Atherectomy catheter having flexible nose cone
First Claim
1. An atherectomy catheter comprising:
- a flexible tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween;
a housing having a proximal end, a distal end, a hollow interior, and a side aperture which can receive atheroma therethrough;
means in the housing for severing the atheroma and translating the severed atheroma in a distal direction; and
a flexible nose cone having a proximal end attached to the distal end of the housing, a distal end opposite the proximal end, and a hollow interior between said proximal and distal ends which is aligned with the hollow interior of the housing, said flexible nose cone including (a) a polymeric wall defining a non-tapered tubular region from the proximal end of the nose cone to a transition point in a middle portion of the nose cone, and a conically tapered region extending distally from the transition point to the distal end of the nose cone, and (b) a spring coil embedded within and extending over a major portion of the polymeric wall from said proximal end of the nose cone to a point in said tapered region distally of said transition point.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An atherectomy catheter comprises a flexible tube having a proximal end and a distal end, and a cutter housing secured to the proximal end. A spring tip nose cone is secured to a distal end of the cutter housing and comprises a relatively soft polymeric wall having a spring coil embedded therein. The spring tip nose cone has a controlled flexibility, generally being more flexible toward the distal tip. The spring coil inhibits collapse of the nose cone under the expected conditions of use, and the flexibility and non-collapsibility together assure that the nose cone can be introduced over a movable guide wire without substantial binding. Means may be provided for inhibiting loss of atheroma from the interior of the nose cone.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. An atherectomy catheter comprising:
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a flexible tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween; a housing having a proximal end, a distal end, a hollow interior, and a side aperture which can receive atheroma therethrough; means in the housing for severing the atheroma and translating the severed atheroma in a distal direction; and a flexible nose cone having a proximal end attached to the distal end of the housing, a distal end opposite the proximal end, and a hollow interior between said proximal and distal ends which is aligned with the hollow interior of the housing, said flexible nose cone including (a) a polymeric wall defining a non-tapered tubular region from the proximal end of the nose cone to a transition point in a middle portion of the nose cone, and a conically tapered region extending distally from the transition point to the distal end of the nose cone, and (b) a spring coil embedded within and extending over a major portion of the polymeric wall from said proximal end of the nose cone to a point in said tapered region distally of said transition point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 25, 26)
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19. An atherectomy catheter comprising:
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a flexible tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween; a housing having a proximal end, a distal end, a hollow interior, and a side aperture which can receive atheroma therethrough; a drive member extending from the proximal end to the distal end within the lumen of the flexible tube; a cup-shaped cutting blade attached to a distal end of the drive member; means attached to the proximal end of the drive member for rotating and axially translating the cup-shaped cutting blade, whereby atheroma penetrating through the side aperture in the housing may be severed and translated distally by said blade; and a flexible nose cone having a proximal end attached to the distal end of the housing, a distal end opposite the proximal end, and a hollow interior between said proximal and distal ends which is aligned with the hollow interior of the housing, said flexible nose cone including (a) a polymeric wall defining a non-tapered tubular region form the proximal end of the nose cone to a transition point in a middle portion of the nose cone, and a conically tapered region extending distally from the transition point to the distal end of the nose cone, and (b) a spring coil embedded within and extending over a major portion to the polymeric wall from said proximal end of the nose cone to a point in said tapered region distally of said transition point. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. An improved atherectomy catheter of the type including a flexible tube having a proximal end and a distal end;
- a cutter housing having a proximal end, a distal end, and a side aperture, and a nose cone attached to the distal end of the cutter housing, said nose cone having a conically tapered distal portion and a hollow interior which extends through said distal portion and receives severed atheroma from the cutter housing;
wherein the improvement comprises;structural mean disposed in the interior of the nose cone for allowing passage of atheroma from the cutter housing to the interior of the nose cone and for inhibiting passage of atheroma from the nose cone to the cutter housing, whereby release of severed atheroma from the housing is prevented. - View Dependent Claims (43)
- a cutter housing having a proximal end, a distal end, and a side aperture, and a nose cone attached to the distal end of the cutter housing, said nose cone having a conically tapered distal portion and a hollow interior which extends through said distal portion and receives severed atheroma from the cutter housing;
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44. An improved atherectomy catheter of the type including a flexible tube having a proximal end and a distal end;
- a cutter housing having a proximal end, a distal end, and a side aperture, and a nose cone attached to the distal end of the cutter housing, said nose cone having a conically-tapered distal portion and a hollow interior extending through said distal portion which receives severed atheroma from the cutter housing;
wherein the improvement comprises;means for allowing passage of atheroma from the cutter housing to the interior of the nose cone and for inhibiting passage of atheroma form the nose cone to the cutter housing, wherein the means for passing and inhibiting comprises annular ridges disposed on the polymeric wall in the interior of the nose cone. - View Dependent Claims (45)
- a cutter housing having a proximal end, a distal end, and a side aperture, and a nose cone attached to the distal end of the cutter housing, said nose cone having a conically-tapered distal portion and a hollow interior extending through said distal portion which receives severed atheroma from the cutter housing;
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46. An improved atherectomy catheter of the type including a flexible tube having a proximal end and a distal end;
- a cutter housing having a proximal end, a distal end, and a side aperture, and a nose cone attached to the distal end of the cutter housing, said nose cone having a hollow interior which receives severed atheroma from the cutter housing;
wherein the improvement comprises;means for allowing passage of atheroma from the cutter housing to the interior of the nose cone and for inhibiting passage of atheroma from the nose cone to the cutter housing, wherein the means for passing and inhibiting comprises a slit or hinged flange structure.
- a cutter housing having a proximal end, a distal end, and a side aperture, and a nose cone attached to the distal end of the cutter housing, said nose cone having a hollow interior which receives severed atheroma from the cutter housing;
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47. An improved atherectomy catheter of the type including a flexible tube having a proximal end and a distal end;
- a cutter housing having a proximal end, a distal end, and a side aperture, and a nose cone attached to the distal end of the cutter housing, said nose cone having a tapered distal portion and a hollow interior which extends through said distal portion and received severed atheroma from the cutter housing and an open distal end;
wherein the improvement comprises;means for allowing passage of atheroma from the cutter housing to the interior of the nose cone and for inhibiting passage of atheroma from the nose cone to the cutter housing; and means for inhibiting loss through said open distal end of the nose cone, which means comprises annular ridges disposed on the interior of said distal portion of the nose cone. - View Dependent Claims (48)
- a cutter housing having a proximal end, a distal end, and a side aperture, and a nose cone attached to the distal end of the cutter housing, said nose cone having a tapered distal portion and a hollow interior which extends through said distal portion and received severed atheroma from the cutter housing and an open distal end;
Specification