Intimal lining transition device and endarterectomy method
First Claim
1. A device for creating a smooth transition in the intimal lining of a blood vessel during an endarterectomy procedure on a patient comprising:
- a transition device having a distal end insertable into a vessel to an intimal lining separation region at which an intimal lining of the blood vessel separates from the vessel wall of the blood vessel, the transition device comprising;
an elongate, user-actuated manipulator element with a distal end; and
the distal end comprising a user-actuated, flapless intimal lining cutter positionable at the separation region and constructed to permit a user to energize the intimal lining cutter to cut the intimal lining at the separation region so that when a length of the intimal lining proximal of the separation region is removed from a patient, the blood vessel has a smooth transition and is free from a flap of intimal lining at the separation region, the intimal lining cutter comprising a coiled, axially-aligned electrocauterizing element mounted to the distal end of the manipulator element.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device (24) for creating a smooth transition in the intimal lining (18) of a blood vessel (16) during an endarterectomy procedure on a patient (2) includes a delivery catheter (28) insertable into the blood vessel at an opening (8) in the blood vessel. An intimal lining cutter (38, 56) is disposed at the distal end (30) of the catheter. When in proper position, that is where the intimal lining separates from the vessel wall (20), the cutter is actuated to cut the intimal lining without leaving a flap of intimal lining within the blood vessel. The cutter can be of different types, including electrocautery coil (38) or a radially extending cutter blade (56). The invention is typically used with a ring stripper (14) and permits the endarterectomy to be performed using only a single incision into the vessel.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A device for creating a smooth transition in the intimal lining of a blood vessel during an endarterectomy procedure on a patient comprising:
a transition device having a distal end insertable into a vessel to an intimal lining separation region at which an intimal lining of the blood vessel separates from the vessel wall of the blood vessel, the transition device comprising; an elongate, user-actuated manipulator element with a distal end; and the distal end comprising a user-actuated, flapless intimal lining cutter positionable at the separation region and constructed to permit a user to energize the intimal lining cutter to cut the intimal lining at the separation region so that when a length of the intimal lining proximal of the separation region is removed from a patient, the blood vessel has a smooth transition and is free from a flap of intimal lining at the separation region, the intimal lining cutter comprising a coiled, axially-aligned electrocauterizing element mounted to the distal end of the manipulator element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of removing a length of the intimal lining of a blood vessel comprising the following steps:
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inserting an intimal lining separation tool into the interior of a blood vessel at a start position; separating, using the tool, a length of intimal lining from a vessel wall of the blood vessel from the start position to an end position; flaplessly severing, from within the blood vessel, the separated length of intimal lining at the end position using a transition device extending from the end position, through the blood vessel interior and out of the blood vessel at the start position, so as to leave a smooth transition and substantially no flap of intimal lining at the end position; and removing the separated length of intimal lining from the blood vessel. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of removing a length of the intimal lining of a blood vessel comprising the following steps:
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inserting an intimal lining separation tool into the interior of a blood vessel at a start position; separating, using the tool, a length of the intimal lining from the blood vessel from the start position to an end position; using an electrocautery element to flaplessly sever the separated length of intimal lining at the end position from within the blood vessel to leave substantially no flap of intimal lining; and removing the separated length of intimal lining from the blood vessel. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification