Self-centering mechanical medical device

• US 5,284,486 A
• Filed: 06/11/1991
• Issued: 02/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Microvena Corporation
• Inventors: Claude, Timothy, Kotula, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEWIS, WILLIAM W
• Application Number:
  US07/713,384
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 606/170, 606/180, 606/159, 604/22, 128/772
• US Class Current: 606/159
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320758 with a rotating cutting instrument, e.g. motor driven A61B17/320725, A61B17/32075 and A61B17/320783 take precedence; for removing intra-ocular material A61F9/00763; endoscopic rotatable cutting instruments A61B17/32002
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00553 using a turbine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22038 with a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22039 eccentric
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320775 Morcellators, impeller or propeller like means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30092 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0019 operated at only one temperature whilst inside or touching the human body, e.g. constrained in a non-operative shape during surgery, another temperature only occurring before the operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/00 Catheters; Hollow probes dilators A61M29/00; peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00 ; for measuring or testing A61B; materials for catheters A61L29/00

Abstract

The present invention provides a safe, reliable means of breaking down a thrombus with rotating blades into particles which are fine enough to be left in the vascular system without any significant risk of forming additional thrombi. The thrombectomy device also includes ports to ensure that the rotating blades of the device do not directly contact the walls of the vessel, but rather remain substantially centered within the vessel.

Claims

1. A self-centering medical device comprising:

a. an elongate, flexible shaft having proximal and distal ends, the shaft being adapted to be guided along a vascular path and being rotatable within a vascular channel having a vascular wall;

b. a rotor affixed to the shaft adjacent the distal end thereof for rotation therewith;

c. drive means for rapidly rotating the shaft;

d. a rotor housing carried about the rotor and within which the rotor rotates, the housing comprising a generally cylindrical wall substantially surrounding the rotor and having at least three ports formed therein, the ports being spaced substantially equiangularly about the circumference of the housing such that when a fluid is ejected through the ports within a vascular channel, the housing will tend to remain centered within the vascular channel; and

e. an elongate, generally tubular shaft casing bearing a rotor housing at its distal end and extending along and enclosing substantially the entire length of the shaft between the drive means and the housing, the shaft casing including an elongate, tubular outer sleeve and an elongate, free-floating helical coil, the coil being disposed between the shaft and the outer sleeve.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the shaft is formed of a shape memory alloy.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the inner diameter of the housing adjacent its distal end is less than the maximum outer diameter of the rotor.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the rotor comprises a generally cylindrical body and having a pair of blades affixed thereto at locations diametrically opposed to one another, the blades extending generally radially outwardly of the body and having a sharpened distal edge.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the diameter of the housing at a location adjacent the rotor is slightly greater than the outer diameter of the rotor to increase shear forces in a fluid passing through the housing as the rotor is rotated.

6. A self-centering medical device comprising:

a. an elongate, flexible shaft having proximal and distal ends, the shaft being adapted to be guided along a vascular path and being rotatable within a vascular channel having a vascular wall;

b. a rotor affixed to the shaft adjacent the distal end thereof for rotation therewith, the rotor comprising a generally cylindrical body having a pair of blades affixed thereto at locations diametrically opposed to one another, the blades extending generally radially outwardly of the body and spiraling in a generally helical fashion along the length of the body and having a sharpened distal edge;

c. drive means for rapidly rotating the shaft; and

d. a rotor housing attached to a shaft casing carried about the shaft, the housing being carried about the rotor for the rotor to rotate therein, the housing comprising a generally cylindrical wall substantially surrounding the rotor and having at least three ports formed therein, the ports being spaced substantially equiangularly about the circumference of the housing such that when a fluid is ejected through the ports within a vascular channel, the housing will tend to remain centered within the vascular channel.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the shaft is formed of a shape memory alloy.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein the inner diameter of the housing adjacent its distal end is less than the maximum outer diameter of the rotor.

