Methods and devices for removing material from a vascular site

• US 6,629,953 B1
• Filed: 02/18/2000
• Issued: 10/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Foxhollow Technologies Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Boyd, Stephen W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TUAN N
• Application Number:
  US09/507,339
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• Field of Search: 604/96.01, 604/104-109, 604/509, 604/510, 606/191, 606/194, 606/198, 606/200, 606/159
• US Class Current: 604/106
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320725 with radially expandable cutting or abrading elements A61B17/32075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320783 through side-hole, e.g. sliding or rotating cutter inside catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320791 with cutter extending outside the cutting window
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0096 being laterally outward extensions or tools, e.g. hooks or fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0069 Tip not integral with tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0074 Dynamic characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. openable, closable, expandable or deformable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0082 Catheter tip comprising a tool

Abstract

An expandable cage is expanded within a narrowed region of a blood vessel. The expandable cage has openings therein so that plaque protrudes through the openings when the cage is expanded. A material removing element passes within the cage to remove the plaque extending into the openings. The openings are preferably formed by integrally formed elements which provide a smooth internal surface. The material removing element passes along the smooth internal surface when removing the plaque. A collection bag is coupled to the material removing element to capture the material which has been removed.

Claims

1. A method of removing material from a vascular site, comprising the steps of:

providing a device having an expandable cage and a material removing element, the expandable cage being movable from a collapsed position to an expanded position, the expandable cage also has a plurality of openings therein when in the expanded shape, the openings being formed by rigidly connected elements, the rigidly connected elements being integrally formed elements, the integrally formed elements forming a smooth inner surface in the expanded position;

advancing the device to a vascular site where material is to be removed;

expanding the expandable cage within the narrowed region of the blood vessel so that material extends through at least some of the openings; and

removing the material extending through the openings in the cage by moving the material removing element within the cage, the removing step being carried out with a material removing element passing along the smooth inner surface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the expandable cage being naturally biased toward the expanded position; and

the advancing step is carried out with the expandable cage being held in the collapsed position.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the advancing step is carried out with the expandable cage being contained within a sheath which holds the expandable element in the collapsed position.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the expandable cage having at least three openings.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the expandable cage having at least four openings.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the openings having a size of at least 0.25 mm² when expanded.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the openings each having a size of at least 0.50 mm² when expanded.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with at least one of the openings having a length measured in a longitudinal direction of at least 0.020 inch.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with at least one of the openings having a length measured in a longitudinal direction of at least 0.040 inch.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the expanding step is carried out with the expandable cage being expanded within a stent.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the removing step is carried out with a material removing element having a flexible bag attached thereto for trapping the material which has been removed.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

vibrating the cage during at least one of the vibrating and removing steps.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

releasing the cage; and

removing the device while leaving the cage within the patient.

14. A method for removing material from a vascular site, comprising the steps of:

providing a device having an expandable cage and a material removing element, the expandable cage being movable from a collapsed position to an expanded position and having a plurality of openings when in the expanded shape;

advancing the device to a vascular site in a patient where material is to be removed;

expanding the expandable cage within the narrowed region of the blood vessel so that material extends through at least some of the openings;

removing the material extending through the openings in the cage;

releasing the cage; and

removing the device while leaving the cage within the patient.