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 wherein the removal element including a plurality of strands that are braided together to form the removal element wherein each one of said plurality of strands is wrapped with at least one wrapping wire;
an inner drive shaft including 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.
2 Assignments
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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 single drive shaft is operatively connected to the distal end of the expandable material 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 for an improved removal element. One embodiment or the present invention is to provide a braid pattern wherein each single primary braid wire within the braid pattern is individually radially wrapped with a second "wrapping" wire. The "wrapping" wire, which is coated with an abrasive, primarily performs the removal function. Finally, a number of novel methods for removing vascular occlusion material are provided.
453 Citations
51 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 wherein the removal element including a plurality of strands that are braided together to form the removal element wherein each one of said plurality of strands is wrapped with at least one wrapping wire; an inner drive shaft including 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A removal element for an intravascular device for removing vascular occlusion material within a vascular lumen in a patient comprising:
a plurality of strands that are braided together wherein at least one of said plurality of strands is wrapped circumferentially with at least on wrapping wire. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
- 41. A shaft used in an intravascular device comprising a prestressed wire formed into a helix, the wire having a diameter, a length and a longitudinal axis parallel the length, the wire being prestressed about the axis of the wire to give the helix increased strength.
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43. A drive shaft used to drive a removal element in an intravascular device for removing vascular occlusion material within a vascular lumen in a patient comprising:
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an inner helix of wire having a diameter and a length wherein the inner helix is wound in a direction of rotation of the drive shaft; and an outer helix of wire receiving the inner helix of wire in a coaxial manner wherein the outer helix is wound in an opposite direction from the direction of rotation of the drive shaft; whereby the inner helix exerts an outward force against the outer helix and the outer helix exerts an inward force against the inner helix when a rotational force in the direction of rotation is applied to an end of the drive shaft.
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44. A method for removing occlusion material from a vascular lumen within a patient comprising the steps of:
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providing an occlusion material removal device having an expandable removal element and two coaxial drive shafts, the two coaxial drive shafts comprising an inner rotatable drive shaft and an outer rotatable drive shaft wherein the inner rotatable drive shaft is operatively coupled to a distal end of the removal element and the outer rotatable drive shaft is operatively coupled to the proximal end of the removal element and wherein the two drive shafts are shiftable with respect to one another for moving the material removal element between the expanded position and the contracted position; navigating the removal element to the occlusion material; shifting the drive shafts with respect to one another causing the removal element to expand intravascularly; and moving the inner drive shaft and the outer drive shaft conjointly and with respect to the drive assembly to force the removal element into the occlusion material. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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Specification