METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REVERSIBLY CONTROLLED DRILLING OF LUMINAL OCCLUSIONS

• US 20100125276A1
• Filed: 11/14/2008
• Published: 05/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Revascular Therapeutics Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Palermo, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,657,821 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/80
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320758 with a rotating cutting instrument, e.g. motor driven A61B17/320725, A61B17/32075 and A61B17/320783 take precedence; for removing intra-ocular material A61F9/00763; endoscopic rotatable cutting instruments A61B17/32002
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output with imaging means A61B90/37, A61B34/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00128 related to intensity or progress of surgical action
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/03 Processes

Abstract

A luminal drilling system includes a drilling device and a control unit. The drilling device includes an elongate member having a drive shaft with a drill tip. The control unit includes a motor connectable to the drive shaft and control circuitry which rotationally oscillates the drive shaft with the direction of rotation automatically reversing whenever the load on the motor and/or drive shaft exceeds a threshold value.

Claims

1. A method for advancing an elongate member across an occlusion in a body lumen, said method comprising:

advancing a distal end of the elongate member into the occlusion;

rotating a drive shaft having a drill tip extending distally from the distal end of the elongate member in one direction as the elongate member is advanced into the occlusion;

measuring a rotational load on the drive shaft; and

reversing the rotational direction of the drive shaft whenever the measured load meets or exceeds a threshold value.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the body lumen is a blood vessel and the occlusion comprises calcific plaque.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the drill tip is rotated at a maximum speed in the range from 5,000 rpm to 20,000 rpm.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein measuring the rotational load comprises measuring current drawn by a motor which rotates the drive shaft.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein measuring the rotational load comprises measuring the rotational speed of the shaft or a motor driving the shaft.

6. A method as in claim 1, further comprising adjusting the threshold value before and/or during a procedure.

7. A method as in claim 1, further comprising producing an audible or visual output representative of the measured amount of load on the motor or drive shaft.

8. A method as in claim 1, further comprising producing an audible and/or visual output whenever the threshold value is met or exceeded and the rotational direction is reversed.

9. A luminal drilling system comprising:

a rotational penetrating device including an elongate member, and a drive shaft extending through said member and having a drill tip which emerges distally from a distal end of the drilling device;

a motor connectable to a proximal portion of the drive shaft to rotational drive the drive shaft;

a load sensor coupled to the motor or to the drive shaft, wherein the sensor produces an output signal which is representative of the rotational load on the drill tip as said tip is rotated and advanced through occlusive material in a body lumen;

motor control circuitry which reverses the direction of rotation of the motor when the sensed rotational load meets or exceeds a threshold value.

10. A luminal drilling system as in claim 9, wherein the elongate member comprises a tube having a diameter in the range from 0.008 in. to 0.04 in.

11. A luminal drilling system as in claim 10, wherein the motor may be detached from the drive shaft.

12. A luminal drilling system as in claim 10, wherein the motor includes a coupling for removably attaching the motor to the drive shaft.

13. A luminal drilling system as in claim 9, wherein the drill tip of the drilling device is adapted to penetrate equally well when rotated in either direction.

14. A luminal drilling system as in claim 9, wherein the motor is controllable to rotate at a maximum speed in the range from 5,000 rpm to 20,000 rpm.

15. A luminal drilling system as in claim 9, wherein the load sensor measures current consumption by the motor, wherein increased current consumption indicates an increase in load.

16. A luminal drilling system as in claim 9, wherein the load sensor measures rotational speed of the motor or drive shaft, wherein decreased rotational speed indicates an increase in load.

17. A luminal drilling system as in claim 9, further comprising circuitry which produces a visual and/or audible output in response to the output signal of the load sensor.

18. A luminal drilling system as in claim 17, wherein the visual and/or audible output comprises a first output level when the load is below the threshold value and a second output level when the load is at or above the threshold to indicate that the motor direction is changing.

19. A luminal drilling system as in claim 17, wherein the visual and/or audible output comprises a first output level when there is minimal load, a second output level when there is load below the threshold, and a third output level when load is at or above the threshold to indicate that the motor direction is changing.

20. A rotational driver for a luminal rotational penetrating device which includes an elongate body and a drive shaft extending through said body and having a drill tip which emerges distally from a distal end of the elongate body, the driver comprising:

a motor adapted to rotational drive the drive shaft;

a load sensor coupled to the motor or to the drive shaft, wherein said sensor produces an output signal which is representative of the rotational load on the drill tip as said tip is rotated and advanced through occlusive material in a body lumen; and

motor control circuitry which reverses the direction of rotation of the motor when the sensed rotational load meets or exceeds a threshold value.

21. A rotational driver as in claim 20, wherein the motor is controllable to rotate at a maximum speed in the range from 5,000 rpm to 20,000 rpm.

22. A rotational driver as in claim 20, wherein the load sensor measures current consumption by the motor, wherein increased current consumption indicates an increase in load.

23. A rotational driver as in claim 20, wherein the load sensor measures rotational speed of the motor or drive shaft, wherein decreased rotational speed indicates an increase in load.

24. A rotational driver as in claim 20, further comprising circuitry which produces a visual and/or audible output in response to the output signal of the load sensor.

25. A rotational driver as in claim 24, wherein the visual and/or audible output comprises a first output level when the load is below the threshold and a second output condition when the load is at or above the threshold to indicate that the motor direction is changing.

26. A rotational driver as in claim 24, wherein the visual and/or audible output comprises a first output level when there is minimal load, a second output level when there is load below the threshold, and a third output level when load is at or above the threshold to indicate that the motor direction is changing.