Patent US20050240146A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.

US20050240146A1 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Thrombectomy and soft debris removal device

Assignee: Spectranetics LLC

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Filing: 2004-04-27

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Granted: —

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Expires: 2024-04-27

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Abstract

Abstract A device suitable for removing material from a living being is provided, featuring an infusate pump, and an aspiration pump, both powered by a motor. The aspiration pump and infusate pump preferably feature a helical pumping mechanism, and operate at a high rate of rotation, thereby ensuring adequate pumping performance and flexibility. Additionally, a narrow crossing profile is maintained, ensuring that the device may reach more tortuous regions of the vasculature.

Inventors

👤 John Nash
👤 Greg Walters
👤 Dennis Sauro
👤 Mark Eberhart
👤 William Fisher

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —

Jurisdiction US

Data Source google_patents

Last Synchronized 2026-10-22 23:16

CPC Classifications

A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/3203; A61B17/32037; A61B17/3205; A61B17/3207; A61B17/320783; A61M; A61M1/00; A61M1/71; A61M1/77; A61M1/80; A61M25/00; A61M25/0067; A61M25/0068; A61B2017/00681; A61B2017/00685; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22038; A61B2017/22039; A61B2017/22051; A61B2017/22065; A61B2017/22067; A61B2017/22082; A61B2017/22084; A61M25/01; A61M2025/0177; A61M2025/0183; A61M25/10; A61M2025/1043; A61M2025/1052; A61M25/0069; A61M25/007; A61M25/0082

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 54

Claim 1

Independent Claim 44 words

1 . A flexible catheter system for clearing an accumulation of occlusive material from a vessel, duct or lumen in a living being, said flexible catheter system comprising a rotary helical aspiration pump, a rotary helical infusate pump, and a source of rotary power.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 44 words

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 60 words

2 . The flexible catheter system of claim 1 , wherein said rotary helical aspiration pump comprises a rotor and a surrounding catheter jacket, said rotor comprising a hollow core lumen and a helical wire, said hollow core lumen being arranged to allow delivery of an infusate fluid from said rotary helical infusate pump to the vessel, duct or lumen.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 61 words

3 . The flexible catheter system of claim 2 , wherein said rotary helical aspiration pump further comprises a clearance between said rotor and said surrounding catheter jacket, said clearance being arranged to allow free rotation of said rotor within said surrounding catheter jacket while flexed, said free rotation being of sufficiently high speed to overcome leakage due to said clearance.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 88 words

4 . The flexible catheter system of claim 2 , further comprising a working head located at a distal end of said rotary helical aspiration pump, said working head comprising at least one inlet port, and at least one outlet port, said at least one outlet port being arranged to allow flow of said infusate fluid therethrough to the vessel, duct or lumen, and said at least one inlet port being arranged to allow the passage of the occlusive material therethrough to said rotary helical aspiration pump rotor.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 34 words

5 . The flexible catheter system of claim 4 , wherein said at least one outlet port directs the flow of said infusate fluid radially, towards a wall of the vessel, duct or lumen.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 31 words

6 . The flexible catheter system of claim 4 , wherein said at least one outlet port directs the flow of said infusate fluid distally, into the vessel, duct or lumen.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 29 words

7 . The flexible catheter system of claim 4 , wherein said at least one outlet port directs the flow of said infusate fluid proximally, towards said inlet port.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 31 words

8 . The flexible catheter system of claim 1 , wherein said rotary helical aspiration pump and said rotary helical infusate pump are both driven by said source of rotary power.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 29 words

9 . The flexible catheter system of claim 1 wherein said rotary helical aspiration pump and said rotary helical infusate pump are both driven at the same rotary speed.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 48 words

10 . The flexible catheter system of claim 4 wherein said rotary helical aspiration pump operates to create an aspiration flow rate, and said rotary helical infusate pump operates to create an infusate flow rate, said aspiration flow rate being at least that of the infusate flow rate.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 55 words

11 . The flexible catheter system of claim 10 , further comprising a safety mechanism, said safety mechanism comprising a valve means being arranged to allow said infusate fluid flow to said vessel, duct or lumen in response to aspiration flow from said vessel, duct or lumen through operation of the rotary helical aspiration pump.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 46 words

12 . The safety mechanism of claim 11 , wherein said valve means comprises a first valve and a second valve, said first valve and second valves enabling infusate fluid flow in response to a detected pressure increase through the operation of the helical aspiration pump.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 43 words

13 . The safety mechanism of claim 12 , wherein said first valve is arranged to shunt fluid flow of said helical infusate pump towards the living being, and said second is arranged to allow proximal material flow out of said living being.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 28 words

14 . The safety mechanism of claim 13 , wherein said first valve is a diaphragm valve, and said second valve is a ball and spring check valve.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 15 words

15 . The working head of claim 4 , further comprising a guidewire following means.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 22 words

16 . The guidewire following means of claim 15 , comprising a flexible atraumatic tip, a recessed channel, and a guidewire opening.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 30 words

17 . The guidewire following means of claim 16 , wherein the flexible atraumatic tip comprises a biocompatible material selected from the group consisting of nitinol, silicone, latex, and polytetrafluoroethylene.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 21 words

18 . The guidewire following means of claim 16 , wherein the flexible atraumatic tip further comprises a lubricious coating layer.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 16 words

19 . The flexible catheter system of claim 1 , further comprising a distal protection measure.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 43 words

20 . A flexible catheter system for clearing an accumulation of occlusive material from a vessel, duct or lumen in a living being, said flexible catheter system comprising a rotary helical aspiration pump, a reciprocating infusate pump and a source of rotary power.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 43 words

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 48 words

21 . The flexible catheter system of claim 20 , wherein said rotary helical aspiration pump operates to create an aspiration flow rate, and said reciprocating infusate pump operates to create an infusate flow rate, said aspiration flow rate being at least that of the infusate flow rate.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 60 words

22 . The flexible catheter system of claim 20 , wherein said rotary helical aspiration pump comprises a rotor and a surrounding catheter jacket, said rotor comprising a hollow core lumen and a helical wire, said hollow core lumen being arranged to allow delivery of an infusate fluid from said reciprocating helical infusate pump to the vessel, duct or lumen.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 61 words

23 . The flexible catheter system of claim 22 , wherein said rotary helical aspiration pump further comprises a clearance between said rotor and said surrounding catheter jacket, said clearance being arranged to allow free rotation of said rotor within said surrounding catheter jacket while flexed, said free rotation being of sufficiently high speed to overcome leakage due to said clearance.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 82 words

24 . The flexible catheter system of claim 22 , further comprising a working head located at a distal end of said rotary helical aspiration pump, said working head comprising at least one inlet port, and at least one outlet port, said at least one inlet port being arranged to allow the passage of the occlusive material therethrough to said rotary helical aspiration pump rotor, and said at least one outlet port being arranged to allow flow of said infusate fluid therethrough.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 34 words

25 . The flexible catheter system of claim 24 , wherein said at least one outlet port directs the flow of said infusate fluid radially, towards a wall of the vessel, duct or lumen.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 31 words

26 . The flexible catheter system of claim 24 , wherein said at least one outlet port directs the flow of said infusate fluid distally, into the vessel, duct or lumen.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 29 words

27 . The flexible catheter system of claim 24 , wherein said at least one outlet port directs the flow of said infusate fluid proximally, towards said inlet port.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 30 words

28 . The flexible catheter system of claim 20 , wherein said rotary helical aspiration pump and said reciprocating infusate pump are both driven by said source of rotary power.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 16 words

29 . The flexible catheter system of claim 20 , further comprising a distal protection measure.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 102 words

30 . A flexible catheter system for clearing an accumulation of occlusive material from a vessel, duct or lumen in a living being, said flexible catheter system comprising a driveshaft, a source of rotary power, a helical aspiration pump and a helical infusate pump; wherein said driveshaft is operatively connected to a source of rotary power and said driveshaft serves to actuate rotation for both: a. a helical aspiration pump serving to draw material in a proximal direction out of the living being, and; b. a helical infusate pump serving to deliver infusate fluid in a distal direction into the living being.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 102 words

