US4589412A — Method and apparatus for surgically removing remo…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 147 words

A method of opening a restriction formed of material inside of a blood vessel, duct, or other lumen within a living being, said method comprising: guiding a flexible catheter, whose outside diameter is close to the inside diameter of the vessel, duct or lumen and having a longitudinal axis and movable working means located at a distal end portion thereof, through the blood vessel, duct, or lumen to the location of the material; applying fluid pressure directly to a portion of said working means to cause said portion to rotate about said axis; and advancing the catheter down said blood vessel, duct, or lumen so that it can flex to conform to the tortuosity of said vessel, duct, or lumen and move into said material while said portion of said working means is rotating to effect the opening of said restriction without appreciable damage to said passageway.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 147 words

A method of opening a restriction formed of material inside of a blood vessel, duct, or other lumen within a living being, said method comprising: guiding a flexible catheter, whose outside diameter is close to the inside diameter of the vessel, duct or lumen and having a longitudinal axis and movable working means located at a distal end portion thereof, through the blood vessel, duct, or lumen to the location of the material; applying fluid pressure directly to a portion of said working means to cause said portion to rotate about said axis; and advancing the catheter down said blood vessel, duct, or lumen so that it can flex to conform to the tortuosity of said vessel, duct, or lumen and move into said material while said portion of said working means is rotating to effect the opening of said restriction without appreciable damage to said passageway.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said working means is a cutting head and including the step of applying suction through the catheter to the area around the cutting head to withdraw particles of material being cut by the cutting head.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said working means comprises cutter means.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 3 wherein said fluid pressure is provided to rotate said cutter means via a passage extending through said catheter.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 1 additionally comprising the step of providing positive pressure to said passageway adjacent the location of said restriction.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 1 additionally comprising infusing a fluid into said passageway adjacent the location of said restriction.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 6 wherein said fluid provides the fluid pressure to said working means to cause the movement thereof.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 10 words

The method of claim 6 wherein said fluid is oxygenated.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 11 words

The method of claim 6 wherein said fluid includes a drug.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method of claim 6 wherein said fluid includes a contrast medium.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 137 words

A method of opening a restriction formed of atherosclerotic plaque in a diseased vessel in a living human being, said method comprising: introducing a flexible catheter having a longitudinal axis and a movable cutting head at its distal end rotatable about said longitudinal axis into the diseased vessel at a point remote from the location of the atherosclerotic plaque restriction to be opened; guiding the catheter through the vessel while maintaining blood flow therethrough until the catheter has reached the site of the restriction; applying sufficient fluid pressure through the entire length of said catheter and directly to said cutting head to cause rotation of the cutting head about said longitudinal axis; advancing the catheter down said vessel while the cutting head is rotating to open said restriction; and withdrawing the catheter after the restriction is opened.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 137 words

A method of opening a restriction formed of atherosclerotic plaque in a diseased vessel in a living human being, said method comprising: introducing a flexible catheter having a longitudinal axis and a movable cutting head at its distal end rotatable about said longitudinal axis into the diseased vessel at a point remote from the location of the atherosclerotic plaque restriction to be opened; guiding the catheter through the vessel while maintaining blood flow therethrough until the catheter has reached the site of the restriction; applying sufficient fluid pressure through the entire length of said catheter and directly to said cutting head to cause rotation of the cutting head about said longitudinal axis; advancing the catheter down said vessel while the cutting head is rotating to open said restriction; and withdrawing the catheter after the restriction is opened.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 11 including the step of applying suction at the proximal end of the catheter through the catheter to the area around the cutting head to withdraw particles of plaque being cut by the cutting head.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 166 words

Apparatus for opening a restriction formed of material inside a blood vessel, duct or other lumen within a living being, said apparatus comprising: a catheter whose outside diameter is close to the inside diameter of the vessel, duct or lumen, and which is flexible to conform to the tortuosity of said vessel, duct or lumen and having a distal end portion, a proximal end portion, and a longitudinal axis, fluid-driven, movable cutting means located at the distal end portion, and having a portion rotatable about the longitudinal axis of said catheter and fluid pressure means for continuously directly rotating said portion of said cutting means with respect to said material while said cutting means is advanced down said passageway and into said material to open said restriction, said catheter additionally comprising an inflatable member surrounding its distal end portion proximally from the cutting means, and a passageway coupled thereto to provide for fluid flow from the proximal end portion of said catheter to the inflatable member.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 166 words

Apparatus for opening a restriction formed of material inside a blood vessel, duct or other lumen within a living being, said apparatus comprising: a catheter whose outside diameter is close to the inside diameter of the vessel, duct or lumen, and which is flexible to conform to the tortuosity of said vessel, duct or lumen and having a distal end portion, a proximal end portion, and a longitudinal axis, fluid-driven, movable cutting means located at the distal end portion, and having a portion rotatable about the longitudinal axis of said catheter and fluid pressure means for continuously directly rotating said portion of said cutting means with respect to said material while said cutting means is advanced down said passageway and into said material to open said restriction, said catheter additionally comprising an inflatable member surrounding its distal end portion proximally from the cutting means, and a passageway coupled thereto to provide for fluid flow from the proximal end portion of said catheter to the inflatable member.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1989-05-19	1989-11-18	1990-05-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1993-05-19	1993-11-18	1994-05-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1997-05-19	1997-11-18	1998-05-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for surgically removing remote deposits

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