Apparatus and method for performing an endarterectomy
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument for removing an occlusion from a blood vessel comprising:
- a separator ring for removing the interior lining of a blood vessel, the separator ring having a leading edge and a following edge;
a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, the separator ring connected to the distal end of the catheter, the catheter having a bore extending therethrough, the catheter bore being shaped to receive and pass a flexible rod therethrough; and
a wire loop concentrically co-located with the following edge of the separator ring at the distal end of the catheter, the wire loop connected to the flexible rod such that the radial dimension of the wire loop is responsive to transverse motion between the catheter and the flexible rod.
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Abstract
A surgical apparatus and a method to restore blood flow capacity to occluded and partially occluded arterial vessels is disclosed. More particularly, the invention is an endarterectomy instrument and a method associated with its use. The instrument combines a separation ring with a wire loop at the distal end of a resilient, flexible catheter. The separation ring separates the plaque and the inner wall from a segment of an occluded artery. The wire loop is then constricted around the undesired material. IN a preferred embodiment the wire loop of the endarterectomy instrument is used to sever, snare and remove the separated inner arterial wall with the occlusion. In an alternative embodiment, the wire loop of the endarterectomy instrument is heated by passing a current therethrough in order to sever the undesired material from the arterial wall. The undesired occlusion is removed along with the inner layers of the artery by snaring the material with the wire loop and removing the instrument from the vessel in a single step.
44 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument for removing an occlusion from a blood vessel comprising:
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a separator ring for removing the interior lining of a blood vessel, the separator ring having a leading edge and a following edge;
a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, the separator ring connected to the distal end of the catheter, the catheter having a bore extending therethrough, the catheter bore being shaped to receive and pass a flexible rod therethrough; and
a wire loop concentrically co-located with the following edge of the separator ring at the distal end of the catheter, the wire loop connected to the flexible rod such that the radial dimension of the wire loop is responsive to transverse motion between the catheter and the flexible rod. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
a base connected to the proximal end of the catheter, the base having a trigger connected thereto at a pivot, the trigger connected to the flexible rod wherein the flexible rod may be manipulated in relation to the catheter.
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7. The instrument of claim 6, wherein the base further comprises:
a controllable electric current supply electrically coupled to the wire loop.
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8. The instrument of claim 3, wherein the wire loop is substantially contained within the recess.
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9. A surgical instrument for removing an occlusion from a blood vessel comprising:
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means for separating the tunica-intima from the tunica-media of a blood vessel;
means for severing the separated tunica-intima within the blood vessel; and
means for radially snaring the separated and severed portion of the tunica-intima about the longitudinal axis of the blood vessel. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification