Shaped wire multi-burr rotational ablation device

Claim 2

A shaped wire rotational ablation system comprising: (a) a shaped guidewire having proximal and distal portions, the distal portion of the shaped guidewire being preformed into a corkscrew shape or a gentle "S" shape curve; (b) a flexible, hollow drive shaft defining a lumen and having a rotatable abrasive tip attached thereto, said tip having a diameter which is greater than that of said drive shaft and said tip having a substantially cylindrical opening in fluid communication with said drive shaft lumen so that said drive shaft and tip can be guided along said guidewire, said drive shaft having affixed along the distal portion thereof a multiplicity of cutting surfaces; (c) an abrasive surface on said cutting surfaces, said abrasive surface being comprised of abrasive material imbedded in, attached to, or machined from said tip; and (d) a rotatable prime mover which is capable of rotating said drive shaft at a rotation rate of from about 10,000 revolutions per minute to as high as about 225,000 revolutions per minute, whereby said abrasive material microdissects particles small enough to pass through the capillaries of a person.

Claim 3

The shaped wire rotational ablation device of claim 1 further comprising a tubular sheath which surrounds said flexible drive shaft and chamber means for sealably attaching to said tubular sheath, said chamber means sealably attaching to said tubular sheath and said chamber means including a seal through which said drive shaft passes.

Claim 4

The shaped wire rotational ablation device of claim 1, wherein the multiplicity of cutting surfaces affixed along the distal portion of the drive shaft are in the form of burrs which are generally ellipsoidal in shape and are affixed in spaced apart fashion along the length of the distal portion of the drive shaft.

Claim 5

The shaped wire rotational ablation device of claim 1, wherein the multiplicity of cutting surfaces affixed along the distal portion of the drive shaft are in the form of cuffs which are generally cylindrical in shape and are affixed in spaced apart fashion along the length of the distal portion of the drive shaft.

Claim 6

The shaped wire ablation device of claim 1, wherein the multiplicity of cutting surfaces are affixed along the length of the distal portion of the drive shaft and are spaced apart approximately from about 0.5 to 5.0 cm on center.

Claim 7

The shaped wire rotational ablation device of claim 1, wherein the distal portion of the drive shaft has affixed thereto a multiplicity of generally ellipsoidal shaped abrasive cutting surfaces each of which is from about 1 mm to about 6 mm in diameter.

Claim 8

The shaped wire rotational ablation device of claim 1, wherein the distal portion of the drive shaft has affixed thereto a multiplicity of generally cylindrical shape abrasive cutting cuffs each of which protrudes above the surface of the drive shaft a distance of from about 0.1 mm to about 0.5 mm, and vary in length from about 1 mm to about 6 mm.

Claim 9

The shaped wire rotational ablation device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the multiplicity of cutting surfaces are covered with diamond grit.

Claim 10

The shaped wire rotational ablation device of claim 1, wherein the drive shaft is approximately 0.026" diameter trifilar helically wound drive shaft.

Claim 11

The shaped wire rotational ablation device of claim 1, wherein the distal portion of the guidewire is preformed into a gentle "S" shape which when viewed in a two dimensional plane would create a shallow wave of single or multiple wave forms.

Claim 12

The shaped wire rotational ablation device of claim 1, wherein the distal portion of the guidewire is preformed to create a shallow multiple wave form having an amplitude of approximately 0.125" and a wave length of approximately 1.0".

Claim 13

The shaped wire rotational ablation device of claim 1, wherein the guidewire is fabricated of stainless steel which is approximately 0.010" in diameter and the distal portion thereof is shaped into a gentle "S" shape or cork-screw shape wherein the diameter of the guidewire is reduced to approximately 0.008" in diameter in that portion of the guidewire where a wave form is located.

Claim 14

The shaped wire rotational ablation device of claim 1, wherein the guidewire has a distal atraumatic wire tip which is a hollow coil or tube which is captive on the guidewire but allows the guidewire to freely rotate or move longitudinally within the coil or tube.

Claim 15

The shaped wire rotational ablation device of claim 1, wherein the abrasive tip is substantially ellipsoidal.

Claim 16

The shaped wire rotational ablation device of claim 1, wherein the proximal portion of the guidewire is attached to a rotatable prime mover for rotating the guidewire.

