Guidewire atherectomy catheter and method of using the same

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein the flushing liquid is a saline solution.

Claim 4

A surgical device for excising deposits from the interior of a blood vessel comprising: (a) an outer flexible hollow vascular catheter tube having a proximal and a distal end with at least one radial fluid passage opening formed at or near the distal end thereof; (b) an inner flexible hollow catheter tube having a proximal and a distal end coaxially disposed within the outer catheter tube member and further being journaled in the distal end of the outer catheter tube, the distal end of the inner tube extending beyond that of the outer tube; (c) a substantially hollow cylindrically symmetric cutting tool fixed to the distal end of the inner catheter tube comprising a generally dome-shaped distal nose portion forming the distal end thereof and containing a plurality of radially disposed cutter openings in communication with a hollow interior and disposed such that an edge thereof excises tissue upon rotation of the cutting tool, the excised tissue being generally directed into the hollow interior of the tool, the hollow interior further being in communication with the hollow interior of the inner tube; (d) drive means connected to the proximal end of the inner tube for rotating the inner tube and the cutting tool to excise tissue deposits; (e) a guidewire port for receiving a guidewire comprising a hollow, tubular appendage located near the distal end of the outer catheter tube just proximal the cutting tool fixed to and spaced radially from the outer tube to a point beyond the radius of the cutting tool such that a guidewire having its distal end extending through the guidewire port is operable to independently control the disposition of the cutting tool relative to its position and attitude throughout the circumference of the vessel of interest, the position of the guidewire port to prevent interference between the guidewire and the cutting tool.

Claim 5

A surgical device for excising deposits from the interior of a blood vessel comprising: (a) an outer flexible hollow vascular catheter tube having a proximal and a distal end with at least one radial fluid passage opening formed at or near the distal end thereof; (b) an inner flexible hollow catheter tube having a proximal and a distal end coaxially disposed within the outer catheter tube member and further being journaled in the distal end of the outer catheter tube, the distal end of the inner tube extending beyond that of the outer tube; (c) a substantially hollow cylindrically symmetric cutting tool fixed to the distal end of the inner catheter tube comprising a generally dome-shaped distal nose portion forming the distal end thereof and containing a plurality of radially disposed cutter openings in communication with a hollow interior and disposed such that an edge thereof excises tissue upon rotation of the cutting tool, the excised tissue being generally directed into the hollow interior of the tool, the hollow interior further being in communication with the hollow interior of the inner tube; (d) drive means connected to the proximal end of the inner tube for rotating the inner tube and the cutting tool to excise tissue deposits; (e) a guidewire port for receiving a guidewire comprising a hollow, tubular appendage located near the distal end of the outer catheter tube just proximal the cutting tool fixed to and spaced radially from the outer tube to a point beyond the radius of the cutting tool such that a guidewire having its distal end extending through the guidewire port is operable to independently control the disposition of the cutting tool relative to its position and attitude throughout the circumference of the vessel of interest, the position of the guidewire port to prevent interference between the guidewire and the cutting tool.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising perfusion means for introducing a flushing liquid into the lumen of the outer tube outside of the inner tube and perfusing the liquid through the at least one radial fluid passage near the distal end thereof and aspiration means for aspirating liquids through the cutting tool openings via the lumen of the inner tube.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the distal portion of the outer catheter tube includes a necked-down segment of reduced diameter to prevent clogging thereof during passage of the catheter through the vascular system and has a plurality of symmetrically placed radial fluid passage holes at the location of the segment of reduced diameter.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the distal portion of the outer catheter tube includes a necked-down segment of reduced diameter to prevent clogging thereof during passage of the catheter through the vascular system and has a plurality of symmetrically placed radial fluid passage holes at the location of the segment of reduced diameter.

Claim 9

A surgical device for excising deposits from the interior of a blood vessel comprising: (a) an outer flexible hollow vascular catheter tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end portion including a segment of reduced diameter from that of the remaining length of the outer tube and at least one radial fluid port opening formed in the area of reduced diameter; (b) a flexible hollow inner catheter tube coaxially disposed within the outer tube and having a proximal end and a distal end and an outer surface, said outer surface being journaled in the necked-down portion of the outer tube, the distal end of the inner tube extending beyond the outer tube; (c) a generally cylindrical cutting tool having a generally dome-shaped distal nose portion and a hollow interior fixed to the distal end of the inner tube, the nose portion further comprising one or more radially disposed openings extending along and rearward from a point near the center thereof, each said opening being in communication with said hollow interior and disposed such that a cutting edge thereof contacts and excises tissue upon rotation of the cutting tool, excised tissue being directed into said hollow interior, said hollow interior further being connected to the interior of said inner catheter tube; (d) drive means connected to the proximal end of the inner catheter tube for rotating the inner catheter tube member thereby rotating the cutting tool to excise deposits; (e) a guidewire port for receiving a guidewire operable to independently control the disposition, including the attitude, of the cutting tool with respect to vascular deposits comprising a hollow tubular appendage located near the distal end of the outer catheter tube just proximal the cutting tool and fixed in parallel spaced relation to the outer tube at a point beyond the radius of the cutting tool to prevent interference between a guidewire having its distal end extending through the guidewire port and the cutting tool.

Claim 10

A surgical device for excising deposits from the interior of a blood vessel comprising: (a) an outer flexible hollow vascular catheter tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end portion including a segment of reduced diameter from that of the remaining length of the outer tube and at least one radial fluid port opening formed in the area of reduced diameter; (b) a flexible hollow inner catheter tube coaxially disposed within the outer tube and having a proximal end and a distal end and an outer surface, said outer surface being journaled in the necked-down portion of the outer tube, the distal end of the inner tube extending beyond the outer tube; (c) a generally cylindrical cutting tool having a generally dome-shaped distal nose portion and a hollow interior fixed to the distal end of the inner tube, the nose portion further comprising one or more radially disposed openings extending along and rearward from a point near the center thereof, each said opening being in communication with said hollow interior and disposed such that a cutting edge thereof contacts and excises tissue upon rotation of the cutting tool, excised tissue being directed into said hollow interior, said hollow interior further being connected to the interior of said inner catheter tube; (d) drive means connected to the proximal end of the inner catheter tube for rotating the inner catheter tube member thereby rotating the cutting tool to excise deposits; (e) a guidewire port for receiving a guidewire operable to independently control the disposition, including the attitude, of the cutting tool with respect to vascular deposits comprising a hollow tubular appendage located near the distal end of the outer catheter tube just proximal the cutting tool and fixed in parallel spaced relation to the outer tube at a point beyond the radius of the cutting tool to prevent interference between a guidewire having its distal end extending through the guidewire port and the cutting tool.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising: infusion means associated with the drive means for introducing a flushing liquid between the inner and outer catheter tubes, the flushing liquid exiting the lumen of the outer catheter tube through the at least one radial fluid passing opening; and aspiration means associated with the drive means for aspirating liquids and excised debris through the plurality of openings in the distal end portion of the cutting tool, via the lumen of the inner catheter tube and out the proximal end of the inner catheter tube.