US6482215B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjustable vessel cleaner and method
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 2000-09-01
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Granted: 2002-11-19
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Expires: 2020-09-01
Abstract
Abstract A rotary flexible agitator system for removing an obstruction from within a patient's vessel comprising a tubular-housing having a flexible-tube with an open distal end, a motor-driven flexible agitator-shaft disposed in the tubular-housing that is rotateable and moveable relative to the flexible-tube. The flexible agitator-shaft has an offset distal-agitator whose effective diameter can be adjusted by pulling or pushing it in or out of the flexible-tube in order to navigate and thread it through obstructions, curved vessels and bifurcations.
Inventors
- 👤 Samuel Shiber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:56
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/3205; A61B17/3207; A61B17/320758; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22082; A61B2017/320733; A61B2217/00; A61B2217/002; A61B2217/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A rotary flexible agitator system for removing an obstruction from within a patient's vessel comprising in combination: a tubular-housing having a flexible-tube with an open distal end, a motor-driven flexible agitator-shaft disposed in the tubular-housing, the flexible agitator-shaft being rotateable and moveable relative to the flexible-tube, the flexible agitator-shaft having an offset distal-agitator that extends out of the open distal end of the flexible-tube to break the obstruction to pieces while rotating with an effective diameter that is larger than its cross-sectional diameter, wherein the flexible agitator-shaft is moveable relative to the flexible-tube to thereby pull or push the offset distal-agitator in or out of the flexible-tube and thereby adjust the effective diameter of the offset distal-agitator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
A rotary flexible agitator system for removing an obstruction from within a patient's vessel comprising in combination: a tubular-housing having a flexible-tube with an open distal end, a motor-driven flexible agitator-shaft disposed in the tubular-housing, the flexible agitator-shaft being rotateable and moveable relative to the flexible-tube, the flexible agitator-shaft having an offset distal-agitator that extends out of the open distal end of the flexible-tube to break the obstruction to pieces while rotating with an effective diameter that is larger than its cross-sectional diameter, wherein the flexible agitator-shaft is moveable relative to the flexible-tube to thereby pull or push the offset distal-agitator in or out of the flexible-tube and thereby adjust the effective diameter of the offset distal-agitator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
As in claim 1 wherein the agitator-shaft comprises a spiral wire.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
As in claim 2 wherein the spiral wire radially supports the flexible-tube while the rotary agitator system is operated in a curved vessel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
As in claim 1 wherein the agitator-shaft and the offset distal-agitator are made from a continuous spiral wire.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
As in claim 4 wherein the agitator-shaft is made of a flattened wire wound on its edge and the offset distal-agitator is made from the same flattened wire wound on its side.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
As in claim 2 , 3 , 4 or 5 , wherein the spiral wire is core-less.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
As in claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional diameter of the agitator-shaft is larger than the cross-sectional diameter of the offset distal-agitator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
9 words
As in claim 1 wherein the flexible-tube is curved.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
As in claim 1 wherein a portion of a surface of the offset distal-agitator that comes in contact with the vessel's wall is smooth, and another portion of the surface is abrasive.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
As in claim 1 wherein the rotary flexible agitator-shaft has radial protrusions that, during the relative motion between the rotary flexible agitator-shaft and the flexible-tube, further break the pieces as they pass through the flexible-tube.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of steering a medical apparatus having a flexible-tube in which a motor-driven flexible agitator-shaft is disposed in and is connected to an offset distal-agitator that extends out of an open distal end of the tube, comprising the following steps: inserting the apparatus into a vessel, advancing the apparatus distally in the vessel until an obstacle is encountered, adjusting the effective diameter by pulling or pushing the offset distal-agitator into or out of the flexible-tube to adjust the effective diameter to facilitate steering it past the obstacle.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of steering a medical apparatus having a flexible-tube in which a motor-driven flexible agitator-shaft is disposed in and is connected to an offset distal-agitator that extends out of an open distal end of the tube, comprising the following steps: inserting the apparatus into a vessel, advancing the apparatus distally in the vessel until an obstacle is encountered, adjusting the effective diameter by pulling or pushing the offset distal-agitator into or out of the flexible-tube to adjust the effective diameter to facilitate steering it past the obstacle.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for unclogging a vessel with an apparatus having a flexible-tube in which a motor-driven flexible agitator-shaft is disposed, and the flexible agitator-shaft is connected to an offset distal-agitator that extends out of an open distal end of the tube, comprising the following steps: inserting the apparatus into the vessel, advancing the apparatus distally in the vessel until an obstacle is encountered, adjusting the effective diameter by pulling or pushing the offset distal-agitator into or out of the flexible-tube to facilitate passing the offset distal-agitator through the obstruction, activating the motor to rotate the flexible agitator-shaft and the offset distal-agitator while moving them proximally in the vessel so that the offset distal-agitator that extends out of the open distal end of the flexible-tube breaks the obstruction to pieces.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for unclogging a vessel with an apparatus having a flexible-tube in which a motor-driven flexible agitator-shaft is disposed, and the flexible agitator-shaft is connected to an offset distal-agitator that extends out of an open distal end of the tube, comprising the following steps: inserting the apparatus into the vessel, advancing the apparatus distally in the vessel until an obstacle is encountered, adjusting the effective diameter by pulling or pushing the offset distal-agitator into or out of the flexible-tube to facilitate passing the offset distal-agitator through the obstruction, activating the motor to rotate the flexible agitator-shaft and the offset distal-agitator while moving them proximally in the vessel so that the offset distal-agitator that extends out of the open distal end of the flexible-tube breaks the obstruction to pieces.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
As in claim 11 or 12 , wherein the offset distal-agitator is rotated to further facilitate steering it past the obstacle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
As in claim 11 or 12 , wherein radio-opaque fluid is delivered to the distal end of the apparatus though the flexible-tube to assist in imaging the vessel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
As in claim 11 or 12 , wherein the rotary flexible-agitator system is inserted into the vessel through an introducer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
As in claim 11 or 12 , wherein the rotary flexible-agitator system is inserted into the vessel through an introducer through which fluids can be introduced into the vessel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-11-18 | 2006-05-20 | 2006-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-11-18 | 2010-05-20 | 2010-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-11-18 | 2014-05-20 | 2014-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |