Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
An atherectomy device comprising: a flexible tubular member having proximal and distal ends and a central lumen extending therebetween; a flexible drive member rotatably disposed in the central lumen of the flexible tubular member; a collection chamber having an open distal end, said collection chamber being detachable secured to and isolated from the distal end of the flexible tubular member, whereby stenosis is not received in the flexible tubular member and the collection chamber can be removed to allow cleaning; and a helical blade having a blade tip and a shank attached to a distal end of the flexible drive member, said blade being disposed so that the blade tip can extend distally through the open distal end of the collection chamber while the blade shank remains within the collection chamber, whereby stenosis may be severed and translated proximally into the collection chamber through the open distal end by rotating the blade.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
An atherectomy device comprising: a flexible tubular member having proximal and distal ends and a central lumen extending therebetween; a flexible drive member rotatably disposed in the central lumen of the flexible tubular member; a collection chamber having an open distal end, said collection chamber being detachable secured to and isolated from the distal end of the flexible tubular member, whereby stenosis is not received in the flexible tubular member and the collection chamber can be removed to allow cleaning; and a helical blade having a blade tip and a shank attached to a distal end of the flexible drive member, said blade being disposed so that the blade tip can extend distally through the open distal end of the collection chamber while the blade shank remains within the collection chamber, whereby stenosis may be severed and translated proximally into the collection chamber through the open distal end by rotating the blade.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
An atherectomy device as in claim 1, further comprising means secured to the flexible drive member for rotating and axially translating said flexible drive member, whereby the helical blade may be moved between a retracted position where the blade tip is within the collection chamber and an extended position where the blade tip is outside of the chamber while the blade shank is within the chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
An atherectomy device as in claim 1, wherein the collection chamber includes a rigid distal housing segment and a resilient proximal body segment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
An atherectomy device as in claim 1, wherein the helical blade includes a pair of blade elements which meet at an angle in the range from about 55° to 65° at the blade tip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
An atherectomy device as in claim 4, wherein the helical blade has a helix angle in the range from 10° to 25°.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
An atherectomy device as in claim 1, wherein the drive member and helical blade have aligned lumens capable of being introduced over a guide wire.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
140 words
An atherectomy device comprising: a flexible tubular member having proximal and distal ends and a central lumen extending therebetween; a first flexible drive cable rotatably disposed in the central lumen of the flexible tubular member, said cable having proximal and distal ends and a central lumen extending therebetween; a circular blade having an open distal end secured to the distal end of the first flexible drive cable; a collection screen disposed within the open distal end of the cutting blade; a second flexible drive cable rotatably disposed in the central lumen of the first flexible drive cable, said second cable having proximal and distal ends; an anchor member secured to a distal end of the second flexible drive cable; and means for rotating and advancing the first and second flexible drive cables, said means being secured to said drive cables.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
140 words
An atherectomy device comprising: a flexible tubular member having proximal and distal ends and a central lumen extending therebetween; a first flexible drive cable rotatably disposed in the central lumen of the flexible tubular member, said cable having proximal and distal ends and a central lumen extending therebetween; a circular blade having an open distal end secured to the distal end of the first flexible drive cable; a collection screen disposed within the open distal end of the cutting blade; a second flexible drive cable rotatably disposed in the central lumen of the first flexible drive cable, said second cable having proximal and distal ends; an anchor member secured to a distal end of the second flexible drive cable; and means for rotating and advancing the first and second flexible drive cables, said means being secured to said drive cables.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
An atherectomy device as in claim 7, wherein the anchor member is a screw.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
An atherectomy device as in claim 8, wherein the outside diameter of the screw is approximately the same as the inside diameter of the circular cutting blade.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
An atherectomy device as in claim 7, wherein the cutting blade is an elongate tube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
An atherectomy device as in claim 7, further comprising a proximal housing attached to the flexible tubular member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
An atherectomy device as in claim 7, wherein the second flexible drive cable and the anchor member have axially aligned central lumens capable of receiving a guide wire.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
An atherectomy catheter as in claim 7, further comprising an inflatable balloon secured to one side of the distal end of the flexible tubular member, whereby the catheter tip may be transversely deviated by inflating the balloon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
An atherectomy catheter as in claim 7, wherein a side aperture is formed in the anchor member to provide for enhanced removal of stenotic material.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for performing atherectomy, said method employing a catheter including flexible tubular member, a tubular cutting member disposed in a lumen of the first tubular member, an anchor member disposed in a lumen of the circular cutting member, and a collection screen within the tubular cutting blade, said method comprising: introducing the catheter into a blood vessel proximate a region of stenosis; advancing the anchor from the catheter member into the stenosis so that the anchor becomes embedded therein; advancing the tubular cutting member from the catheter over the anchor so that a portion of the stenosis is severed and entrapped between the cutting member and the anchor and within the collection screen; and simultaneously retracting the anchor and the cutting member into the catheter in order to remove the severed stenosis from the blood vessel.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for performing atherectomy, said method employing a catheter including flexible tubular member, a tubular cutting member disposed in a lumen of the first tubular member, an anchor member disposed in a lumen of the circular cutting member, and a collection screen within the tubular cutting blade, said method comprising: introducing the catheter into a blood vessel proximate a region of stenosis; advancing the anchor from the catheter member into the stenosis so that the anchor becomes embedded therein; advancing the tubular cutting member from the catheter over the anchor so that a portion of the stenosis is severed and entrapped between the cutting member and the anchor and within the collection screen; and simultaneously retracting the anchor and the cutting member into the catheter in order to remove the severed stenosis from the blood vessel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as in claim 15, wherein the catheter is introduced to the blood vessel over a guide wire.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 15, wherein the anchor is a screw which is advanced into the stenosis by rotation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as in claim 15, wherein the severed stenosis is entrapped between the threads of the screw and the cutting member by rotating the cutting member as it is advanced.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as in claim 17, wherein the anchor and tubular cutting member are advanced simultaneously, with the anchor being rotated and the cutting blade not being rotated, whereby stenotic material is continuously severed and translated proximally into the tubular cutting member.