9. The device of claim 6 wherein the shaft casing extends along and substantially encloses the entire length of the shaft between the drive means and the housing, the shaft casing including an elongate, tubular outer sleeve and an elongate, free-floating helical coil, the coil being disposed between the shaft and the outer sleeve.

10. The device of claim 6 wherein the diameter of the housing at a location adjacent the rotor is slightly greater than the outer diameter of the rotor to increase shear forces in a fluid passing through the housing as the rotor is rotated.

11. A self-centering medical device comprising:

a. an elongate, flexible shaft having proximal and distal ends, the shaft being adapted to be guided along a vascular path and being rotatable within a vascular channel having a fascular wall;

b. a rotor affixed to the shaft adjacent the distal end thereof for rotation therewith;

c. drive means for rapidly rotating the shaft; and

d. a rotor housing attached to a shaft casing carried about the shaft, the housing being carried about the rotor for the rotor to rotate therein, the housing comprising a generally cylindrical wall substantially surrounding the rotor and a generally inwardly extending distal bead adjacent its distal end to provide the housing with a rounded distal end for contacting tissue, the wall of the housing having at least three ports formed therein, the ports being spaced substantially equiangularly about the circumference of the housing such that when a fluid is ejected through the ports within a vascular channel, the housing will tend to remain centered within the vascular channel.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the inner diameter of the housing adjacent its distal end is less than the maximum outer diameter of the rotor.

13. The device of claim 11 wherein the shaft is formed of a shape memory alloy.

14. The device of claim 11 wherein the inner diameter of the housing adjacent its distal end is less than the maximum outer diameter of the rotor.

15. The device of claim 11 wherein the rotor comprises a generally cylindrical body and having a pair of blades affixed thereto at locations diametrically opposed to one another, the blades extending generally radially outwardly of the body and having a sharpened distal edge.

16. The device of claim 11 wherein the diameter of the housing at a location adjacent the rotor is slightly greater than the outer diameter of the rotor to increase shear forces in a fluid passing through the housing as the rotor is rotated.

17. The device of claim 11 wherein the shaft casing extends along and substantially encloses the entire length of the shaft between the drive means and the housing, the shaft casing including an elongate, tubular outer sleeve and an elongate, free-floating helical coil, the coil being disposed between the shaft and the outer sleeve.

18. A self-centering medical device comprising:

a. an elongate, flexible shaft having proximal and distal ends, the shaft being being adapted to be guided along a vascular path and being rotatable within a vascular channel having a vascular wall;

b. a rotor affixed to the shaft adjacent the distal end thereof for rotation therewith;

c. drive means for rapidly rotating the shaft;

d. a rotor housing attached to a shaft casing carried about the shaft, the housing being carried about the rotor for the rotor to rotate therein, the housing comprising a generally cylindrical wall substantially surrounding the rotor and having at least three ports formed therein, the ports being spaced substantially equiangularly about the circumference of the housing such that when a fluid is ejected through the ports within a vascular channel, the housing will tend to remain centered within the vascular channel; and

e. fin means carried by the housing proximally of the rotor and interacting with the rotor to degrade solid matter within a fluid passing through the housing as the rotor is rotated.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein the shaft is formed of a shape memory alloy.

20. The device of claim 18 wherein the inner diameter of the housing adjacent its distal end is less than the maximum outer diameter of the rotor.

21. The device of claim 18 wherein the rotor comprises a generally cylindrical body and having a pair of blades affixed thereto at locations diametrically opposed to one another, the blades extending generally radially outwardly of the body and having a sharpened distal edge.

22. The device of claim 18 wherein the diameter of the housing at a location adjacent the rotor is slightly greater than the outer diameter of the rotor to increase shear forces in a fluid passing through the housing as the rotor is rotated.

23. The device of claim 18 wherein the shaft casing extends along and substantially encloses the entire length of the shaft between the drive means and the housing, the shaft casing including an elongate, tubular outer sleeve and an elongate, free-floating helical coil, the coil being disposed between the shaft and the outer sleeve.