Expandable atherectomy catheter device
First Claim
1. An expandable atherectomy device for removing atheroma or blood clots from a blood vessel, comprising in combination:
- a. a first catheter having a distal end to be inserted into a blood vessel and having an opposing proximal end, said first catheter extending along a central longitudinal axis, said first catheter being flexible for allowing said atherectomy device to be guided through a blood vessel, said first catheter having a central lumen of a predetermined internal diameter extending from the proximal end thereof to the distal end thereof;
b. at least one elongated cutting member supported by the distal and of said first catheter and extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said first catheter;
c. expansion means coupled to said at least one cutting member and extending through the central lumen of said first catheter for selectively expanding said at least one elongated cutting member away from the longitudinal axis of said first catheter;
d. a motor coupled to the proximal end of said first catheter for rotating said first catheter and said at least one cutting member to remove atheromatous material or a blood clot from a blood vessel; and
e. one of said first catheter and said expansion means including means for permitting fluids to be passed within said first catheter between the proximal end of said first catheter and the distal end thereof.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An expandable atherectomy catheter device includes an expandable cutting head consisting of deformable cutting members to remove an atheroma or blood clot from a blood vessel. The cutting members, consisting of wires or blades, extend parallel to each other and are supported at the distal end of a rotatable catheter. A retraction member is slidingly disposed within the rotatable catheter and is coupled at its distal end to the cutting members; the retraction member can be manipulated from the proximal end thereof to adjust compression of the cutting members, and hence, the diameter of the cutting head. A motor is coupled to the proximal end of the rotatable catheter for rotating the cutting head to remove the atheromatous plaque or blood clot. A non-rotatable delivery catheter is inserted percutaneously within the blood vessel, and the distal end thereof is positioned proximate the site of the obstruction. The rotatable catheter extends within the delivery catheter, and the cutting head of the rotatable catheter is expanded upon being advanced to the site of the obstruction. Apparatus for aspirating the removed plaque or blood clot is also provided.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An expandable atherectomy device for removing atheroma or blood clots from a blood vessel, comprising in combination:
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a. a first catheter having a distal end to be inserted into a blood vessel and having an opposing proximal end, said first catheter extending along a central longitudinal axis, said first catheter being flexible for allowing said atherectomy device to be guided through a blood vessel, said first catheter having a central lumen of a predetermined internal diameter extending from the proximal end thereof to the distal end thereof; b. at least one elongated cutting member supported by the distal and of said first catheter and extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said first catheter; c. expansion means coupled to said at least one cutting member and extending through the central lumen of said first catheter for selectively expanding said at least one elongated cutting member away from the longitudinal axis of said first catheter; d. a motor coupled to the proximal end of said first catheter for rotating said first catheter and said at least one cutting member to remove atheromatous material or a blood clot from a blood vessel; and e. one of said first catheter and said expansion means including means for permitting fluids to be passed within said first catheter between the proximal end of said first catheter and the distal end thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 5)
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- 3. An expandable atherectomy device as recited by claim wherein said plurality of elongated cutting members each have first and second opposing ends, the first ends of said plurality of elongated cutting members being coupled in common to the distal end of said first catheter, the second ends of said plurality of elongated cutting members being coupled in common to said expansion means, said expansion means selectively compressing the first ends and second ends of said plurality of elongated cutting members together for causing each of said plurality of elongated cutting members to bow outwardly away from the longitudinal axis of said first catheter.
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6. An expandable atherectomy catheter device for removing atheroma or blood clots from a blood vessel, comprising in combination:
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a. a first rotatable catheter having a distal end to be inserted into a blood vessel and having an opposing proximal end, said first rotatable catheter extending along a central longitudinal axis, said first catheter being flexible for allowing said atherectomy device to be guided through a blood vessel, said first catheter having a central lumen of a predetermined internal diameter extending from the proximal end thereof to the distal end thereof; b. at least one elongated cutting member extending generally parallel to the central longitudinal axis of said first rotatable catheter, said cutting member having first and second opposing ends, the first end of said at least one cutting member being coupled to the distal end of said first catheter, said at least one cutting member being flexible to bow outwardly away from the central longitudinal axis of said first catheter when the first and second ends of said at least one cutting member are compressed; c. an elongated flexible retractor member generally disposed within said first catheter and extending through the central lumen of said first catheter and extending generally along the central longitudinal axis thereof for sliding movement therein, said retractor member having a distal end coupled to the second end of said at least one cutting member and having an opposing proximal end; d. adjustment means coupled to the proximal ends of said first catheter and said retractor member for adjusting the relative positions of the proximal ends of said first catheter and said retractor member along the central longitudinal axis of said first catheter, and thereby adjusting the distance between the first and second ends of said at least one cutting member for adjusting the amount by which said at least one cutting member bows outwardly; e. a motor coupled to the proximal end of said first catheter for rotating said first catheter and said at least one cutting member to remove atheromatous material or a blood clot from a blood vessel; and f. one of said first catheter and said retractor member including means for permitting fluids to be passed within said first catheter between the proximal end of said first catheter and the distal end thereof. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for removing atheroma or blood clots from a blood vessel, said method comprising in combination the steps of:
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a. inserting a delivery catheter into a blood vessel until the distal end thereof is proximate the site of the atheroma or blood clot; b. inserting into the delivery catheter a cutting head catheter having an expandable cutting head at the distal end thereof, and advancing the distal end of the cutting head catheter through the delivery catheter and out the distal end thereof to the site of the atheroma or blood clot, with the expandable cutting head in a collapsed condition; c. expanding the cutting head of the cutting head catheter to increase the diameter thereof until approximating the diameter of the blood vessel at the site of the atheroma or blood clot; and d. rotating the proximal end of the cutting head catheter to rotate the cutting head and remove the atheroma or blood clot. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification