US5087265A — Distal atherectomy catheter

Claim 1

Independent Claim 153 words

An atherectomy catheter for removal of occlusive material in a blood vessel, tract, or cavity, comprising: (a) a catheter tube; (b) a cutter head assembly mounted on the distal end of said catheter tube for excising occlusive material blocking the blood vessel, tract or cavity; (c) flexible drive means extending through said catheter tube; (d) a rotary cutter housed within said cutter head assembly and connected to said flexible drive means; (e) power means connected to the proximal end of said catheter tube for rotating and reciprocating said rotary cutter; (f) a pair of bendable wires extending externally along said cutter head assembly, wherein upon actuation said wires bow outwardly against the interior wall of the blood vessel, tract or cavity for urging said cutter head assembly laterally against the occlusive material; and (g) means connected to said catheter tube for evacuating the excised occlusive material from the blood vessel, tract or cavity.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 153 words

An atherectomy catheter for removal of occlusive material in a blood vessel, tract, or cavity, comprising: (a) a catheter tube; (b) a cutter head assembly mounted on the distal end of said catheter tube for excising occlusive material blocking the blood vessel, tract or cavity; (c) flexible drive means extending through said catheter tube; (d) a rotary cutter housed within said cutter head assembly and connected to said flexible drive means; (e) power means connected to the proximal end of said catheter tube for rotating and reciprocating said rotary cutter; (f) a pair of bendable wires extending externally along said cutter head assembly, wherein upon actuation said wires bow outwardly against the interior wall of the blood vessel, tract or cavity for urging said cutter head assembly laterally against the occlusive material; and (g) means connected to said catheter tube for evacuating the excised occlusive material from the blood vessel, tract or cavity.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 55 words

The catheter of claim 1 wherein said cutter head assembly comprises an elongate, generally cylindrical housing having an opening extending longitudinally along one side of said housing for admitting occlusive material to the interior of said housing, and wherein said rotary cutter cuts occlusive materials into particles sufficiently small for evacuating through said catheter tube.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus of claim 2 including a control line extending along said catheter tube to control extension of said pair of wires.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 31 words

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said pair of wires extend on one side of said housing diametrically opposite said opening for admitting occlusive material into the interior of said housing.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said rotary cutter has a rearwardly facing cutting means for cutting material protruding through said opening into the interior of said housing.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 27 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cutter head assembly includes a side loaded laterally opening port thereinto for receiving occlusive material thereinto for cutting and removal.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 41 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cutter head assembly has a selected set of openings formed in the outer surface thereof wherein the outer surface is otherwise a solid member to enable occlusive material to extend thereinto for subsequent removal.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 45 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rotary cutter connects with and is rotated by said flexible drive means and said cutter includes at least one sharp edge moving in near proximity of said cutter head assembly to serve as a cutter for occlusive material.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 78 words

The apparatus of claim 1 including a motorized means for forming rotary motion imparted to a coupling means wherein said coupling means connects with said elongate flexible drive means and said drive means extends along and within said outer catheter tube to thereby impart rotative cutting action to said cutter head assembly, and said cutter head assembly is affixed to the end of said outer catheter tube with said flexible drive means extending therealong for rotative motion therein.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 208 words

Apparatus for removal of occlusive material located in a vessel, cavity or other region of the body wherein entry is via an elongate catheter, comprising: (a) an elongate hollow catheter tube; (b) a cutting head assembly attached to an end of said catheter tube and comprising: (1) an elongate housing defining said assembly; (2) window means formed in said housing, said window means being positioned to admit occlusive material into said housing, wherein said window means comprises a plurality of openings permitting occlusive material to pass therethrough into the path of said cutting means; (c) rotatable cutting means mounted in said housing and having a cutting edge for cutting occlusive material; (d) power means connected to an end of said catheter tube; (e) an elongate power drive means in said tube connected from said power means to said cutting means to rotate said cutting means; (f) means positioning said cutting means in said housing for reciprocating movement to thereby enable cutting of the occlusive material; (g) means urging said cutting head assembly toward the occlusive material causing the occlusive material to align adjacent said window for cutting by said cutting means; and (h) means connected to said catheter tube for evacuating occlusive material cut by said cutting head.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 208 words

