US5092872A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Valvulotome catheter
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-07-28
•
Granted: 1992-03-03
•
Expires: 2009-07-28
Abstract
Abstract A catheter-cutter for aorto-coronary bypass graft cutting of vein valves within a vein graft and for the insitu bypass vein graft cutting of the valves within a vein includes at-least-one arcuate, razor-sharp, angled-tip cutting blade extending from the open distal end of the catheter, such at-least-one cutting blade being fixed or selectively extendable from the distal end of the catheter by optional control means carried at the proximal port of the catheter, the at-least-one cutting blade being effective to cleanly excise and clearly cut a valve, not merely rendering it relatively incompetent as present valvulotomes do. the catheter according to this invention may carry a fiberoptic viewer for observing the cutting process. A selectively inflatable balloon member may be provided about the catheter tube at its very distal end to accurately fix the position of the at-least-one cutting blade and, also, to act as a buffer, if desired, during catheter insertion and manipulation while being negotiated in a forward direction within the vein being modified.
Inventors
- 👤 Jacob Segalowitz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 00:34
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/3205; A61B17/3207; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22051; A61B2017/22097; A61B18/00; A61B2018/00982; A61B90/00; A61B90/30; A61B2090/306
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A valvulotome flexible elongate cylindrical catheter including: an outer cylindrical wall having a longitudinal axis; an inner cylindrical wall, means supporting said cylindrical inner wall in said cylindrical outer wall so that the inner cylindrical wall is spaced from said outer cylindrical wall to form at-least-one arcuate blade element chamber between said inner outer walls; at-least-one blade element support in said at-least-one blade element chamber and having a body portion and a cutting tip portion; said blade being arcuate in transverse cross section; said cutting tip portion being directed inwardly toward the longitudinal axis and terminating in a razor-sharp cutting edge.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
A valvulotome flexible elongate cylindrical catheter including: an outer cylindrical wall having a longitudinal axis; an inner cylindrical wall, means supporting said cylindrical inner wall in said cylindrical outer wall so that the inner cylindrical wall is spaced from said outer cylindrical wall to form at-least-one arcuate blade element chamber between said inner outer walls; at-least-one blade element support in said at-least-one blade element chamber and having a body portion and a cutting tip portion; said blade being arcuate in transverse cross section; said cutting tip portion being directed inwardly toward the longitudinal axis and terminating in a razor-sharp cutting edge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A catheter according to claim 1 together with means for mounting at-least-one arcuate blade element so that it is longitudinally adjustable in position in said at-least-one blade element chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A catheter according to claim 1 in which said at-least-one blade element chamber extends longitudinally of said catheter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
A catheter according to claim 1 in which said outer wall and said inner wall of said catheter each has a distal end and a proximal portion and including, in addition, an inflatable-deflatable balloon carried on the distal end of said outer wall to form a balloon-tipped catheter; and, pneumatic coupling means coupled between said balloon and said proximal end of said outer wall for inflating and deflating said balloon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A catheter according to claim 4 in which said balloon is a low-profile balloon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 in which said balloon is segmented.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A catheter according to claim 1 together with a fiber optic channel and means supporting the fiber optic channel within said inner wall of catheter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A catheter according to claim 7 in which said fiberoptic channel is positioned coaxially with respect to said inner wall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
158 words
A valvulotome flexible elongate cylindrical catheter including: an outer cylindrical wall having a longitudinal axis; an inner cylindrical wall, means supporting said cylindrical inner wall in said cylindrical outer wall so that the inner cylindrical wall is spaced from said outer cylindrical wall to form at-least-one arcuate blade element chamber between said inner outer walls; at-least-one blade element supported in said at-least-one blade element chamber and having a body portion and a cutting tip portion; said blade being arcuate in transverse cross section; said cutting tip portion being directed inwardly toward the longitudinal axis and terminating in a razor-sharp cutting edge; and means for mounting at-least-one blade element so that it is longitudinally adjustable in position in said at-least-one blade element chamber, said means for mounting said at-least-one blade element including a longitudinal adjustment element connected to said at least one blade element, said outer tube having a slot therein, said longitudinal adjustment element extending through said slot.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
158 words
A valvulotome flexible elongate cylindrical catheter including: an outer cylindrical wall having a longitudinal axis; an inner cylindrical wall, means supporting said cylindrical inner wall in said cylindrical outer wall so that the inner cylindrical wall is spaced from said outer cylindrical wall to form at-least-one arcuate blade element chamber between said inner outer walls; at-least-one blade element supported in said at-least-one blade element chamber and having a body portion and a cutting tip portion; said blade being arcuate in transverse cross section; said cutting tip portion being directed inwardly toward the longitudinal axis and terminating in a razor-sharp cutting edge; and means for mounting at-least-one blade element so that it is longitudinally adjustable in position in said at-least-one blade element chamber, said means for mounting said at-least-one blade element including a longitudinal adjustment element connected to said at least one blade element, said outer tube having a slot therein, said longitudinal adjustment element extending through said slot.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A catheter according to claim 9 in which the number of arcuate blade elements and the number of longitudinal adjustment elements is two, one of said longitudinal adjustment elements being connected to each of said arcuate blade elements.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
136 words
A valvulotome flexible elongate cylindrical catheter including: an outer cylindrical wall having a longitduinal axis; an inner cylindrical wall, means supporting said cylindrical inner wall in said cylindrical outer wall so that the inner cylindrical wall is spaced from said outer cylindrical wall to form at least one arcuate blade element chamber between said inner and outer walls; at least one blade element supported in said at least one blade element chamber and having a body portion and a cutting tip portion; said blade element being arcuate in transverse cross section; said cutting tip portion being directed inwardly toward the longitudinal axis and terminating in a razor-sharp cutting edge; said means supporting said inner cylindrical wall in said outer cylindrical wall including a divider element extending between the inner cylindrical wall and the outer cylindrical wall.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
136 words
A valvulotome flexible elongate cylindrical catheter including: an outer cylindrical wall having a longitduinal axis; an inner cylindrical wall, means supporting said cylindrical inner wall in said cylindrical outer wall so that the inner cylindrical wall is spaced from said outer cylindrical wall to form at least one arcuate blade element chamber between said inner and outer walls; at least one blade element supported in said at least one blade element chamber and having a body portion and a cutting tip portion; said blade element being arcuate in transverse cross section; said cutting tip portion being directed inwardly toward the longitudinal axis and terminating in a razor-sharp cutting edge; said means supporting said inner cylindrical wall in said outer cylindrical wall including a divider element extending between the inner cylindrical wall and the outer cylindrical wall.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A catheter according to claim 11 wherein said divider element extends diametrically of the outer and inner cylindrical walls and forms two equal and symmetrical lumens within said inner wall.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A catheter according to claim 12 together with a fiber optic channel and means for supporting said fiber optic channel within said inner cylindrical wall.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 together with flushing port means coupled to said lumens for flushing debris from said catheter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 including, in addition, a homestatic valve coupled to one of said lumens for the introduction of biopsy-forceps-like catheters.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A catheter according to claim 11 wherein said divider wall is disposed off-axis and forms two unequal lumens within said inner wall.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3831585A
Cited
US3837345A
Cited
US4273128A
Cited
US4427014A
Cited
US4493321A
Cited
US4926858A
Cited
US4892099A
Cited
US4790813A
Cited
US4655217A
Cited
US4772258A
Cited
US4784636A
Cited
US4870953A
Cited
WO1989009029A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-03-03 | 1995-09-02 | 1996-03-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-03-03 | 1999-09-02 | 2000-03-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-03-03 | 2003-09-02 | 2004-03-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |