Intravascular catheter and method
First Claim
1. An intravascular catheter for clearing a blockage in a blood vessel or the like comprisingflexible guide means for locating said vessel,a flexble first tube having said guide means mounted for relative rotational and reciprocal movement therein,a rotary flexible second tube having said first tube mounted for relative reciprocal movement therein,means for selectively rotating said second tube, andcutting means for cutting said blockage into fragments in response to rotation of said second tube comprising an outer cutting head mounted on said first tube, an inner cutting head rotatably mounted in protected relationship within said outer cutting head and connected to said second tube for simultaneous rotation therewith and cooperating blade means between said outer and inner cutting heads for cutting said blockage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An intravascular catheter includes a flexible guide wire mounted for relative rotational and reciprocal movements within a reciprocal and flexible first tube or sheath. A rotary and flexible second tube is mounted for relative reciprocal movement on the first tube and has a rotary inner cutting head secured on an end thereof. The inner cutting head is closely fitted within an outer cutting head that is slidably mounted on the first tube. In carrying out the method of this invention, a blockage in a blood vessel, such as a coronary artery, is located and the outer cutting head engages the blockage to cut the blockage into fragments in response to rotation of the inner cutting head. The fragments are flushed-out from the inner cutting head and are drained through an evacuated annular passage defined between the first and second tubes.
527 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An intravascular catheter for clearing a blockage in a blood vessel or the like comprising
flexible guide means for locating said vessel, a flexble first tube having said guide means mounted for relative rotational and reciprocal movement therein, a rotary flexible second tube having said first tube mounted for relative reciprocal movement therein, means for selectively rotating said second tube, and cutting means for cutting said blockage into fragments in response to rotation of said second tube comprising an outer cutting head mounted on said first tube, an inner cutting head rotatably mounted in protected relationship within said outer cutting head and connected to said second tube for simultaneous rotation therewith and cooperating blade means between said outer and inner cutting heads for cutting said blockage.
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14. In an intravascular catheter for clearing a blockage in a blood vessel or the like, the invention comprising
a rotatable elongated flexible tubular drive member, an elongated tubular catheter mounted within the drive member, guide means for locating said vessel, and rotary cutting means for engaging and cutting said blockage into fragments comprising, an inner cutting head attached to said drive member to rotate simultaneously therewith and rotatably mounted in protected relationship within an outer cutting head, said outer cutting head attached to the catheter, and cooperating blade means between said inner and outer cutting heads for cutting said blockage into fragments.
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20. A method for clearing a blockage in a blood vessel comprising the steps of
locating said vessel and blockage, and subjecting said blockage to a rotary cutting action by a rotary cutter to cut said blockage into fragments, including the steps of engaging said blockage with a relatively non-rotating outer cutting head of said rotary cutter and rotating inner cutting head of said rotary cutter rotatably mounted within said outer cutting head.
Specification