Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
An atherectomy cutter assembly having a longitudinal axis, said cutter assembly comprising: a plurality of blade elements radially spaced about said longitudinal axis, each of said blade elements having a distal end and a proximal end; a hub at said distal ends of said blade elements wherein said distal ends of said blade elements are fixably connected to said hub; and an extension tube positioned coaxially with said blade elements, said tube having a plurality of helical slots formed therein extending in a direction of said longitudinal axis and slidably retaining each of said proximal ends of said blade elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
An atherectomy cutter assembly having a longitudinal axis, said cutter assembly comprising: a plurality of blade elements radially spaced about said longitudinal axis, each of said blade elements having a distal end and a proximal end; a hub at said distal ends of said blade elements wherein said distal ends of said blade elements are fixably connected to said hub; and an extension tube positioned coaxially with said blade elements, said tube having a plurality of helical slots formed therein extending in a direction of said longitudinal axis and slidably retaining each of said proximal ends of said blade elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
An atherectomy cutter assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said extension tube is distally flared.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
An atherectomy cutter assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said extension tube is substantially cylindrical and hollow with openings at a proximal end and a distal end of said tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
An atherectomy cutter assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising a tubular union engaging said extension tube and connectable to a hollow catheter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
An atherectomy cutter assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein said union and said extension tube form a continuous passageway from said blade elements to said hollow catheter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
An atherectomy cutter assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein said union is integral with said extension tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
109 words
An atherectomy cutter assembly having a longitudinal axis, said cutter assembly comprising: a plurality of blade elements radially spaced about said longitudinal axis, each of said blade elements having a distal end, a proximal end, and a cutting blade oriented substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis; a hub at said distal ends of said blade elements wherein said distal ends of said blade elements are fixably connected to said hub; and an extension tube positioned coaxially with said blade elements, said tube having a plurality of slots formed therein extending in a direction of said longitudinal axis and slidably retaining each of said proximal ends of said blade elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
109 words
An atherectomy cutter assembly having a longitudinal axis, said cutter assembly comprising: a plurality of blade elements radially spaced about said longitudinal axis, each of said blade elements having a distal end, a proximal end, and a cutting blade oriented substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis; a hub at said distal ends of said blade elements wherein said distal ends of said blade elements are fixably connected to said hub; and an extension tube positioned coaxially with said blade elements, said tube having a plurality of slots formed therein extending in a direction of said longitudinal axis and slidably retaining each of said proximal ends of said blade elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
An atherectomy cutter assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein said cutting blades define a cutting radius greater than the radius of said extension tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
232 words
A rotationally expandable atherectomy cutter assembly having a longitudinal axis, said cutter assembly comprising: a plurality of blade elements radially spaced about said longitudinal axis, each of said blade elements having a distal end, a proximal end and a cutting blade therebetween oriented substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis; a hub at said distal ends of said blade elements wherein said distal ends of said blade elements are fixably connected to said hub; a distally flared extension tube positioned coaxially with said blade elements, wherein said tube is substantially cylindrical and hollow and has openings at a proximal end and a distal end of said tube; a union engaging said extension tube and connectable to a hollow catheter to form a continuous passageway from said blade elements to said hollow catheter; and a plurality of helical slots formed in said tube wherein each of said proximal ends of said blade elements is slidably retained in one of said slots, and wherein said tube is rotatable about said axis in a first direction of curvature and said plurality of helical slots are oriented in a second direction of curvature substantially opposite said first direction of curvature such that when said cutter assembly encounters resistance to rotation in said first direction of curvature, said proximal ends of said blade elements slide distally along said slots, thereby expanding the cutting radius of said cutting blades.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
232 words
A rotationally expandable atherectomy cutter assembly having a longitudinal axis, said cutter assembly comprising: a plurality of blade elements radially spaced about said longitudinal axis, each of said blade elements having a distal end, a proximal end and a cutting blade therebetween oriented substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis; a hub at said distal ends of said blade elements wherein said distal ends of said blade elements are fixably connected to said hub; a distally flared extension tube positioned coaxially with said blade elements, wherein said tube is substantially cylindrical and hollow and has openings at a proximal end and a distal end of said tube; a union engaging said extension tube and connectable to a hollow catheter to form a continuous passageway from said blade elements to said hollow catheter; and a plurality of helical slots formed in said tube wherein each of said proximal ends of said blade elements is slidably retained in one of said slots, and wherein said tube is rotatable about said axis in a first direction of curvature and said plurality of helical slots are oriented in a second direction of curvature substantially opposite said first direction of curvature such that when said cutter assembly encounters resistance to rotation in said first direction of curvature, said proximal ends of said blade elements slide distally along said slots, thereby expanding the cutting radius of said cutting blades.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A rotationally expandable atherectomy cutter assembly as recited in claim 9 wherein said cutting blades define a cutting radius greater than the radius of said extension tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A rotationally expandable atherectomy cutter assembly as recited in claim 9 wherein said union is integral with said extension tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
239 words
An atherectomy cutter assembly having a longitudinal axis and rotationally expandable from a contracted position to an expanded position, said cutter assembly comprising: a plurality of blade elements radially spaced about said longitudinal axis, each of said blade elements having a distal end, a proximal end and a cutting blade therebetween oriented substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis; a hub at said distal ends of said blade elements wherein said distal ends of said blade elements are fixably connected to said hub; a distally flared extension tube positioned coaxially with said blade elements; a plurality of helical slots, each having a proximal and distal end, formed in said tube, wherein each of said proximal ends of said blade elements is slidably retained in one of said slots, and wherein said tube is rotatable about said axis in a first direction of curvature and said plurality of helical slots are oriented in a second direction of curvature substantially opposite said first direction of curvature; further wherein said proximal ends of said blade elements substantially abut said proximal ends of said slots when said assembly is in said contracted position and said proximal ends of said blade elements substantially abut said distal ends of said slots when said assembly is in said expanded position, and wherein transition from said contracted position to said expanded position is actuated when said cutter assembly encounters resistance to rotation in said first direction of curvature.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
239 words
An atherectomy cutter assembly having a longitudinal axis and rotationally expandable from a contracted position to an expanded position, said cutter assembly comprising: a plurality of blade elements radially spaced about said longitudinal axis, each of said blade elements having a distal end, a proximal end and a cutting blade therebetween oriented substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis; a hub at said distal ends of said blade elements wherein said distal ends of said blade elements are fixably connected to said hub; a distally flared extension tube positioned coaxially with said blade elements; a plurality of helical slots, each having a proximal and distal end, formed in said tube, wherein each of said proximal ends of said blade elements is slidably retained in one of said slots, and wherein said tube is rotatable about said axis in a first direction of curvature and said plurality of helical slots are oriented in a second direction of curvature substantially opposite said first direction of curvature; further wherein said proximal ends of said blade elements substantially abut said proximal ends of said slots when said assembly is in said contracted position and said proximal ends of said blade elements substantially abut said distal ends of said slots when said assembly is in said expanded position, and wherein transition from said contracted position to said expanded position is actuated when said cutter assembly encounters resistance to rotation in said first direction of curvature.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
An atherectomy cutter assembly as recited in claim 12 wherein said cutting blades define a cutting radius greater than the radius of said extension tube.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
An atherectomy cutter assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein the cutting radius of said cutting blades is greater in said expanded position than in said contracted position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
An atherectomy cutter assembly as recited in claim 12 wherein said extension tube is substantially cylindrical and hollow with openings at a proximal end and a distal end of said tube.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
An atherectomy cutter assembly as recited in claim 12 further comprising a tubular union engaging said extension tube and connectable to a hollow catheter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
An atherectomy cutter assembly as recited in claim 16 wherein said union and said extension tube form a continuous passageway from said blade elements to said hollow catheter.