Atherectomy device supported by fluid bearings
First Claim
1. A rotational atherectomy device comprising:
- a rotatable, flexible drive shaft having a longitudinal axis and a distal end portion;
the drive shaft comprising a torque transmitting coil and at least one fluid impermeable membrane to form at least one fluid delivery lumen generally along a central longitudinal axis of the drive shaft;
an abrasive element mounted to the distal end portion of the drive shaft such that a center of mass of the abrasive element is offset from the central longitudinal axis of the drive shaft;
a distal solid counterweight and a proximal solid counterweight mounted to the distal end portion of the drive shaft, the abrasive element being positioned proximal to and spaced away from the distal solid counterweight located at a distal tip of the drive shaft, and the abrasive element being positioned distal to and spaced away from the proximal solid counterweight, each of the distal and proximal solid support elements being substantially smaller than the abrasive element and having a surface texture that is different from an abrasive surface texture of the abrasive element, wherein said distal and proximal solid counterweights are configured to acts as counterweights to the abrasive element when said abrasive element and said distal and proximal solid counterweights rotate together with the drive shaft;
wherein each of said distal and proximal solid counterweights define an outflow channel which is in fluid communication with the fluid delivery lumen of the drive shaft and which extends in a generally radially outward direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft to an outflow opening, said outflow opening is configured to output fluid flow during rotation of the drive shaft for forming a fluid bearing between its respective solid counterweight and a wall of a vessel during rotation the drive shaft within the vessel.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A rotational atherectomy device for removing a stenotic tissue (330, 360) from a vessel (300) of a patient comprises a flexible hollow drive shaft (2) and an abrasive element (101, 102) mounted to the drive shaft proximal to and spaced from a solid support element (10, 10s) mounted at the distal end (6) of the drive shaft, the solid support element having a rounded outer surface and an outflow channel (20, 20s) with an outflow opening in said rounded outer surface. The drive shaft comprises a torque transmitting coil (4) and at least one fluid impermeable membrane (3) forming a fluid impermeable lumen for the antegrade flow (FF) of fluid into the outflow channel such that, during rotation of the drive shaft, a flow of fluid out of said outflow opening forms a fluid bearing between the rotating solid support element and the wall of the treated vessel.
91 Citations
11 Claims
-
1. A rotational atherectomy device comprising:
-
a rotatable, flexible drive shaft having a longitudinal axis and a distal end portion;
the drive shaft comprising a torque transmitting coil and at least one fluid impermeable membrane to form at least one fluid delivery lumen generally along a central longitudinal axis of the drive shaft;an abrasive element mounted to the distal end portion of the drive shaft such that a center of mass of the abrasive element is offset from the central longitudinal axis of the drive shaft; a distal solid counterweight and a proximal solid counterweight mounted to the distal end portion of the drive shaft, the abrasive element being positioned proximal to and spaced away from the distal solid counterweight located at a distal tip of the drive shaft, and the abrasive element being positioned distal to and spaced away from the proximal solid counterweight, each of the distal and proximal solid support elements being substantially smaller than the abrasive element and having a surface texture that is different from an abrasive surface texture of the abrasive element, wherein said distal and proximal solid counterweights are configured to acts as counterweights to the abrasive element when said abrasive element and said distal and proximal solid counterweights rotate together with the drive shaft; wherein each of said distal and proximal solid counterweights define an outflow channel which is in fluid communication with the fluid delivery lumen of the drive shaft and which extends in a generally radially outward direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft to an outflow opening, said outflow opening is configured to output fluid flow during rotation of the drive shaft for forming a fluid bearing between its respective solid counterweight and a wall of a vessel during rotation the drive shaft within the vessel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
Specification