Catheter system and method for boring through blocked vascular passages
First Claim
1. A method of delivering a guidewire across an atherosclerotic occlusion or lesion in a vascular lumen while protecting the vascular lumen, said method comprising:
- passing a distal end of a catheter tube having a rotatable cutting head and a sheath through the vascular lumen to the occlusion or lesion, wherein the rotatable cutting head is retracted within the sheath during the passing step such that one or more helical cutting surfaces extending proximally along the rotatable cutting head are engaged with one or more helical slots extending laterally through a sidewall of the sheath;
extending the rotatable cutting head from the sheath such that the one or more helical cutting surfaces extend at least partially out of the sheath;
rotating the rotatable cutting head;
advancing said rotating cutting head across said occlusion or lesion to pass through occluding material without removing the occluding material; and
passing a guidewire through a guidewire passageway extending through the catheter tube after the distal end of the catheter tube has passed beyond the atherosclerotic occlusion so that the guidewire spans the atherosclerotic occlusion or lesion.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A rotating cutting head catheter for passage through chronic total occlusions or other refractory atherosclerotic plaque from diseased arteries is disclosed. The catheter'"'"'s rotating cutting head is designed to reside safely within an outer protective sheath when not in use. The outer protective sheath contains one or more helical grooves or slots, and the cutting head contains protruding blades or projections that fit into these helical grooves or slots. Application of torque to an inner catheter or wire attached to the cutting head applies spin to the cutting head, and the force of the sheath'"'"'s helical grooves or slots against the cutting head'"'"'s protruding blades or projections advances the cutting head outward from the protective sheath. Once extended, the cutting head may now rotate freely. The device may use a guidewire to direct the cutting head to the desired position.
374 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of delivering a guidewire across an atherosclerotic occlusion or lesion in a vascular lumen while protecting the vascular lumen, said method comprising:
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passing a distal end of a catheter tube having a rotatable cutting head and a sheath through the vascular lumen to the occlusion or lesion, wherein the rotatable cutting head is retracted within the sheath during the passing step such that one or more helical cutting surfaces extending proximally along the rotatable cutting head are engaged with one or more helical slots extending laterally through a sidewall of the sheath; extending the rotatable cutting head from the sheath such that the one or more helical cutting surfaces extend at least partially out of the sheath; rotating the rotatable cutting head; advancing said rotating cutting head across said occlusion or lesion to pass through occluding material without removing the occluding material; and passing a guidewire through a guidewire passageway extending through the catheter tube after the distal end of the catheter tube has passed beyond the atherosclerotic occlusion so that the guidewire spans the atherosclerotic occlusion or lesion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of delivering a guidewire across an atherosclerotic occlusion or lesion in a vascular lumen while protecting the vascular lumen, said method comprising:
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passing a distal end of a catheter tube having a rotatable cutting head and a sheath through the vascular lumen to the occlusion or lesion, wherein the rotatable cutting head is retracted within the sheath during the passing step such that one or more helical cutting surfaces extending proximally along the rotatable cutting head are engaged with one or more helical slots extending laterally through a sidewall of the sheath; extending the rotatable cutting head from the sheath such that the one or more helical cutting surfaces extend at least partially out of the sheath; rotating the rotatable cutting head alternately clockwise and counterclockwise; advancing said rotating cutting head across said occlusion or lesion to pass through occluding material without removing the occluding material; imaging the vascular lumen as the rotatable cutting head is advanced; and passing a guidewire through a guidewire passageway extending through the catheter tube after the distal end of the catheter tube has passed beyond the atherosclerotic occlusion so that the guidewire spans the atherosclerotic occlusion or lesion.
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11. A method of delivering a guidewire across an atherosclerotic occlusion or lesion in a vascular lumen while protecting the vascular lumen, said method comprising:
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passing a distal end of a catheter tube having a rotatable cutting head and a sheath through the vascular lumen to the occlusion or lesion, wherein the rotatable cutting head is retracted within the sheath during the passing step such that one or more helical cutting surfaces extending proximally along the rotatable cutting head are engaged with one or more helical slots extending laterally through a sidewall of the sheath to shield the one or more helical cutting surfaces from contact with the vascular lumen; extending the rotatable cutting head from the sheath such that the one or more helical cutting surfaces extend at least partially out of the sheath; rotating the rotatable cutting head; advancing said rotating cutting head across said occlusion or lesion to pass through occluding material without removing the occluding material; and passing a guidewire through a guidewire passageway extending through the catheter tube after the distal end of the catheter tube has passed beyond the atherosclerotic occlusion so that the guidewire spans the atherosclerotic occlusion or lesion. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification