Expandable pullback atherectomy catheter system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for deployment within a vessel of a living body for removing obstructing tissue on the inner wall of said vessel, the apparatus comprising:
- catheter means having a distal portion with a first more proximal region for cutting said obstructing tissue, and a second most distal region for collecting said obstructing tissue after it has been cut from the vessel wall, and said distal portion being capable of assuming a first and a second diameter, said second diameter being larger than said first diameter;
cutting means located at said first more proximal region of said distal portion of the catheter means for cutting said obstructing tissue as the catheter means is pulled back in a retrograde direction through said obstruction tissue;
tissue collecting means having a proximal and a distal end located at said second most distal region of said distal portion of the catheter means for collecting said obstructing tissue as it is cut from the vessel wall;
deployment means for selectively causing said distal portion to assume said first or second diameter; and
centering means on aid distal portion of the catheter means for engaging the inner wall of the vessel when said distal portion assumes said second diameter and for preventing the cutting means from contacting and cutting the inner wall of said vessel.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is an Expandable Pullback Atherectomy Catheter (EPAC) comprising a distal tip portion capable of assuming two diameters. The distal tip portion includes an expandable cutting means and an expandable tissue collecting means. The catheter is guided in an artery to the stenosis and the distal tip is urged past the stenosis while being maintained in a compressed state by a sheathing catheter. The sheathing catheter is withdrawn allowing the cutting means and collecting means to expand. The stenotic tissue is removed by pulling the distal tip back in a retrograde direction while the cut tissue is captured in the collecting means. Additional structural details are provided to prevent injury to the inner wall of an artery and to avoid total obstruction of the artery during the antherectomy procedure.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. An apparatus for deployment within a vessel of a living body for removing obstructing tissue on the inner wall of said vessel, the apparatus comprising:
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catheter means having a distal portion with a first more proximal region for cutting said obstructing tissue, and a second most distal region for collecting said obstructing tissue after it has been cut from the vessel wall, and said distal portion being capable of assuming a first and a second diameter, said second diameter being larger than said first diameter; cutting means located at said first more proximal region of said distal portion of the catheter means for cutting said obstructing tissue as the catheter means is pulled back in a retrograde direction through said obstruction tissue; tissue collecting means having a proximal and a distal end located at said second most distal region of said distal portion of the catheter means for collecting said obstructing tissue as it is cut from the vessel wall; deployment means for selectively causing said distal portion to assume said first or second diameter; and centering means on aid distal portion of the catheter means for engaging the inner wall of the vessel when said distal portion assumes said second diameter and for preventing the cutting means from contacting and cutting the inner wall of said vessel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for removing obstructing tissue from a vessel within a living body using a catheter system having a distal portion comprising a cutting means and a tissue collection means, said distal portion being capable of assuming a first and second diameter, said first diameter being smaller than said second diameter, said method comprising the steps of:
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advancing said catheter system with said distal portion in said first diameter position, through said vessel until the distal portion is just beyond the obstructing tissue; causing said distal portion of the catheter means to assume said second diameter; pulling said catheter system back in a retrograde direction through said obstructing tissue to place said cutting means in contact with the obstructing tissue and said cutting means to be of sufficient hardness to form a sharp cutting edge to cut said obstructing tissue away from the wall of the vessel while the cut tissue is collected in the collection means; and withdrawing said catheter system from the vessel along with the cut and collected obstructing tissue. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. An apparatus for deployment within a vessel of a living body for removing obstructing tissue from said vessel, the apparatus comprising:
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catheter means having a distal portion capable of assuming a first and a second diameter, said second diameter being larger than said first diameter; tissue cutting means located proximally to said distal portion of said catheter means, said cutting means being of sufficient hardness to form a sharp cutting edge or grinding surface to cut said obstructing tissue away from the vessel wall; tissue collecting means located at said distal portion of said catheter means and being capable of assuming said first of second diameter and being located distally relative to said tissue cutting means, said tissue collecting means being capable of collecting said obstructing tissue after it has been cut from the vessel wall; deployment means for selectively causing said distal portion to assume said first or second diameter - View Dependent Claims (36)
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37. A method for removing obstructing tissue from a vessel within a living body using a catheter system having a distal portion comprising a tissue collection means, said distal portion being capable of assuming a first and second diameter, said first diameter being smaller than said second diameter, said method comprising the steps of:
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advancing said catheter system with said distal portion in said first diameter position through said vessel until the distal portion is just beyond the obstructing tissue; causing said distal portion of the catheter system to assume said second diameter; placing a cutting means of sufficient hardness to form a sharp cutting edge or grinding surface in contact with the obstructing tissue and cutting said obstructing tissue away from the wall of the vessel; collecting the cut tissue in said tissue collection means; and withdrawing said catheter system from the vessel along with the cut and collected obstructing tissue. - View Dependent Claims (38)
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Specification