ATHERECTOMY DEVICES AND METHODS

• US 20110270289A1
• Filed: 07/14/2011
• Published: 11/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Atheromed, Inc. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Atheromed, Inc. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: To, John, Danek, Christopher James
• Application Number:
  US13/182,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20110270289A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/159
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22 Implements for squeezing-off ulcers or the like on the inside of inner organs of the body; Implements for scraping-out cavities of body organs, e.g. bones; Calculus removers; Calculus smashing apparatus; Apparatus for removing obstructions in blood vessels, not otherwise provided for dilators A61M29/00
• 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 17/320783 through side-hole, e.g. sliding or rotating cutter inside catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00318 Steering mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22038 with a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22041 outside the catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320716 comprising means for preventing embolism by dislodged material
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320741 for stripping the intima or the internal plaque from a blood vessel, e.g. for endarterectomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320775 Morcellators, impeller or propeller like means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3735 Optical coherence tomography [OCT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3784 both receiver and transmitter being in the instrument or receiver being also transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0152 with pre-shaped mechanisms, e.g. pre-shaped stylets or pre-shaped outer tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0155 with hydraulic or pneumatic means, e.g. balloons or inflatable compartments

Abstract

The devices and methods generally relate to treatment of occluded body lumens. In particular, the present devices and method relate to removal of the occluding material from the blood vessels as well as other body lumens.

Claims

1. A vascular device for removing material from body lumens, the device comprising:

a straightening tube, having a straight distal portion;

a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter body having a flexible section located towards the distal end, such that when located in the straight distal portion of the straightening tube the flexible section is less curved

a cutter assembly located at the distal end of the catheter body, the cutter assembly comprising a housing having at least one opening and a cutter having at least one cutting surface configured to rotate relative to the housing, where movement between the housing opening and the cutting surface removes material located therebetween; and

a rotating shaft extending through the catheter body and coupled to the cutter, the torque shaft having a proximal end adapted to couple to a first rotating mechanism.

2. The vascular device of claim 1, where the flexible section of the catheter body comprises a curved shape and the straight distal portion of the straightening tube comprises a substantially straight shape such that when located in the straight distal portion the flexible section of the catheter straightens.

3. The vascular device of claim 2, where the catheter body is coupled to a second rotating mechanism, such that when the curved section is advanced out of the straightening tube, rotation of the catheter body causes the cutter assembly to move in an arc.

4. The vascular device of claim 3, further comprising a locking hub configured to lock the catheter body relative to the straightening tube such that the arc may have a constant radius.

5. The vascular device of claim 1, where the flexible section of the catheter body comprises a substantially straight shape and the distal portion comprises a curved shape such that when located in the stiff distal section the flexible section of the catheter assumes the curved shape.

6. The vascular device of claim 5, where the outer sheath is coupled to a second rotating mechanism, such that when advanced over the in the stiff distal section, rotation of the catheter body causes the cutter assembly to move in an arc.

7. The vascular device of claim 6, further comprising a locking hub configured to lock the catheter body relative to the steering member body relative to the steering member such that the arc may have a constant radius.

8. The device of claim 1, where a portion of the housing comprises a curved surface and the opening forms a plane across the curved surface such that as the cutting surface rotates across the opening, a portion of the cutting surface extends out of the housing through the opening.

9. The device of claim 1, where the torque shaft and cutter assembly each have a lumen allowing for advancement of a guidewire therethrough.

10. The device of claim 1, cutter comprises a plurality of flutes where the cutting surface is an edge of the flute.

11. The device of claim 10, where the cutting surface of the flute is helical.

12. The device of claim 10, where each flute is arranged relative to the openings in the housing such that during a total length of the cutting surface exposed in the housing opening remains the same.

13. The device of claim 1, further including a ferrule linking the housing to the said outer tube on the catheter body.

14. The device of claim 1, where the shaft has at least one helical conveyor member wound about an exterior such that rotation of the torque shaft conveys material across a length of the torque shaft.

15. The device of claim 1, where the helical conveyor member is wound in the same rotational sense as the helical flutes on the cutter

16. The device of claim 1, where a guide-wire portion is fixedly attached to the cutter.

17. The device of claim 1, where the deflecting member comprises a wire extending along a length of the flexible catheter.