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 50 words

31 . The flexible catheter system of claim 30 , wherein said driveshaft has a proximal and distal end, further wherein said helical aspiration pump is operatively attached to said distal end of said driveshaft, and said helical infusate pump is operatively attached to said proximal end of said driveshaft.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 49 words

32 . The flexible catheter system of claim 30 , wherein said helical aspiration pump comprises an aspiration helical coil member and an aspiration core member, wherein said aspiration helical coil member is coiled around substantially the length of the aspiration core member, forming a flexible, aspiration screw conveyor.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 47 words

33 . The flexible catheter system of claim 32 , wherein said helical infusate pump comprises an infusate helical coil member and an infusate core member, wherein said infusate coil member is coiled around substantially the length of the aspiration core member, forming an infusate screw conveyor.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 55 words

34 . The flexible catheter system of claim 30 , wherein said driveshaft is operatively coupled to an infusate pump core member, and said infusate pump core member is operatively coupled to a hollow aspiration pump core member, wherein the rotation of said driveshaft effectuates rotation of both the infusate pump and said aspiration pump.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 53 words

35 . The flexible catheter system of claim 30 , further comprising a safety mechanism, said safety mechanism comprising at least 1 valve means being arranged to allow fluid flow delivery to said living being from said infusate pump in response to material flow from said patient through operation of the aspiration pump.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 45 words

36 . The flexible catheter system of claim 35 , wherein said valve means comprises a first valve and a second valve, said first valve and second valves enabling fluid flow in response to a pressure increase through the operation of the helical aspiration pump.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 45 words

37 . The flexible catheter system of claim 36 , wherein said first valve responds is arranged to shunt fluid flow of said helical infusate pump towards the living being, and said second is arranged to allow proximal material flow out of said living being.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 29 words

38 . The flexible catheter system of claim 37 , wherein said first valve is a diaphragm valve, and said second valve is a ball and spring check valve.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 63 words

39 . The flexible catheter system of claim 30 , further comprising a working head located at a distal end of said flexible catheter system, said working head comprising a plurality of inlet ports, at least one outlet port, and at least one cutting surface, said working head being arranged to sever and fragment said occlusive material for removal from the living being.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 40 words

40 . The flexible catheter system of claim 39 , wherein said working head further comprises a tapered flexible atraumatic tip, said atraumatic tip enhancing the ability of the catheter assembly to navigate into the vasculature of a living being.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 41 words

41 . The flexible catheter system of claim 39 , wherein said helical aspiration pump comprises a helical coil wire and a core member, wherein said helical coil wire is formed having a cutting surface at or near the distal end.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 19 words

42 . The flexible catheter system of claim 41 , wherein said inlet ports further comprise a cutting surface.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 27 words

43 . The flexible catheter system of claim 40 , wherein said atraumatic tip is arranged to slidably accept a guidewire through a guide wire following means.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 35 words

44 . The flexible catheter system of claim 39 , further comprising a guidewire lumen, said guidewire lumen being attached proximally of said working head, and extending proximally for a portion of said catheter assembly.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 16 words

45 . The flexible catheter system of claim 39 , further comprising a guidewire following means.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 30 words

46 . The flexible catheter system of claim 39 , wherein said at least one outlet port is arranged to deliver said infusate fluid in the form of a stream.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 25 words

47 . The flexible catheter system of claim 39 , wherein said stream is capable of dislodging and suspending occlusive material in said living being.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 31 words

48 . The flexible catheter system of claim 30 , wherein said infusate fluid is selected from the group consisting of water, buffers, saline, therapy, blood, contrast medium and combinations thereof.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 17 words

49 . The flexible catheter system of claim 48 , wherein said infusate fluid further comprises solids.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 16 words

50 . The flexible catheter system of claim 30 , further comprising a distal protection measure.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 16 words

51 . The flexible catheter assembly system of claim 1 , substantially as shown and described.

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