Valvulotome with leaflet disruption heads and fluid supply

Claim 2

A valvulotome for rendering various valve leaflets incompetent comprising: a rigid support a first disrupting head mounted on said support with a disrupting surface mounted for disrupting action during retrograde motion of said valvulotome, said rigid support comprising a fluid supply tube having a fluid outlet, said fluid supply tube extending into said disrupting head so that said fluid outlet supplied fluid to a location during a retrograde motion with respect to the direction of blood flow after said disrupting head has initially passed said location; and a second disrupting head located on said support and positioned ahead of said first disrupting head during said retrograde motion.

Claim 3

A valvulotome as recited in claim 1 which further includes a dilator mounted on said support and positioned ahead of said first disrupting head during said retrograde motion.

Claim 4

A valvulotome as recited in claim 2 wherein said fluid supply tube extends trough said second disrupting head, said dilator and into said first disrupting head.

Claim 5

A valvulotome as recited in claim 1 wherein said fluid supply tube includes a flanged end and a catheter coupled to said flanged end.

Claim 6

A valvulotome comprising a cannula having a first flanged end and a second flanged end, said cannula including at least three spaced regions, each of said regions including machined surface discontinuities, two of said three spaced regions located adjacent a different one of said flanged ends, a first valve leaflet disrupting head integrally mounted on said cannula and encompassing one of said surface discontinuity including regions adjacent said first flanged end, said valve disrupting head including first and second ends, a first end including an irrigation port communicating with said flanged end of said cannula, and a second end, opposite said first end, including a valve leaflet disrupting surface, a second valve disrupting head integrally supported on said cannula superimposed on that one of said surface discontinuity including regions not adjacent either of said flanged ends, said second valve leaflet disrupting head including a first, streamlined end and a second, valve leaflet disrupting end, opposite said first end, a vein dilator integrally supported on said cannula adjacent one of said surface discontinuity including regions adjacent said second flanged end and extending beyond said second flanged end, said dilator including a first streamlined end and a second streamlined end, a catheter with a first end swaged onto said second flanged end of said cannula and located within said vein dilator, and a fluid coupling located on another end of said catheter.

Claim 7

A valvulotome comprising a cannula having a first flanged end and a second flanged end, said cannula including at least three spaced regions, each of said regions including machined surface discontinuities, two of said three spaced regions located adjacent a different one of said flanged ends, a first valve leaflet disrupting head integrally mounted on said cannula and encompassing one of said surface discontinuity including regions adjacent said first flanged end, said valve disrupting head including first and second ends, a first end including an irrigation port communicating with said flanged end of said cannula, and a second end, opposite said first end, including a valve leaflet disrupting surface, a second valve disrupting head integrally supported on said cannula superimposed on that one of said surface discontinuity including regions not adjacent either of said flanged ends, said second valve leaflet disrupting head including a first, streamlined end and a second, valve leaflet disrupting end, opposite said first end, a vein dilator integrally supported on said cannula adjacent one of said surface discontinuity including regions adjacent said second flanged end and extending beyond said second flanged end, said dilator including a first streamlined end and a second streamlined end, a catheter with a first end swaged onto said second flanged end of said cannula and located within said vein dilator, and a fluid coupling located on another end of said catheter.

Claim 8

The valvulotome of claim 5 wherein said first and second valve disrupting heads have planes of symmetry, a plane of symmetry of a first valve disrupting head rotated about 90° with respect to a plane of symmetry of said second valve disrupting head.

Claim 11

A method as recited in claim 7 which includes a step of providing said catheter with a free end having a fluid coupling.

Claim 12

A method as recited in claim 7 wherein prior to said step (c) an outer surface of said cannula is distorted.

Claim 13

A method as recited in claim 9 wherein said surface distortion is effected at least at one location encompassed by each of said bodies.

Claim 14

A valvulotome for rendering venous valve leaflets incompetent comprising: a rigid support, a first disrupting head mounted on said support with a disrupting surface mounted for disrupting action during a retrograde motion, with respect to the direction of blood flow, of said valvulotome, a dilator mounted on said support and positioned ahead of said first disrupting head during said retrograde motion, a second disrupting head located on said support and positioned between said first disrupting head and said dilator, said rigid support comprising a fluid supply tube having a fluid outlet, said fluid supply tube extending through said second disrupting head, said dilator, and into said first disrupting head so that said fluid outlet supplies fluid to a location during said retrograde motion after said first and second disrupting heads have initially passed said location, said first and second disrupting heads each having an axis of symmetry wherein said axis of symmetry of said first disrupting head is rotated relative to said axis of said second disrupting head by about 90 degrees.

Claim 15

A valvulotome for rendering venous valve leaflets incompetent comprising: a rigid support, a first disrupting head mounted on said support with a disrupting surface mounted for disrupting action during a retrograde motion, with respect to the direction of blood flow, of said valvulotome, a dilator mounted on said support and positioned ahead of said first disrupting head during said retrograde motion, a second disrupting head located on said support and positioned between said first disrupting head and said dilator, said rigid support comprising a fluid supply tube having a fluid outlet, said fluid supply tube extending through said second disrupting head, said dilator, and into said first disrupting head so that said fluid outlet supplies fluid to a location during said retrograde motion after said first and second disrupting heads have initially passed said location, said first and second disrupting heads each having an axis of symmetry wherein said axis of symmetry of said first disrupting head is rotated relative to said axis of said second disrupting head by about 90 degrees.

Claim 16

A valvulotome for rendering venous valve leaflets incompetent comprising: a rigid support, a first disrupting head mounted on said support with a disrupting surface mounted for disrupting action during a retrograde motion, with respect to the direction of blood flow, of said valvulotome, said rigid support comprising a fluid supply tube having a fluid outlet, said fluid supply tube extending into said first disrupting head so that said fluid outlet supplies fluid to a location during said retrograde motion after said disrupting head has initially passed said location, said fluid supply tube further including a flanged end and a catheter coupled to said flanged end, said first disrupting head being integrally mounted on said fluid supply tube, a second disrupting head integrally mounted on said fluid supply tube and positioned ahead of said first disrupting head during said retrograde motion, a dilator mounted on said fluid supply tube and positioned ahead of said first disrupting head during said retrograde motion, wherein said first and second disrupting heads each having an axis of symmetry wherein said axis of symmetry of said first disrupting head is rotated relative to said axis of said second disrupting head by about 90 degrees.

Claim 17

A valvulotome for rendering venous valve leaflets incompetent comprising: a rigid support, a first disrupting head mounted on said support with a disrupting surface mounted for disrupting action during a retrograde motion, with respect to the direction of blood flow, of said valvulotome, said rigid support comprising a fluid supply tube having a fluid outlet, said fluid supply tube extending into said first disrupting head so that said fluid outlet supplies fluid to a location during said retrograde motion after said disrupting head has initially passed said location, said fluid supply tube further including a flanged end and a catheter coupled to said flanged end, said first disrupting head being integrally mounted on said fluid supply tube, a second disrupting head integrally mounted on said fluid supply tube and positioned ahead of said first disrupting head during said retrograde motion, a dilator mounted on said fluid supply tube and positioned ahead of said first disrupting head during said retrograde motion, wherein said first and second disrupting heads each having an axis of symmetry wherein said axis of symmetry of said first disrupting head is rotated relative to said axis of said second disrupting head by about 90 degrees.

Claim 18

A valvulotome for rendering venous valve leaflets incompetent comprising: a rigid support, a first disrupting head mounted on said support with a disrupting surface mounted for disrupting action during retrograde motion, with respect to the direction of blood flow, of said valvulotome, said rigid support comprising a fluid supply tube having a fluid outlet, said fluid supply tube extending into said first disrupting head so that said fluid outlet supplies fluid to a location during said retrograde motion after said disrupting head has initially passed said location, said fluid supply tube further including a flanged end and a catheter coupled to said flanged end, said first disrupting head being integrally mounted on said fluid supply tube, a second disrupting head integrally mounted on said fluid supply tube and positioned ahead of said first disrupting head during said retrograde, motion, a dilator mounted on said fluid supply tube and positioned ahead of said first disrupting head during said retrograde motion, said first and second disrupting heads each having an axis of symmetry wherein said axis of symmetry of said first disrupting head is rotated relative to said axis of said second disrupting head by about 90 degrees, and wherein said fluid supply tube is circumferentially knurled at one or more locations which are encompassed by said first and said second disrupting heads and said dilator.

Claim 19

A valvulotome for rendering venous valve leaflets incompetent comprising: a rigid support, a first disrupting head mounted on said support with a disrupting surface mounted for disrupting action during retrograde motion, with respect to the direction of blood flow, of said valvulotome, said rigid support comprising a fluid supply tube having a fluid outlet, said fluid supply tube extending into said first disrupting head so that said fluid outlet supplies fluid to a location during said retrograde motion after said disrupting head has initially passed said location, said fluid supply tube further including a flanged end and a catheter coupled to said flanged end, said first disrupting head being integrally mounted on said fluid supply tube, a second disrupting head integrally mounted on said fluid supply tube and positioned ahead of said first disrupting head during said retrograde, motion, a dilator mounted on said fluid supply tube and positioned ahead of said first disrupting head during said retrograde motion, said first and second disrupting heads each having an axis of symmetry wherein said axis of symmetry of said first disrupting head is rotated relative to said axis of said second disrupting head by about 90 degrees, and wherein said fluid supply tube is circumferentially knurled at one or more locations which are encompassed by said first and said second disrupting heads and said dilator.