Valvulotome and method for making and using same
First Claim
1. A valvulotome for disrupting a valve in a vein extending upstream from a heart to an extremity of the body, the vein having a radius and a central axis, the valvulotome comprising:
- an elongate control member having a distal end and a length sufficient to position the distal end downstream of the valve from an entry site upstream of the valve;
wherein the elongate control member has an axis of elongation which extends along its length;
a cutting head coupled to the control member at the distal end of the control member, the cutting head having a length and a width;
an elongate section included in the cutting head and extending generally along the length of the cutting head;
a return section included in the cutting head and extending beside the elongate section generally along the length of the cutting head, the return section having a proximal end;
a cutting section included in the cutting head and extending between the elongate section and the proximal end of the return section at a particular acute angle to the axis of elongation of the control member; and
portions of the cutting section forming a proximal facing cutting edge for engaging and cutting the valve to disrupt the valve of the vein.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A valvulotome for disrupting a valve in a vein includes an elongate control member and a cutting head disposed at the distal end of the control member. The cutting head includes an elongate section extending generally along the length of the cutting head and a return section extending beside the elongate section also along the length of the cutting head. A cutting section included in the cutting head extends between the elongate section and the return section at a particular angle to the length of the control member. Portions of this cutting section form a proximally facing cutting edge for disrupting the valve. The valvulotome can be used with an endoscope in a method wherein the cutting head is tied to the endoscope with a suture, or a method wherein the valvulotome is back-loaded into the working channel of the endoscope.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A valvulotome for disrupting a valve in a vein extending upstream from a heart to an extremity of the body, the vein having a radius and a central axis, the valvulotome comprising:
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an elongate control member having a distal end and a length sufficient to position the distal end downstream of the valve from an entry site upstream of the valve;
wherein the elongate control member has an axis of elongation which extends along its length;a cutting head coupled to the control member at the distal end of the control member, the cutting head having a length and a width; an elongate section included in the cutting head and extending generally along the length of the cutting head; a return section included in the cutting head and extending beside the elongate section generally along the length of the cutting head, the return section having a proximal end; a cutting section included in the cutting head and extending between the elongate section and the proximal end of the return section at a particular acute angle to the axis of elongation of the control member; and portions of the cutting section forming a proximal facing cutting edge for engaging and cutting the valve to disrupt the valve of the vein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A valvulotome comprising:
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an elongate control member having a proximal end and a distal end; a cutting head coupled to the distal end of the control member and having a length, a width, a distal end and a proximal end; an elongate section included in the cutting head and extending generally along the length of the cutting head; a return section included in the cutting head and extending beside the elongate section generally along the length of the cutting head; a lateral section extending between the elongate section and the return section at the distal end of the cutting head; a cutting section included in the cutting head and extending between the return section and the elongate section; a transition section extending between the return section and the cutting section at the proximal end of the cutting head; and portions of at least one of the transition section and the cutting section defining a proximally facing cutting edge of the valvulotome. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A valvulotome, comprising:
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an elongate control member; a cutting head having a distal end and a proximal end including a proximal most point, the cutting head being fixed to the control member and extending distally and laterally of the control member; a return section of the cutting head disposed laterally of the control member and including a rounded surface disposed along an outer edge of the cutting head; a cutting section disposed at the proximal end of the cutting head between the return section and the control member, the cutting section including a proximally facing cutting edge which extends distally with progressive positions from the return section to the control member; a transition section disposed between the return section and the cutting section, the transition section including an extension of the rounded surface of the return section and extensions of each of the sharpened surfaces of the cutting section; and the proximal most point of the cutting head being disposed along the extension of the rounded surface in the transition section. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A combination for disrupting a valve in a vein to facilitate the flow of blood to an extremity of the body, the combination comprising:
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a valvulotome for cutting the valve; an elongate control member included in the valvulotome; a cutting head included in the valvulotome and coupled to the control member, the cutting head having a length extending between a proximal end of the cutting head and a distal end of the cutting head; portions of the cutting head defining a cutting edge at the proximal end of the cutting head; an endoscope sized and configured for insertion into the vein, the endoscope having a focal length; and means for coupling the endoscope to the distal end of the cutting head at a particular distance dependent on the focal length of the endoscope. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A combination for disrupting a valve in a vein to facilitate the flow of blood to an extremity of a body, the combination comprising:
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an elongate endoscope having an axis extending between an eyepiece at a proximal end of the endoscope and a focal point near a distal end of the endoscope; a valvulotome extending from the distal end of the endoscope and having a distal end facing away from the endoscope and a proximal end, the valvulotome including an elongate section extending generally parallel to the axis of the endoscope,; a return section extending along the elongate section, the return section having a proximal end, and a cutting section extending between the elongate section and the proximal end of the return section and disposed at an angle less than 90°
to the axis of the endoscope, andmeans for maintaining the valvulotome in a fixed relationship with the endoscope with the focal point of the endoscope disposed relative to the cutting edge of the valvulotome.
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23. A method for disrupting a valve in a vein disposed between a downstream end in proximity to the heart and an upstream end in proximity to an extremity of the body, comprising the steps of:
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providing an elongate valvulotome having a cutting head with a proximal end, a distal end, and a sharpened cutting edge disposed at the proximal end; providing an endoscope having a proximal end and a distal end, the endoscope having a focal point; inserting the cutting head of the valvulotome into the vein through a first incision upstream of the valve; moving the cutting head downstream through the valve; exiting the cutting head from the vein through a second incision downstream of the valve; coupling the distal end of the endoscope to the distal end of the cutting head; pulling the cutting head and the endoscope into the vein through the second incision and upstream to the valve; cutting the valve with further movement of the cutting head upstream in the vein; and during the cutting step viewing the cutting of the valve through the endoscope from a position downstream of the cutting head. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification