Debulking catheters and methods

• US 9,788,854 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2014
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Simpson, John, Patel, Himanshu, Stine, Greg, Follmer, Brett, Rosenthal, Michael, Mehrdad, Farhangnia
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): SIMPSON, SARAH A
• Application Number:
  US14/478,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20150057690A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 606159, 606182, 606170, 606171, 606180, 606 79- 85, 604 22, 600564-584
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/04 Endoscopic instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32075 Pullback cutting; combined forward and pullback cutting, e.g. with cutters at both sides of the plaque
• 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 17/320783 through side-hole, e.g. sliding or rotating cutter inside catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0225 for taking multiple samples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00685 Archimedes screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320032 Details of the rotating or oscillating shaft, e.g. using a flexible shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320791 with cutter extending outside the cutting window

Abstract

A method of removing material from a blood flow lumen includes providing a device having a cutting element and an opening, the cutting element being movable relative to the opening. The method then includes advancing the device through a patient'"'"'s vascular system to the blood flow lumen. Finally, the method involves moving the cutting element and the opening relative to the blood flow lumen so that a continuous piece of material is severed by the cutting element and directed into the opening as the cutting element and opening move through the blood flow lumen, the continuous piece of severed material being directed into the device for removal from the patient. The method may include providing a device having a rotatable cutter that, in some embodiments, is not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the device, is movable, has retracted and deployed positions, or any combination thereof. The method may further include forcing the opening toward the wall of the vascular site after the advancing step and before the moving step.

Claims

1. A system for removing material collected within an atherectomy device during an atherectomy procedure at a vascular location comprising:

an elongate body;

a torque transmitting element contained within the elongate body, the torque transmitting element being rotatable;

a cutting element coupled to the torque transmitting element, the cutting element being configured to be rotated by the torque transmitting element when cutting material from the vascular location;

a containment chamber attached to the elongate body, the containment chamber having a first opening through which material cut by the cutting element enters the containment chamber, and a second opening spaced from the first opening;

a removal element including a shaft sized to be inserted within the second opening and configured to be movable within the containment chamber to push material out the containment chamber through the first opening; and

a valve in communication with the second opening for selectively opening and closing the second opening, wherein the valve is configured to open by inserting the removal element into the second opening.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the second opening is positioned distal to the first opening.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the elongate body includes a curved portion configured to move the cutting element and the first opening toward a wall of a body lumen at the vascular location.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the cutting element is movable between a stored position and a cutting position, a portion of the cutting element being exposed out of the first opening when the cutting element is in the cutting position.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the cutting element is configured to be advanced through the elongate body into the containment chamber to move material out of the second opening.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a storage container configured to receive material expelled from the containment chamber.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the storage container is configured to be attached to the containment chamber.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the valve comprises one of a slit valve and a duck bill valve.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the containment chamber is removably attached to the elongate body.

10. A method comprising:

providing an atherectomy device, the atherectomy device including an elongate body,

a torque transmitting element contained within the elongate body, the torque transmitting element being rotatable,

a cutting element coupled to the torque transmitting element, the cutting element being configured to be rotated by the torque transmitting element when cutting material from a vascular location, and

a containment chamber attached to the elongate body, the containment chamber having a first opening through which material cut by the cutting element enters the containment chamber, and a second opening spaced from the first opening;

cutting material at a vascular location of a subject using the atherectomy device;

collecting the cut material in the containment chamber;

inserting a shaft of a removal element into the second opening;

opening a valve in communication with the second opening after said collecting the cut material, wherein the valve is opened by inserting the removal element into the second opening; and

pushing the cut material out the containment chamber through the first opening by moving the removal element in the containment chamber toward the first opening after said inserting the shaft of the removal element into the second opening.

11. The method set forth in claim 10 further comprising removing the containment chamber from the elongate body after said collecting the cut material.