US5954737A — Thrombus macerator catheter

Claim 1

Independent Claim 62 words

A device for macerating a thrombus in a living being, comprising: an elongated main body defining a lumen that includes a sleeve component that defines two or more slits, also defining the lumen and a mandril component positioned within the sleeve lumen, the elongated main body terminating at a distal end in one or more conformable rib elements for macerating the thrombus.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 62 words

A device for macerating a thrombus in a living being, comprising: an elongated main body defining a lumen that includes a sleeve component that defines two or more slits, also defining the lumen and a mandril component positioned within the sleeve lumen, the elongated main body terminating at a distal end in one or more conformable rib elements for macerating the thrombus.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 14 words

The device of claim 1 wherein the number of conformable rib elements is two.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 16 words

The device of claim 1 wherein the mandril is positioned at least partially within a sheath.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 17 words

The device of claim 1 and further comprising a wire coil positioned about the elongated main body.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 18 words

The device of claim 4 wherein the mandril is positioned at least partially within a the wire coil.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 12 words

The device of claim 1 wherein the mandril is made of Nitinol.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 32 words

The device of claim 1 wherein an application of a directed force on the mandril produces movement of the sleeve component toward the conformable rib element and bows the conformable rib element.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 37 words

The device of claim 1 wherein an application of a directed force on the mandril produces movement of the sleeve component away from the conformable rib element and conforms the conformable rib element to a linear shape.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 20 words

The device of claim 1 wherein the mandril and the sleeve component form an annulus within the elongated main body.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 20 words

The device of claim 1 and further comprising drugs which are added to the device and released through the slit.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 15 words

The device of claim 1 wherein the mandril component is attached to the sleeve component.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 16 words

The device of claim 1 wherein the sleeve component and mandril component define an annular space.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 66 words

A device for macerating a thrombus in a living being, comprising: an elongated main body defining a lumen that includes a sleeve component, also defining the lumen and a mandril component positioned within the sleeve component wherein the sleeve component is adhered to the mandril component, the elongated main body terminating at a distal end in one or more conformable rib elements for macerating the thrombus.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 66 words

A device for macerating a thrombus in a living being, comprising: an elongated main body defining a lumen that includes a sleeve component, also defining the lumen and a mandril component positioned within the sleeve component wherein the sleeve component is adhered to the mandril component, the elongated main body terminating at a distal end in one or more conformable rib elements for macerating the thrombus.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 14 words

The device of claim 13 wherein the number of conformable rib elements is two.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 16 words

The device of claim 13 wherein the mandril is positioned at least partially within a sheath.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 14 words

The device of claim 13 wherein the sleeve component defines two or more slits.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 12 words

The device of claim 13 wherein the mandril is made of Nitinol.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 77 words

A device for macerating a thrombus in a living being, comprising: an elongated main body with a distal end and a proximal end that terminates at the distal end to a flexible guidewire, the main body defining a lumen that includes a sleeve component also defining the lumen and a mandril component positioned within the sleeve lumen, the elongated main body terminating at a distal end in one or more conformable rib elements for macerating the thrombus.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 77 words

A device for macerating a thrombus in a living being, comprising: an elongated main body with a distal end and a proximal end that terminates at the distal end to a flexible guidewire, the main body defining a lumen that includes a sleeve component also defining the lumen and a mandril component positioned within the sleeve lumen, the elongated main body terminating at a distal end in one or more conformable rib elements for macerating the thrombus.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 13 words

The device of claim 18 wherein the number of rib elements is two.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 13 words

The device of claim 18 wherein the sleeve defines two or more slits.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 14 words

The device of claim 18 wherein the sleeve is adhered to the mandril component.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 17 words

The device of claim 18 wherein the mandril component is positioned at least partially within a sheath.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 18 words

The device of claim 18 wherein the mandril component is positioned at least partially within a wire coil.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 13 words

The device of claim 18 wherein the mandril component is made of Nitinol.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 36 words

The device of claim 18 wherein an application of a directed force on the mandril component produces movement of the sleeve component away from the ribs and conforms the conformable rib elements to a linear shape.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 29 words

The device of claim 18 wherein an application of a directed force on the mandril component produces movement of the sleeve component toward the ribs and bows the ribs.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 15 words

The device of claim 18 wherein the mandril component is attached to the sleeve component.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 16 words

The device of claim 18 wherein the sleeve component and mandril component define an annular space.

Claim 32

Independent Claim 81 words

A device for macerating a thrombus in a living being, comprising: an elongated main body defining a lumen that includes a sleeve component also defining the lumen and a mandril component positioned within the sleeve lumen, the elongated main body terminating at a distal end in one or more conformable rib elements for macerating the thrombus and further including one or more strip components positioned over the sleeve component and terminating at the distal end and at a proximal end segment.

Claim 33

Independent Claim 81 words

A device for macerating a thrombus in a living being, comprising: an elongated main body defining a lumen that includes a sleeve component also defining the lumen and a mandril component positioned within the sleeve lumen, the elongated main body terminating at a distal end in one or more conformable rib elements for macerating the thrombus and further including one or more strip components positioned over the sleeve component and terminating at the distal end and at a proximal end segment.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 20 words

The device of claim 20 wherein the strip component prevents twisting of the device and functions as a macerating rib.

Claim 35

Independent Claim 107 words

A method for macerating a thrombus in a living being, comprising: providing a device that includes a main body that includes a sleeve defining a lumen and a mandril enclosed within the sleeve and adhered to the sleeve, the main body terminating in one or more ribs attached to an end cap; pulling the mandril so as to push the sleeve into the ribs thereby decreasing a linear space that can be occupied by the ribs thereby bowing the ribs in an outwardly direction; positioning the device to contact a thrombus and contacting the thrombus with the device so as to scrape the thrombus with the ribs.

Claim 36

Independent Claim 107 words

A method for macerating a thrombus in a living being, comprising: providing a device that includes a main body that includes a sleeve defining a lumen and a mandril enclosed within the sleeve and adhered to the sleeve, the main body terminating in one or more ribs attached to an end cap; pulling the mandril so as to push the sleeve into the ribs thereby decreasing a linear space that can be occupied by the ribs thereby bowing the ribs in an outwardly direction; positioning the device to contact a thrombus and contacting the thrombus with the device so as to scrape the thrombus with the ribs.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 31 wherein the device further provides for introduction of lytic drug into the thrombus through openings, or slits, created when the ribs are expanded.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 31 and further including a concurrent addition of lytic drugs to the thrombus and scraping of the thrombus by the ribs.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 47 words

The method of claim 31 and further including retracting the catheter from the thrombus by moving the mandril so as to linearly dispose the sleeve away from the ribs thereby causing the ribs to contract to a linear shape, and moving the device away from the thrombus.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 47 words

The method of claim 31 and further including steps for: providing a microcatheter; positioning the device adjacent the microcatheter so that the device contains the thrombus and the microcatheter is adjacent to the thrombus; and delivering an additional volume of drugs through the microcatheter to the thrombus.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 31 wherein the device provided further includes a handle in movable communication with the sleeve component so that pulling the mandril component while maintaining the handle stable produces a bowing of the ribs.

Claim 42

Independent Claim 117 words

A method for macerating a thrombus in a living being, comprising: providing a device that includes a main body that includes a sleeve, the sleeve positioned over coils wherein the sleeve and coils define a lumen; a core wire positioned within the lumen and attached to a distal end of the main body; and one or more strips positioned over the sleeve, the strips attached to the distal end and a proximal end segment; pulling the core wire so as to push the coils together thereby bowing the strips in an outwardly direction; and positioning the device to contact a thrombus and contacting the thrombus with the device so as to scrape the thrombus with the strips.

Claim 43

Independent Claim 117 words

A method for macerating a thrombus in a living being, comprising: providing a device that includes a main body that includes a sleeve, the sleeve positioned over coils wherein the sleeve and coils define a lumen; a core wire positioned within the lumen and attached to a distal end of the main body; and one or more strips positioned over the sleeve, the strips attached to the distal end and a proximal end segment; pulling the core wire so as to push the coils together thereby bowing the strips in an outwardly direction; and positioning the device to contact a thrombus and contacting the thrombus with the device so as to scrape the thrombus with the strips.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 37 wherein the device is prevented from twisting by the strips.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 10 words

The method of claim 37 wherein the strips comprise wires.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-09-20	2003-03-22	2003-09-21	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-09-20	2007-03-22	2007-09-21	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-09-20	2011-03-22	2011-09-21	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Thrombus macerator catheter

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