Claim 17

The shaped wire rotational ablation device of claim 1, wherein the proximal portion of the guidewire is attached to a guidewire brake that can move longitudinally in concert with the high speed prime mover.

Claim 18

The shaped wire rotational ablation device of claim 1 further comprising a tubular sheath which surrounds said flexible drive shaft and chamber means for sealably attaching to said tubular sheath, said chamber means including a seal through which said drive shaft passes.

Claim 19

A shaped wire rotational ablation system comprising: (a) a substantially linear guidewire having proximal and distal ends; (b) a shaped hypotube having proximal and distal portions, the distal portion of the shaped hypo tube being pre-formed into a corkscrew shape or a gentle "S" shape curve and the shaped hypo tube fitting slidingly over the guidewire; (c) a flexible, hollow drive shaft defining a lumen and having a rotatable abrasive tip attached thereto, said tip having a diameter which is greater than that of said drive shaft and said tip having a substantially cylindrical opening in fluid communication with said drive shaft lumen so that said drive shaft and tip can be guided along said guidewire and said shaped hypo tube, said drive shaft having affixed along the distal portion thereof a multiplicity of cutting surfaces; (d) an abrasive surface on said cutting surfaces, said abrasive surface being comprised of abrasive material imbedded in, attached to, or machined from said tip; and (e) a rotatable prime mover which is capable of rotating said drive shaft at a rotation rate of from about 10,000 revolutions per minute to as high as about 225,000 revolutions per minute, whereby said abrasive material microdissects particles small enough to pass through the capillaries of a person.

Claim 20

A shaped wire rotational ablation system comprising: (a) a substantially linear guidewire having proximal and distal ends; (b) a shaped hypotube having proximal and distal portions, the distal portion of the shaped hypo tube being pre-formed into a corkscrew shape or a gentle "S" shape curve and the shaped hypo tube fitting slidingly over the guidewire; (c) a flexible, hollow drive shaft defining a lumen and having a rotatable abrasive tip attached thereto, said tip having a diameter which is greater than that of said drive shaft and said tip having a substantially cylindrical opening in fluid communication with said drive shaft lumen so that said drive shaft and tip can be guided along said guidewire and said shaped hypo tube, said drive shaft having affixed along the distal portion thereof a multiplicity of cutting surfaces; (d) an abrasive surface on said cutting surfaces, said abrasive surface being comprised of abrasive material imbedded in, attached to, or machined from said tip; and (e) a rotatable prime mover which is capable of rotating said drive shaft at a rotation rate of from about 10,000 revolutions per minute to as high as about 225,000 revolutions per minute, whereby said abrasive material microdissects particles small enough to pass through the capillaries of a person.

Claim 21

The shaped wire rotational ablation device of claim 18, wherein the multiplicity of cutting surfaces affixed along the distal portion of the drive shaft are in the form of burrs which are generally ellipsoidal in shape and are affixed in spaced apart fashion along the length of the distal portion of the drive shaft.

Claim 22

The shaped wire rotational ablation device of claim 19, wherein each of the generally ellipsoidal shaped abrasive cutting surfaces is from about 1 mm to about 6 mm in diameter.

Claim 23

The shaped wire rotational ablation device of claim 18, wherein the multiplicity of cutting surfaces affixed along the distal portion of the drive shaft are in the form of cuffs which are generally cylindrical in shape and are affixed in spaced apart fashion along the length of the distal portion of the drive shaft.

Claim 24

The shaped wire rotational ablation device of claim 21, wherein each of the generally cylindrically shaped abrasive cutting cuffs protrudes above the surface of the drive shaft a distance of from about 0.1 mm about to 0.5 mm, and vary in length from about 1 mm to about 6 mm.

Claim 25

The shaped wire ablation device of claim 18, wherein the multiplicity of cutting surfaces are affixed along the length of the distal portion of the drive shaft and are spaced apart approximately from about 0.5 to 5.0 cm on center.

Claim 26

The shaped wire rotational ablation device of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of the multiplicity of cutting surfaces are covered with diamond grit.

Claim 27

The shaped wire rotational ablation device of claim 18, wherein the drive shaft is approximately 0.026" diameter trifilar helically wound drive shaft.

Claim 32

A shaped wire rotational ablation system comprising: (a) a shaped guidewire having proximal and distal portions, the distal portion of the shaped guidewire being pre-formed into a non-linear shape; (b) a flexible, hollow drive shaft defining a lumen and having a rotatable abrasive tip attached thereto, said tip having a diameter which is greater than that of said drive shaft and said tip having a substantially cylindrical opening in fluid communication with said drive shaft lumen so that said drive shaft and tip can be guided along said guidewire, said drive shaft having affixed along the distal portion thereof a multiplicity of cutting surfaces; (c) an abrasive surface on said cutting surfaces, said abrasive surface being comprised of abrasive material imbedded in, attached to, or machined from said tip; (d) a rotatable prime mover attached to the proximal portion of the guidewire for rotating the guidewire; and (e) a rotatable prime mover which is capable of rotating said drive shaft at a rotation rate of from about 10,000 revolutions per minute to as high as about 225,000 revolutions per minute, whereby said abrasive material microdissects particles small enough to pass through the capillaries of a person.

Claim 33

A shaped wire rotational ablation system comprising: (a) a shaped guidewire having proximal and distal portions, the distal portion of the shaped guidewire being pre-formed into a non-linear shape; (b) a flexible, hollow drive shaft defining a lumen and having a rotatable abrasive tip attached thereto, said tip having a diameter which is greater than that of said drive shaft and said tip having a substantially cylindrical opening in fluid communication with said drive shaft lumen so that said drive shaft and tip can be guided along said guidewire, said drive shaft having affixed along the distal portion thereof a multiplicity of cutting surfaces; (c) an abrasive surface on said cutting surfaces, said abrasive surface being comprised of abrasive material imbedded in, attached to, or machined from said tip; (d) a rotatable prime mover attached to the proximal portion of the guidewire for rotating the guidewire; and (e) a rotatable prime mover which is capable of rotating said drive shaft at a rotation rate of from about 10,000 revolutions per minute to as high as about 225,000 revolutions per minute, whereby said abrasive material microdissects particles small enough to pass through the capillaries of a person.

Claim 34

A shaped wire rotational ablation system comprising: (a) a shaped guidewire having proximal and distal portions, the distal portion of the shaped guidewire being pre-formed into a non-linear shape; (b) a flexible, hollow drive shaft defining a lumen and having a rotatable abrasive tip attached thereto, said tip having a diameter which is greater than that of said drive shaft and said tip having a substantially cylindrical opening in fluid communication with said drive shaft lumen so that said drive shaft and tip can be guided along said guidewire, said drive shaft having affixed along the distal portion thereof a multiplicity of cutting surfaces; (c) an abrasive surface on said cutting surfaces, said abrasive surface being comprised of abrasive material imbedded in, attached to, or machined from said tip; (d) a rotatable prime mover which is capable of rotating said drive shaft at a rotation rate of from about 10,000 revolutions per minute to as high as about 225,000 revolutions per minute, whereby said abrasive material microdissects particles small enough to pass through the capillaries of a person; and (e) a guidewire brake attached to the proximal portion of the guidewire, wherein said guidewire brake can move longitudinally in concert with the rotatable prime mover.

Claim 35

A shaped wire rotational ablation system comprising: (a) a shaped guidewire having proximal and distal portions, the distal portion of the shaped guidewire being pre-formed into a non-linear shape; (b) a flexible, hollow drive shaft defining a lumen and having a rotatable abrasive tip attached thereto, said tip having a diameter which is greater than that of said drive shaft and said tip having a substantially cylindrical opening in fluid communication with said drive shaft lumen so that said drive shaft and tip can be guided along said guidewire, said drive shaft having affixed along the distal portion thereof a multiplicity of cutting surfaces; (c) an abrasive surface on said cutting surfaces, said abrasive surface being comprised of abrasive material imbedded in, attached to, or machined from said tip; (d) a rotatable prime mover which is capable of rotating said drive shaft at a rotation rate of from about 10,000 revolutions per minute to as high as about 225,000 revolutions per minute, whereby said abrasive material microdissects particles small enough to pass through the capillaries of a person; and (e) a guidewire brake attached to the proximal portion of the guidewire, wherein said guidewire brake can move longitudinally in concert with the rotatable prime mover.