EP0359447B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Improved atherectomy catheter
Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc
•
Filing: 1989-09-01
•
Granted: 1995-12-13
•
Expires: 2009-09-01
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Hanson S. Gifford, Iii
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:16
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/3205; A61B17/3207; A61B17/320783; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22038; A61B2017/22072; A61B2017/22074; A61B2017/22075
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
An atherectomy catheter comprising: a flexible tube (82) defining a first lumen (89) with a proximal end (84) and a distal end (86); a flexible opaque torque member (90) disposed within said first lumen (89), said torque member having an open interior; and characterised by: a housing (96) disposed within the distal end of the first lumen and joined to the torque member, said housing having means (98) for severing atheroma; wherein said catheter further includes a second lumen (92) formed by said flexible tube, and said second lumen is enlarged at its distal end to form a balloon (102) adjacent said housing; the flexible tube being substantially transparent to allow a user to check visually for air bubbles in said second lumen (92 and said balloon (102).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
27 words
An atherectomy catheter as in claim 1, wherein the flexible torque member (90) is a braided tube having a diameter from about 1 mm to 4 mm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
An atherectomy catheter as in claim 1, wherein the flexible torque member (90) is a braided tube having a diameter in the range from about 0.4 mm to 1.5 mm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
An atherectomy catheter as in any preceding claim, wherein said housing (96) includes an axially elongated aperture (100) and said severing means comprises a rotatable blade (98) mounted within the housing and a flexible cable (94) attached to the blade, said cable being capable of rotating and axially translating the blade past the elongated aperture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
An atherectomy catheter as in claim 4, wherein the balloon (102) is disposed on the side of the housing (96) opposite the aperture (100).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
An atherectomy catheter as in any preceding claim, wherein the flexible tube (82) includes at least a third lumen (93) capable of receiving a steerable guidewire (70).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
An atherectomy catheter as in claim 1, wherein the flexible tube (82) is a flexible plastic tube having a diameter in the range from about 1 mm to 4 mm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
An atherectomy catheter as in any preceding claim, further including a flexible vent tube (108) disposed through a distal end of the second lumen (92) and extending into the interior of the balloon (102), whereby air within the balloon and the second lumen may be bled during inflation of the balloon with an incompressible fluid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
An atherectomy catheter as in claim 8, wherein the vent tube (108) is fused silica.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
An atherectomy catheter as in claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the inner diameter of the vent tube (108) is in the range from about 0.05 mm to 0.3 mm.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
52 words
A method for forming an atherectomy catheter of any preceding claim, said method comprising: constricting said first lumen (89) of said flexible tube (82) about said flexible torque member (90) and said housing (96); and expanding a distal region of the second lumen (92) proximate the housing to form said balloon (102).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 11, wherein the flexible tube (82) is composed of a thermoplastic and the first lumen is constructed by heating.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the distal region of the second lumen is expanded by heating and applying internal pressure to the interior thereof.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
23 words
A method of any of claims 11 to 13, wherein the first lumen (89) is shrunk tightly about the flexible torque member (90).
Claim 15
Independent Claim
66 words
A method of any of claims 11 to 14, wherein said first lumen (89) is constricted about said torque member (90) by the steps of: a) expanding the first lumen (89) by using hot air and internal pressure; b) inserting the torque member (90) into the expanded first lumen; and c) heating without internal pressure the first lumen to constrict the same onto the torque member.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
25 words
A method of any of claims 11 to 15, wherein the distal end of the balloon (102) is heat sealed about a vent tube (108).
Claim 17
Independent Claim
28 words
A method of any of claims 11 to 15, wherein a vent tube (108) is bonded in the distal end of the balloon (102) with a flexible adhesive.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.