Mechanical thrombus maceration device

Abstract

Abstract The present invention provides a mechanical medical device useful for macerating thrombi or the like. In one embodiment of the invention, the device includes a rotor (50) retained in a distal housing (70) having at least one port (74, 75) for ejecting fluid therethrough. The port or ports in this embodiment are sized and positioned so that the surface area of the ports is not evenly distributed about the circumference of the housing. For example, the housing may include a single port, two or more equiangularly spaced ports of different sizes, or two or more ports of the same size spaced unevenly about the circumference of the housing. When a fluid is ejected through the ports, the housing will tend to deflect toward one side of the vascular channel. In accordance with another embodiment, the device includes a plurality of rotors (50A, 50B, 50C) spaced along a common shaft (10) for rotation therewith. In a third embodiment of the device, fluid directing means (e.g. 240) are provided for directing fluid discharged through a port in the housing back toward the rotor.

Inventors

• 👤 Frank Kotula
• 👤 Timothy Claude

Bibliographic Details