Atherectomy apparatus, systems and methods

• US 8,795,306 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2013
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atheromed, Inc. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Atheromed, Inc. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Smith, Torrey, Rowe, Douglas E., Pombo, August Christopher, Escudero, Paul Quentin, Danek, Christopher J., To, John T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Victor
• Application Number:
  US14/069,303
• Publication Number:
  US 20140058423A1
• Time in Patent Office: 278 Days
• Field of Search: 606/159, 606/167, 606/170, 606/180, 604/525, 604/530
• US Class Current: 606/159
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320758 with a rotating cutting instrument, e.g. motor driven A61B17/320725, A61B17/32075 and A61B17/320783 take precedence; for removing intra-ocular material A61F9/00763; endoscopic rotatable cutting instruments A61B17/32002
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00309 Cut-outs or slits
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00331 with preformed bends
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00685 Archimedes screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320766 eccentric
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320775 Morcellators, impeller or propeller like means

Abstract

Described here are devices and methods for performing atherectomies. Generally, the atherectomy devices include a handle, a cutter assembly, and a catheter or catheter assembly therebetween. The cutter assembly includes a cutter housing and a cutter having a first cutting element and a second cutting element, each of which can be rotated relative to the atherectomy device to cut occlusive material.

Claims

1. A method for performing an atherectomy comprising:

introducing an atherectomy device into a blood vessel, wherein the atherectomy device comprises a handle, a catheter, and a cutter assembly, wherein the cutter assembly comprises a cutter housing and a cutter configured to rotate within the housing, wherein the cutter comprises at least one helical flute forming a cutting blade having a positive rake angle, wherein the positive rake angle is between 60 degrees and 80 degrees, and wherein the cutter comprises a first cutting element and a second cutting element, wherein the first cutting element has at least a first portion having an outside diameter greater than or equal to an outside diameter of the cutter housing;

advancing the cutter assembly to a targeted region having occlusive material; and

rotating the cutter to cut the occlusive material.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the positive rake angle is about 70 degrees.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first cutting element comprises at least two helical flutes.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the second cutting element comprises at least two helical flutes.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the first cutter element extends from an opening in the cutter housing.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the portion of the first cutter element extending from the opening in the cutter housing has a hemispherical profile.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the cutting blade has a relief angle less than or equal to about 10 degrees.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the relief angle is about 0 degrees.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the cutting blade has a flute angle less than or equal to about 30 degrees.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the cutting blade has a helix angle between 30 degrees and 60 degrees.