Stone destroying catheter

Abstract

Abstract Apparatus for disintegrating or otherwise destroying a stone (36), such as a gallstone, within the body of a living being. The apparatus comprises a small diameter catheter (20) having a longitudinal axis (28) and a working head (26) located at the distal end thereof. The catheter (20) is capable of being located at any position within the body so that the working head (26) is adjacent the stone. The working head is connected to a drive assembly (22) for rotation at a high speed about the longitudinal axis (28) of the catheter. The working head (26) comprises a first portion (84), at least one blade member (30) having an impacting surface (32) thereon, and coupling means (96) movably coupling the blade member (30) to the first portion (84) for enabling the blade member (30) to move from a retracted position to an extended position. The blade member (30) has an impacting surface (32) which is a greater radial distance from the axis (28) when the blade member is in its extended position than when in its retracted position. The impacting surface (32) is arranged so that when it rotates in the extended position, it impacts the stone (36) to disintegrate or otherwise destroy the stone. A shroud (34) is provided about the distal end of the catheter (20) to aid in directing the stone (36) to the rotating blade member (30) while also protecting adjacent body tissue from being engaged by the rotating blade member. The rotating blade member (30) creates a vortex tending to pull the stone into the blade.

Inventors

• 👤 John Nash
• 👤 Mark Michaels

Bibliographic Details