US5556408A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Expandable and compressible atherectomy cutter
Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed Inc
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Filing: 1995-04-27
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Granted: 1996-09-17
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Expires: 2015-04-27
Abstract
Abstract An expandable and compressible atherectomy cutter for cutting plaque from a stenosis includes a distal hub and a proximal hub joined by a plurality of resilient blades. The blades are shaped to describe a cutting radius which may be compressed to allow the cutter to be inserted into a guide catheter during insertion and removal of the cutter from the patient. The proximal hub is attached to the distal end of a torque tube. A conically-shaped, flexible funnel extends distally from the distal end of the torque tube with the resilient blades located partially within the funnel. In use, the cutter is rotated and advanced to clear a stenosis in a vessel of a patient. At the same time, fluid is withdrawn from the torque tube causing debris to be gathered through the funnel and removed from the patient. Debris removal is enhanced by the channeling effect of the funnel.
Inventors
- 👤 Lawrence Farhat
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 00:31
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/3205; A61B17/3207; A61B17/320725
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
An atherectomy cutter which comprises: a rotatable torque tube having a lumen, said torque tube having a distal end; a proximal hub mounted at said distal end of said torque tube for rotation therewith; a distal hub positioned distally from said proximal hub at a predetermined separation therefrom; a plurality of resilient blades, each said blade having a distal end connected to said distal hub and a proximal end connected to said proximal hub, said blades defining a cutting radius, said cutting radius being resiliently compressible with a corresponding increase in said predetermined separation between said proximal hub and said distal hub; and a flexible conically-shaped funnel tapered with an increasing cross-section in a distal direction and formed with an interior surface, said funnel extending distally from said distal end of said torque tube and attached thereto in fluid communication with said lumen of said torque tube at least a portion of each said blade being positioned within said funnel and against said interior surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
An atherectomy cutter which comprises: a rotatable torque tube having a lumen, said torque tube having a distal end; a proximal hub mounted at said distal end of said torque tube for rotation therewith; a distal hub positioned distally from said proximal hub at a predetermined separation therefrom; a plurality of resilient blades, each said blade having a distal end connected to said distal hub and a proximal end connected to said proximal hub, said blades defining a cutting radius, said cutting radius being resiliently compressible with a corresponding increase in said predetermined separation between said proximal hub and said distal hub; and a flexible conically-shaped funnel tapered with an increasing cross-section in a distal direction and formed with an interior surface, said funnel extending distally from said distal end of said torque tube and attached thereto in fluid communication with said lumen of said torque tube at least a portion of each said blade being positioned within said funnel and against said interior surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A cutter as recited in claim 1 wherein said blades and said distal hub are formed as a single piece.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A cutter as recited in claim 1 wherein said blades are fabricated from stainless steel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A cutter as recited in claim 1 wherein said distal hub is formed with an aperture, said aperture dimensioned to allow said cutter to be positioned over a guide wire.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A cutter as recited in claim 1 wherein said funnel flexible adapts to the dimensions of said blades.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A cutter as recited in claim 1 wherein said funnel is formed from PET.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
264 words
A method for excising plaque from the artery of a patient which comprises the steps of: providing an atherectomy cutter which comprises a rotatable torque tube having a lumen, said torque tube having a distal end, a proximal hub mounted at said distal end of said torque tube for rotation therewith, a distal hub positioned distally from said proximal hub at a predetermined separation therefrom, a plurality of resilient blades, each said blade having a distal end connected to said distal hub and a proximal end connected to said proximal hub, said blades defining a cutting radius, said cutting radius being resiliently compressible with a corresponding increase in said predetermined separation between said proximal hub and said distal hub, and a flexible conically-shaped funnel tapered with an increasing cross-section in a distal direction and formed with an interior surface, said funnel extending distally from said distal end of said torque tube and attached thereto in fluid communication with said lumen of said torque tube at least a portion of each said blade being positioned within said funnel and against said interior surface; providing a guide catheter formed with a lumen; inserting said cutter into said lumen of said guide catheter by compressible causing said blades to adopt said reduced radius; inserting said cutter and said guide catheter into the artery of a patient and positioning said cutter adjacent to the plaque to be excised; advancing said cutter out of said guide catheter to allow said blades to adopt said cutting radius; and rotating and advancing said cutter into said artery to excise said plaque.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
264 words
A method for excising plaque from the artery of a patient which comprises the steps of: providing an atherectomy cutter which comprises a rotatable torque tube having a lumen, said torque tube having a distal end, a proximal hub mounted at said distal end of said torque tube for rotation therewith, a distal hub positioned distally from said proximal hub at a predetermined separation therefrom, a plurality of resilient blades, each said blade having a distal end connected to said distal hub and a proximal end connected to said proximal hub, said blades defining a cutting radius, said cutting radius being resiliently compressible with a corresponding increase in said predetermined separation between said proximal hub and said distal hub, and a flexible conically-shaped funnel tapered with an increasing cross-section in a distal direction and formed with an interior surface, said funnel extending distally from said distal end of said torque tube and attached thereto in fluid communication with said lumen of said torque tube at least a portion of each said blade being positioned within said funnel and against said interior surface; providing a guide catheter formed with a lumen; inserting said cutter into said lumen of said guide catheter by compressible causing said blades to adopt said reduced radius; inserting said cutter and said guide catheter into the artery of a patient and positioning said cutter adjacent to the plaque to be excised; advancing said cutter out of said guide catheter to allow said blades to adopt said cutting radius; and rotating and advancing said cutter into said artery to excise said plaque.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as described in claim 7 further comprising the steps of: prepositioning a guide wire in said artery of said patient; and advancing said atherectomy cutter over said guide wire into said artery.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as described in claim 7 further comprising the steps of: providing a vacuum source; and connecting said vacuum source to said torque tube to withdrawn fluid and debris through said funnel and said torque tube from said artery of said patient as said plaque is excised.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as described in claim 7 further comprising the steps of: retracting said cutter into said guide catheter; and removing said cutter and said guide catheter from said artery of said patient.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
150 words
An atherectomy cutter which comprises: a rotatable torque tube having a lumen; a proximal hub mounted on said torque tube for rotation therewith; a distal hub positioned distally from said proximal hub at a predetermined separation; a plurality of resilient blades, each said blade having a distal end attached to said distal hub, and a proximal end attached to said proximal hub, said blades shaped to describe a predetermined cutting radius, said blades resiliently compressible to selectively adopt a reduced radius; and a flexible conically-shaped funnel formed with an interior surface, said funnel attached at said distal end of said torque tube in fluid communication with said lumen of said torque tube, said funnel extending distally from said distal end of said torque tube and expanding radially in a distal direction with at least a portion of each said blade being positioned within said funnel and against said interior surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
150 words
An atherectomy cutter which comprises: a rotatable torque tube having a lumen; a proximal hub mounted on said torque tube for rotation therewith; a distal hub positioned distally from said proximal hub at a predetermined separation; a plurality of resilient blades, each said blade having a distal end attached to said distal hub, and a proximal end attached to said proximal hub, said blades shaped to describe a predetermined cutting radius, said blades resiliently compressible to selectively adopt a reduced radius; and a flexible conically-shaped funnel formed with an interior surface, said funnel attached at said distal end of said torque tube in fluid communication with said lumen of said torque tube, said funnel extending distally from said distal end of said torque tube and expanding radially in a distal direction with at least a portion of each said blade being positioned within said funnel and against said interior surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A cutter as recited in claim 11 wherein said blades and said distal hub are formed as a single piece.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A cutter as recited in claim 11 wherein said distal hub is formed with an aperture, said aperture dimensioned to allow said cutter to be positioned over a guide wire.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
A cutter as recited in claim 11 wherein said funnel flexible adapts to the dimensions of said blades.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
A cutter as recited in claim 11 wherein said funnel is formed from PET.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
A cutter as recited in claim 11 wherein said blades are fabricated from stainless steel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
131 words
An atherectomy cutter for use with a guide catheter which comprises: a rotatable torque tube having a lumen, said torque tube having a distal end; cutting means attached to said distal end of said torque tube for rotation therewith, said cutting means resiliently compressible between a cutting configuration for cutting plague from an artery to a compressed configuration for passage of said cutter through said guide catheter; and a flexible conically-shaped funnel formed with an interior surface, said funnel attached at said distal end of said torque tube in fluid communication with said lumen of said torque tube, said funnel extending distally from said distal end of said torque tube and expanding radially in a distal direction with said cutting means partially positioned within said funnel and against said interior surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
131 words
An atherectomy cutter for use with a guide catheter which comprises: a rotatable torque tube having a lumen, said torque tube having a distal end; cutting means attached to said distal end of said torque tube for rotation therewith, said cutting means resiliently compressible between a cutting configuration for cutting plague from an artery to a compressed configuration for passage of said cutter through said guide catheter; and a flexible conically-shaped funnel formed with an interior surface, said funnel attached at said distal end of said torque tube in fluid communication with said lumen of said torque tube, said funnel extending distally from said distal end of said torque tube and expanding radially in a distal direction with said cutting means partially positioned within said funnel and against said interior surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4966604A
Cited
US5395311A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-09-17 | 2000-03-18 | 2000-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-09-17 | 2004-03-18 | 2004-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-09-17 | 2008-03-18 | 2008-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |