US7666161B2 — Thrombectomy and soft debris removal device

Claim 1

Independent Claim 239 words

A catheter system for introduction into a vessel of a living being to treat occlusive material, said system comprising: (a) a catheter having a proximal region, a distal region and a housing extending therebetween, said housing comprising an aspiration catheter jacket and defining a lumen, the housing further including a segment comprising at least one aspiration port near the distal region, the aspiration port being in fluid communication with the lumen, (b) a holding arrangement for holding a guidewire adjacent to the catheter at two spaced-apart points such that the segment is located between the two spaced-apart points, and wherein the segment may move in a laterally curved path towards said guidewire and away from said guidewire such that the catheter jacket within the segment becomes separated from the guidewire by a separation distance, and (c) an aspiration pump comprising a source of rotary power at said proximal region and a helical wire located in said lumen and extending from said distal region of said catheter to said proximal region and attached to said source of rotary power; wherein at least a portion of said catheter at the distal region is sufficiently flexible or deflectable as to allow the segment to deflect away from said guidewire such that the catheter jacket within the segment is separated from the guidewire by the separation distance when said source of rotary power is energized and rotates said helical wire in said lumen.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 239 words

A catheter system for introduction into a vessel of a living being to treat occlusive material, said system comprising: (a) a catheter having a proximal region, a distal region and a housing extending therebetween, said housing comprising an aspiration catheter jacket and defining a lumen, the housing further including a segment comprising at least one aspiration port near the distal region, the aspiration port being in fluid communication with the lumen, (b) a holding arrangement for holding a guidewire adjacent to the catheter at two spaced-apart points such that the segment is located between the two spaced-apart points, and wherein the segment may move in a laterally curved path towards said guidewire and away from said guidewire such that the catheter jacket within the segment becomes separated from the guidewire by a separation distance, and (c) an aspiration pump comprising a source of rotary power at said proximal region and a helical wire located in said lumen and extending from said distal region of said catheter to said proximal region and attached to said source of rotary power; wherein at least a portion of said catheter at the distal region is sufficiently flexible or deflectable as to allow the segment to deflect away from said guidewire such that the catheter jacket within the segment is separated from the guidewire by the separation distance when said source of rotary power is energized and rotates said helical wire in said lumen.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 12 words

The catheter system of claim 1 , further comprising an infusate pump.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 17 words

The catheter system of claim 2 , wherein said infusate pump comprises a rotary helical infusate pump.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 56 words

The catheter system of claim 2 , wherein said aspiration pump comprises a rotor within said aspiration catheter jacket, said rotor comprising a hollow core lumen and a helical wire, said hollow core lumen being arranged to allow delivery of an infusate fluid from said infusate pump to a vessel, duct or other hollow organ structure.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 58 words

The catheter system of claim 4 , wherein said aspiration pump further comprises a clearance between said rotor and said surrounding aspiration catheter jacket, said clearance being arranged to allow free rotation of said rotor within said surrounding aspiration catheter jacket while flexed, said free rotation being of sufficiently high speed to overcome leakage due to said clearance.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 39 words

The catheter system of claim 4 , further comprising at least one outlet port, said at least one outlet port being arranged to allow how of said infusate fluid therethrough to the vessel, duct and other hollow organ structure.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 36 words

The catheter system of claim 6 , wherein said at least one outlet port directs the flow of said infusate fluid in at least one direction selected from the group consisting of radially, distally, and proximally.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 27 words

The catheter system of claim 3 , wherein said rotary aspiration pump and said rotary helical infusate pump are both driven by said source of rotary power.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 25 words

The catheter system of claim 3 , wherein said aspiration pump and said rotary helical infusate pump are both driven at the same rotary speed.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 45 words

The catheter system of claim 6 , wherein said aspiration pump operates to create an aspiration flow rate, and said infusate pump operates to create an infusate flow rate, said aspiration flow rate being equal to or greater than that of the infusate flow rate.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 29 words

The catheter system of claim 10 , further comprising a safety mechanism comprising a fluid flow restrictor component and a pressure detection means comprising a diaphragm and pressure switch.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 63 words

The catheter system of claim 11 , wherein said pressure switch in a first state actuates the operation of a low pressure mode characterized by a lower rate of rotation of said rotor, and in a second state actuates the operation of a high pressure mode characterized by a higher rate of rotation than when said pressure switch is in a first state.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 13 words

The catheter system of claim 6 , further comprising a guidewire following means.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 20 words

The catheter system of claim 13 , further comprising a flexible atraumatic tip, a recessed channel, and a guidewire opening.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 27 words

The catheter system of claim 14 , wherein the flexible atraumatic tip comprises a biocompatible material selected from the group consisting of nitinol, silicone, latex, and polytetrafluorethylene.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 18 words

The catheter system of claim 14 , wherein the flexible atraumatic tip further comprises a lubricious coating layer.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 25 words

The catheter system of claim 1 , further comprising means for fragmenting and aspirating said occlusive material to the distal portion of said flexible catheter.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 22 words

The catheter system of claim 1 , further comprising a driveshaft connected between said source of rotary power and said helical wire.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 27 words

The catheter system of claim 1 , further comprising a translational movement limiting means for limiting lateral movement of the aspiration catheter jacket relative to the guidewire.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 30 words

The catheter system of claim 19 , wherein said translational movement limiting means comprises at least one tether attached to said guidewire and to said catheter at said distal region.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 19 words

The catheter system of claim 1 , wherein said segment further comprises a can portion comprising said aspiration port.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 15 words

The catheter system of claim 21 , wherein said segment comprises an angularly displaced portion.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 25 words

The catheter system of claim 1 , wherein said helical wire is pre-bent, unbalanced, or otherwise arranged to provide an increase in the separation distance.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 216 words

A system for clearing an accumulation of occlusive material from a vessel, duct or lumen in a living being, said system comprising: a flexible catheter comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and structure therebetween comprising an aspiration pump comprising a helical wire, a jacket for housing said helical wire, an inlet port at or near said distal end in fluid communication with said jacket, and an outlet port at or near said proximal end, and wherein the jacket includes a segment defining a plurality of aspiration ports near the distal end; a source of rotary power for rotating said helical wire, a holding arrangement that secures a guidewire to a distal end of said flexible catheter, wherein the holding arrangement holds the guidewire adjacent to the flexible catheter at two spaced-apart points on either side of the segment such that the segment may move laterally relative to the guidewire; and wherein the segment of said flexible catheter may move in a laterally curved path towards said guidewire and away from said guidewire when said source of rotary power is activated such that the segment of the flexible catheter is a farther distance from said guidewire when said source of rotary power is activated as compared to when said source of rotary power is not activated.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 216 words

A system for clearing an accumulation of occlusive material from a vessel, duct or lumen in a living being, said system comprising: a flexible catheter comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and structure therebetween comprising an aspiration pump comprising a helical wire, a jacket for housing said helical wire, an inlet port at or near said distal end in fluid communication with said jacket, and an outlet port at or near said proximal end, and wherein the jacket includes a segment defining a plurality of aspiration ports near the distal end; a source of rotary power for rotating said helical wire, a holding arrangement that secures a guidewire to a distal end of said flexible catheter, wherein the holding arrangement holds the guidewire adjacent to the flexible catheter at two spaced-apart points on either side of the segment such that the segment may move laterally relative to the guidewire; and wherein the segment of said flexible catheter may move in a laterally curved path towards said guidewire and away from said guidewire when said source of rotary power is activated such that the segment of the flexible catheter is a farther distance from said guidewire when said source of rotary power is activated as compared to when said source of rotary power is not activated.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 166 words

A catheter system for introduction into a vessel of a living being to treat occlusive material, said system comprising: a catheter having a proximal region, a distal region and a housing extending therebetween, the catheter further having a segment at the distal region that includes at least one aspiration port; a holding arrangement for holding a guidewire adjacent to the catheter at two spaced-apart points such that the segment of the distal region of the catheter that is positioned between the two spaced-apart points may move in a laterally curved path towards said guidewire and away from said guidewire such that the segment of the distal region of the catheter between the two spaced-apart points becomes separated from the guidewire by a separation distance, and an aspiration pump; wherein at least a portion of said catheter at the distal region is sufficiently flexible or deflectable as to allow the segment to deflect away from said guidewire by the separation distance when said aspiration pump is actuated.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 166 words

A catheter system for introduction into a vessel of a living being to treat occlusive material, said system comprising: a catheter having a proximal region, a distal region and a housing extending therebetween, the catheter further having a segment at the distal region that includes at least one aspiration port; a holding arrangement for holding a guidewire adjacent to the catheter at two spaced-apart points such that the segment of the distal region of the catheter that is positioned between the two spaced-apart points may move in a laterally curved path towards said guidewire and away from said guidewire such that the segment of the distal region of the catheter between the two spaced-apart points becomes separated from the guidewire by a separation distance, and an aspiration pump; wherein at least a portion of said catheter at the distal region is sufficiently flexible or deflectable as to allow the segment to deflect away from said guidewire by the separation distance when said aspiration pump is actuated.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2013-02-22	2013-08-24	2014-02-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2017-02-22	2017-08-24	2018-02-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2021-02-22	2021-08-24	2022-02-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Thrombectomy and soft debris removal device

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