Atherectomy catheter and related components
First Claim
1. In an atherectomy catheter comprising a catheter shaft having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, and a laterally facing cutting window located in the distal end portion, the improvement comprising:
- a cutter element mounted in the distal end portion for axial motion and alignable with the cutting window, said cutter element defining a sharpened cutting edge oriented to cut material which has passed through the cutting window as the cutter element is moved axially toward the proximal end portion;
wherein the cutter element is mounted on a motion transmitting member;
wherein the catheter shaft defines a lumen that receives and supports the motion transmitting member for axial movement; and
wherein the motion transmitting member and the lumen extend distally of the cutter element such that the motion transmitting element is captured by the lumen and guided for axial movement both proximally and distally of the cutter element.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An atherectomy catheter includes a catheter shaft having three lumens. The central lumen supports a central wire on which is mounted a shell-shaped cutter. The cutter is exposed to the exterior of the shaft via a cutting window, and the cutter is mounted in a housing integral with the catheter shaft. An upper lumen receives material severed by the cutter as severed material is pushed proximally by the cutter during a cutting stroke. The lower lumen is used to inflate a balloon situated opposite the cutting window. The cutter is arranged to cut when pulled proximally, and is oscillated through a short stroke while the user moves the cutter across the cutting window. A guide wire extends laterally outside of the catheter shaft to a point past the cutter, where it enters the central lumen distally of the central wire.
417 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. In an atherectomy catheter comprising a catheter shaft having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, and a laterally facing cutting window located in the distal end portion, the improvement comprising:
-
a cutter element mounted in the distal end portion for axial motion and alignable with the cutting window, said cutter element defining a sharpened cutting edge oriented to cut material which has passed through the cutting window as the cutter element is moved axially toward the proximal end portion; wherein the cutter element is mounted on a motion transmitting member; wherein the catheter shaft defines a lumen that receives and supports the motion transmitting member for axial movement; and wherein the motion transmitting member and the lumen extend distally of the cutter element such that the motion transmitting element is captured by the lumen and guided for axial movement both proximally and distally of the cutter element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. In an atherectomy catheter comprising a catheter shaft having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, and a cutting window located in the distal end portion, the improvement comprising:
-
a cutter element mounted in the distal end portion for axial motion and alignable with the cutting window, said cutter element defining a sharpened cutting edge oriented to cut as the cutter element moves axially; a motion transmitting member having a proximal end extending proximally of the catheter shaft and a distal end which supports the cutter element; and means for oscillating the motion transmitting element axially to oscillate the cutter element; wherein the cutting window defines a length, wherein the oscillating means oscillates the motion transmitting member through an axial stroke, and wherein the stroke is less than the length; and wherein the oscillating means is axially movable with respect to the catheter shaft to allow a user to move the motion transmitting member axially to move the cutter element along the cutting window independently of oscillating motion of the cutter element; wherein the catheter shaft defines a lumen that receives and supports the motion transmitting member for axial movement; and wherein the motion transmitting member and the lumen extend distally of the cutter element such that the motion transmitting element is captured and guided for axial movement both proximally and distally of the cutter element. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification