US5571122A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Unitary removal of plaque
Assignee: SYNECTIC VENTURES I LLC
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Filing: 1995-06-06
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Granted: 1996-11-05
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Expires: 2015-06-06
Abstract
Abstract Novel apparatus and related methods are disclosed by which plaque is connected to the head of a removal instrument for removal of a unitary segment of plaque from an artery intact to increase blood flow through the artery.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas L. Kelly
- 👤 Thomas A. Wiita
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:32
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/3205; A61B17/3207; A61B17/32075; A61B17/320758; A61B17/320783; A61B2017/0046; A61B2017/00473; A61B2017/00681; A61B2017/00685; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22038; A61B2017/22094; A61B2017/320004; A61B2017/320008; A61B2017/320044; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/10; A61M25/104
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of excising plaque from an artery comprising the steps of: inserting an instrument into the artery, the artery having an axis; placing the instrument adjacent to plaque in the artery; grasping the plaque with the instrument without materially cutting the plaque by the instrument; maintaining grasp while displacing the instrument along the axis of the artery thereby generally axially dislodging a length of plaque from the artery; removing the dislodged length of plaque from the artery.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of excising plaque from an artery comprising the steps of: inserting an instrument into the artery, the artery having an axis; placing the instrument adjacent to plaque in the artery; grasping the plaque with the instrument without materially cutting the plaque by the instrument; maintaining grasp while displacing the instrument along the axis of the artery thereby generally axially dislodging a length of plaque from the artery; removing the dislodged length of plaque from the artery.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of removing arterial plaque comprising the steps of: grabbing hold of plaque within an artery with a removal instrument; applying force to the plaque generally along the length of the artery to sever without longitudinally cutting a segment of plaque from a portion of a wall of the artery; withdrawing the plaque segment from the artery.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of removing arterial plaque comprising the steps of: grabbing hold of plaque within an artery with a removal instrument; applying force to the plaque generally along the length of the artery to sever without longitudinally cutting a segment of plaque from a portion of a wall of the artery; withdrawing the plaque segment from the artery.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of increasing blood flow in an artery comprising the steps of: introducing a gripping instrument into an artery through a man-made opening therein; displacing the gripping instrument along the artery to a site where the artery is obstructed at least in part by plaque; gripping plaque at the site with the gripping instrument; tearing plaque from the artery without cutting the plaque along the axis of the artery by displacing the instrument while the instrument is gripping the plaque; removing the instrument and the gripped plaque through the man-made opening.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of increasing blood flow in an artery comprising the steps of: introducing a gripping instrument into an artery through a man-made opening therein; displacing the gripping instrument along the artery to a site where the artery is obstructed at least in part by plaque; gripping plaque at the site with the gripping instrument; tearing plaque from the artery without cutting the plaque along the axis of the artery by displacing the instrument while the instrument is gripping the plaque; removing the instrument and the gripped plaque through the man-made opening.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of increasing blood flow in an artery comprising the steps of: tethering arterial plaque to an indwelling instrument at a site within the artery with immaterial axial cutting of tethered plaque, pulling the instrument and plaque along the length of the artery thereby forcibly tearing a segment of plaque, in the direction of the length of the artery, from a portion of the artery and removing the torn plaque segment from the artery.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of increasing blood flow in an artery comprising the steps of: tethering arterial plaque to an indwelling instrument at a site within the artery with immaterial axial cutting of tethered plaque, pulling the instrument and plaque along the length of the artery thereby forcibly tearing a segment of plaque, in the direction of the length of the artery, from a portion of the artery and removing the torn plaque segment from the artery.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of treating plaque in an artery having an elongated length to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to plaque within the artery; removably connecting the head to the plaque without cutting plaque from the artery along its length; pulling on the plaque through the head thereby severing a segment of plaque intact from the artery; retrieving the head and connected severed segment of plaque from the artery.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of treating plaque in an artery having an elongated length to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to plaque within the artery; removably connecting the head to the plaque without cutting plaque from the artery along its length; pulling on the plaque through the head thereby severing a segment of plaque intact from the artery; retrieving the head and connected severed segment of plaque from the artery.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the inserting step is preceded by creating at least one man-made opening in the artery.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein the inserting step comprises placing a guidewire through the opening and advancing the head into the artery along the guidewire.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the inserting step is preceded by preliminarily loosening the plaque.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein the loosening step comprises making at least one radial cut in the plaque.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the locating step comprises placing the head within a central lumen of the artery.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the removably connecting step comprises taking hold of the plaque by the head.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the removably connecting step comprises grasping the plaque by the head.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the removably connecting step comprises grabbing the plaque by the head.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the removably connecting step comprises engaging the plaque by the head.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the severing step comprises shearing the plaque intact from a wall of the artery.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the retrieving step comprises removing the head and the severed segment of plaque from the artery.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the removably connecting step comprises hooking the plaque with the head.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the removably connecting step comprises piercing the plaque with the head.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the removably connecting step occurs due to rotating the head.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 19 wherein the rotating step comprises causing the head to bindingly bite into the plaque.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 19 wherein the rotating step comprises embedding plaque within the head in binding relation.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the removably connecting step comprises binding the plaque and the head together.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the removably connecting step comprises snagging the plaque with the head.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the locating step comprises advancing the head to an arterial location remote from the insertion site.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of treating plaque in an artery to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: preliminarily loosening the arterial plaque by subjecting the plaque to be removed to dottering; inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to plaque within the artery; removably connecting the head to the plaque; pulling on the plaque through the head thereby severing a segment of plaque intact from the artery; retrieving the head and connected severed segment of plaque from the artery.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of treating plaque in an artery to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: preliminarily loosening the arterial plaque by subjecting the plaque to be removed to dottering; inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to plaque within the artery; removably connecting the head to the plaque; pulling on the plaque through the head thereby severing a segment of plaque intact from the artery; retrieving the head and connected severed segment of plaque from the artery.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of treating plaque in an artery to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: preliminarily displacing the plaque by subjecting the plaque to be removed to balloon angioplasty; inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to plaque within the artery; removably connecting the head to the plaque; pulling on the plaque through the head thereby severing a segment of plaque intact from the artery; retrieving the head and connected severed segment of plaque from the artery.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of treating plaque in an artery to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: preliminarily displacing the plaque by subjecting the plaque to be removed to balloon angioplasty; inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to plaque within the artery; removably connecting the head to the plaque; pulling on the plaque through the head thereby severing a segment of plaque intact from the artery; retrieving the head and connected severed segment of plaque from the artery.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of treating plaque in an artery to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to plaque within the artery by placing the head within the artery between the plaque and a wall of the artery so that insertion of the head separates in part the plaque and the artery at the interface between the two; removably connecting the head to the plaque; pulling on the plaque through the head thereby severing a segment of plaque intact from the artery; retrieving the head and connected severed segment of plaque from the artery.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of treating plaque in an artery to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to plaque within the artery by placing the head within the artery between the plaque and a wall of the artery so that insertion of the head separates in part the plaque and the artery at the interface between the two; removably connecting the head to the plaque; pulling on the plaque through the head thereby severing a segment of plaque intact from the artery; retrieving the head and connected severed segment of plaque from the artery.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of treating plaque in an artery to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to plaque within the artery; removably connecting the head to the plaque by compressively holding the engaged plaque at the head; pulling on the plaque through the head thereby severing a segment of plaque intact from the artery; retrieving the head and connected severed segment of plaque from the artery.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of treating plaque in an artery to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to plaque within the artery; removably connecting the head to the plaque by compressively holding the engaged plaque at the head; pulling on the plaque through the head thereby severing a segment of plaque intact from the artery; retrieving the head and connected severed segment of plaque from the artery.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of treating plaque in an artery to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to plaque within the artery; removably connecting the head to the plaque; pulling on the plaque through the head by stretching the plaque thereby severing a segment of plaque intact from the artery; retrieving the head and connected severed segment of plaque from the artery.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of treating plaque in an artery to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to plaque within the artery; removably connecting the head to the plaque; pulling on the plaque through the head by stretching the plaque thereby severing a segment of plaque intact from the artery; retrieving the head and connected severed segment of plaque from the artery.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of treating plaque in an artery to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to plaque within the artery; removably connecting the head to the plaque; pulling on the plaque through the head thereby severing a segment of plaque intact from the artery by progressively peeling the plaque intact from a wall of the artery; retrieving the head and connected severed segment of plaque from the artery.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of treating plaque in an artery to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to plaque within the artery; removably connecting the head to the plaque; pulling on the plaque through the head thereby severing a segment of plaque intact from the artery by progressively peeling the plaque intact from a wall of the artery; retrieving the head and connected severed segment of plaque from the artery.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of treating plaque in an artery to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to plaque within the artery; removably connecting the head to the plaque; pulling on the plaque through the head thereby severing a segment of plaque intact from the artery by both separating the plaque segment from other plaque within the artery and separating the plaque segment from a wall of the artery; retrieving the head and connected severed segment of plaque from the artery.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of treating plaque in an artery to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to plaque within the artery; removably connecting the head to the plaque; pulling on the plaque through the head thereby severing a segment of plaque intact from the artery by both separating the plaque segment from other plaque within the artery and separating the plaque segment from a wall of the artery; retrieving the head and connected severed segment of plaque from the artery.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of treating plaque in an artery to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to plaque within the artery; removably connecting the head to the plaque by clamping the head to the plaque; pulling on the plaque through the head thereby severing a segment of plaque intact from the artery; retrieving the head and connected severed segment of plaque from the artery.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of treating plaque in an artery to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to plaque within the artery; removably connecting the head to the plaque by clamping the head to the plaque; pulling on the plaque through the head thereby severing a segment of plaque intact from the artery; retrieving the head and connected severed segment of plaque from the artery.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-11-05 | 2000-05-06 | 2000-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-11-05 | 2004-05-06 | 2004-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-11-05 | 2008-05-06 | 2008-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |