Atherectomy catheter

• US 5,395,311 A
• Filed: 08/17/1992
• Issued: 03/07/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Winston A. Andrews
• Original Assignee: Winston A. Andrews
• Inventors: Andrews, Winston A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thaler, Michael H.
• Application Number:
  US07/931,043
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 606/159, 604/101, 604/22, 128/751
• US Class Current: 604/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320725 with radially expandable cutting or abrading elements A61B17/32075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22038 with a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22051 with an inflatable part, e.g. balloon, for positioning, blocking, or immobilisation A61B2017/22048, A61B2017/3486 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22054 with two balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22082 after introduction of a substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30062 (bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/412 Tissue-regenerating or healing or proliferative agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/414 Growth factors
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/022 Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/06 obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds A61L31/041 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/16 Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L31/047 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0681 Systems with catheter and outer tubing, e.g. sheath, sleeve or guide tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09183 having tools at the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1052 for temporarily occluding a vessel for isolating a sector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1011 Multiple balloon catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 67/04 : Polyesters derived from hydroxycarboxylic acids, e.g. lactones C08L67/06 takes precedence

Abstract

An atherectomy catheter including an expandable cutter head having spaced apart blades radially extending from a cutter sleeve at a leading end of the cutter head. A torque tube is attached to and surrounds the blades at an expanding end of the cutter head opposite the leading end. An expander cable is attached to a bushing within the cutter head adjacent to the cutter sleeve and blades with the expander tube axially displaceable through the torque tube. A guide wire slidably extends through the bushing and expander tube. A guiding catheter substantially encloses the torque tube with the torque tube rotatable and axially displaceable within the guiding catheter, to rotate the cutter head as it engages a blockage in a blood vessel, An inflatable low pressure balloon around the torque tube applies a bio-active agent directly to tissues of the blood vessel cut during atherectomy. A stent with bio-active agent promotes healing of the vessel.

Claims

1. An atherectomy catheter comprising:

a cutter head;

a torque tube attached to the cutter head;

means for spinning the torque tube;

a first inflatable balloon fixedly attached to the torque tube adjacent the cutter head;

a second inflatable balloon fixedly attached to the torque tube and spaced apart from the first inflatable balloon;

a first port and a second port each extending through the torque tube, in between the first balloon and the second balloon; and

a first tube leading to the first port and a second tube leading to a second port.

2. The atherectomy catheter of claim 1 further comprising an inflation line supported by the torque tube and leading into the first balloon and the second balloon.

3. The atherectomy catheter of claim 1 wherein the cutter head includes a cutter sleeve, a plurality of substantially rigid and straight blades, and a front flexure linking each blade to the sleeve.

4. The atherectomy catheter of claim 3 further comprising a rear flexure linking each blade with the torque tube.

5. The atherectomy catheter of claim 1 further comprising a split ring assembly attached to an inner surface of the torque tube adjacent the cutter head.

6. The atherectomy catheter of claim 1 further comprising a guiding catheter substantially overlying the torque tube.

7. The atherectomy catheter of claim 1 wherein the first tube is an infusion tube and the second tube is a vacuum tube.

8. The atherectomy catheter of claim 1 further comprising means for reversibly and variably expanding the cutter head.

9. An atherectomy catheter comprising:

a variably expandable cutter head;

a torque tube attached to the cutter head;

a motor for turning the torque tube;

means for reversibly and variably expanding the cutter head;

a first inflatable balloon fixedly attached to the torque tube adjacent the cutter head;

a second inflatable balloon fixedly attached to the torque tube and spaced apart from the first inflatable balloon;

a first port and a second port each extending through the torque tube, in between the first balloon and the second balloon; and

a first tube leading to the first port and a second tube leading to second port, for infusing and removing a fluid into a space in between the first balloon and the second balloon.

10. An atherectomy catheter comprising:

a guide wire;

a variably expandable cutter head having a cutter sleeve rotatably supported on the guide wire, the cutter head including a plurality of blades, each blade having a front end and a back end, with the front end of each blade attached to the cutter sleeve;

a torque tube having a radially expanding leading end attached to and overlying the back end of each of the blades;

a pullback cable attached to the cutter sleeve;

a first inflatable balloon fixedly attached to the torque tube immediately adjacent to the leading end of the torque tube;

a second inflatable balloon fixedly attached to the torque tube and spaced apart from the first inflatable balloon;

a first port and a second port each extending through the torque tube, in between the first balloon and the second balloon; and

a first tube leading to the first port and a second tube leading to the second port.