diameter of said guide fins, respectively;
b) inserting said bifurcated body into said vein; and
c) pulling said bifurcated body back through said vein such that said one or more valves of said vein are cut. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A bifurcated assembly for use in a valvelotome device comprising:
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a conduit member joined between a distal portion having a cutter head defining a chamber and a proximal portion having a guide head defining a chamber said head including a plurality of retractable radially oriented cutting blades, and said guide head including a plurality of retractable, radially oriented guide fins, wherein each of said cutter head and said guide head includes a wedge member disposed in each respective chamber and being adapted to operatively engage a catheter wire such that the diameters of cutting blades and guide fins can be adjusted by manipulation of said catheter wire. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. A valvulotome device comprising:
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the bifurcated assembly comprising cutting means for cutting valves in a vein of a patient and guide means for maintaining said cutting means in a continual centralizing, self-alignment within a lumen of a vein, and means engaged to said bifurcated assembly to permit remote manipulation and navigation of said valvulotome device by a user through said vein of a patient.
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Specification