Expandable intravascular occlusion material removal devices and methods of use
First Claim
1. An intravascular device for removing vascular occlusion material within a vascular lumen in a patient, the intravascular device comprising:
- an expandable removal element having a proximal and a distal end;
an inner drive shaft comprising a helix extending through the removal element and operatively connected to the distal end of the removal element for energizing the removal element intravascularly; and
an outer drive shaft comprising a helix operatively coupled to the proximal end of the removal element for energizing the removal element intravascularly wherein the inner drive shaft extends coaxially through the outer drive shaft and wherein the inner drive shaft and the outer drive shaft are shiftable with respect to one another.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved expandable removal element for an atherectomy device wherein the expandable removal element is movable between an expanded position and a contracted position. In one embodiment of the present invention, a drive shaft is operatively connected to the distal end of the expandable removal element for rotating the removal element. A catheter surrounds a portion of the drive shaft. The catheter is shiftable with respect to the drive shaft for moving the material removal element between the expanded position and the contracted position. In another embodiment of the present invention, dual coaxial drive shafts are employed. The inner drive shaft and the outer drive are shiftable with respect to one another for moving the removal element between the expanded position and the contracted position. The present invention also describes several embodiments of a removal element for increasing the durability and effectiveness of the removal element. One embodiment of the removal element of the present invention comprised a plurality of braided wires having an abrasive disposed thereon. Another embodiment of a removal element is to provide a plurality of individual wires within each "braid" to increase the abrasive surface area of the removal element. In this " multi-ended" configuration, a plurality of wires are bundled together to form a single multi-ended strand. These single multi-ended strands are then braided together and an abrasive is disposed thereon to form the removal element. Finally, a number of novel methods for removing vascular occlusion material are provided.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An intravascular device for removing vascular occlusion material within a vascular lumen in a patient, the intravascular device comprising:
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an expandable removal element having a proximal and a distal end; an inner drive shaft comprising a helix extending through the removal element and operatively connected to the distal end of the removal element for energizing the removal element intravascularly; and an outer drive shaft comprising a helix operatively coupled to the proximal end of the removal element for energizing the removal element intravascularly wherein the inner drive shaft extends coaxially through the outer drive shaft and wherein the inner drive shaft and the outer drive shaft are shiftable with respect to one another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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- 8. An intravascular removal element comprising a plurality of strands which are braided together to form the removal element wherein each one of the plurality of strands comprises at least two wires.
Specification