Apparatus for removal of occlusive material located in a vessel, cavity or other region of the body wherein entry is via an elongate catheter, comprising: (a) an elongate hollow catheter tube; (b) a cutting head assembly attached to an end of said catheter tube and comprising: (1) an elongate housing defining said assembly; (2) window means formed in said housing, said window means being positioned to admit occlusive material into said housing, wherein said window means comprises a plurality of openings permitting occlusive material to pass therethrough into the path of said cutting means; (c) rotatable cutting means mounted in said housing and having a cutting edge for cutting occlusive material; (d) power means connected to an end of said catheter tube; (e) an elongate power drive means in said tube connected from said power means to said cutting means to rotate said cutting means; (f) means positioning said cutting means in said housing for reciprocating movement to thereby enable cutting of the occlusive material; (g) means urging said cutting head assembly toward the occlusive material causing the occlusive material to align adjacent said window for cutting by said cutting means; and (h) means connected to said catheter tube for evacuating occlusive material cut by said cutting head.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 38 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said rotatable cutting means includes a forwardly located cutting edge, and a rearwardly located cutting edge wherein said rearwardly located cutting edge engages the occlusive material on retraction of said cutting means.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said cutting head assembly includes a side opening window formed in said elongate cylindrical housing.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said housing has a conic leading end portion with said window means at least partially deployed over said conic portion.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 51 words

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said elongate housing is an elongate cylindrical hollow body, and said side opening window encircles approximately one half the circumference thereof, and wherein said housing includes a forwardly located full circle portion of said housing and said side opening window is to the rear thereof.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 172 words

An atherectomy catheter for removal of occlusive material in a blood vessel, tract, or cavity comprising: (a) a catheter tube; (b) a cutter head housing attached to the distal end of said catheter tube; (c) flexible drive means extending through said catheter tube; (d) a rotary cutter housed within said cutter head housing and connected to said flexible drive means; (e) power means connected to the proximal end of said catheter tube for rotating and reciprocating said rotary cutter within said cutter head housing for excising occlusive material blocking the blood vessel, tract or cavity; (f) externally mounted resilient means for urging said cutter head housing laterally, wherein said resilient means comprises a pair of bendable wires extending externally along said housing, wherein upon actuation said wires bow outwardly against the interior wall of the blood vessel, tract or cavity for urging said cutter head housing laterally against the occlusive material; and (g) means connected to said catheter tube for evacuating the excised occlusive material from the blood vessel, tract or cavity.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 172 words

An atherectomy catheter for removal of occlusive material in a blood vessel, tract, or cavity comprising: (a) a catheter tube; (b) a cutter head housing attached to the distal end of said catheter tube; (c) flexible drive means extending through said catheter tube; (d) a rotary cutter housed within said cutter head housing and connected to said flexible drive means; (e) power means connected to the proximal end of said catheter tube for rotating and reciprocating said rotary cutter within said cutter head housing for excising occlusive material blocking the blood vessel, tract or cavity; (f) externally mounted resilient means for urging said cutter head housing laterally, wherein said resilient means comprises a pair of bendable wires extending externally along said housing, wherein upon actuation said wires bow outwardly against the interior wall of the blood vessel, tract or cavity for urging said cutter head housing laterally against the occlusive material; and (g) means connected to said catheter tube for evacuating the excised occlusive material from the blood vessel, tract or cavity.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1995-02-10	1995-08-12	1996-02-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1999-02-10	1999-08-12	2000-02-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2003-02-10	2003-08-12	2004-02-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Distal atherectomy catheter

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