US5665098A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Unitary removal of plaque
Assignee: SYNECTIC VENTURES I LLC
•
Filing: 1996-07-23
•
Granted: 1997-09-09
•
Expires: 2016-07-23
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 14:38
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
94 words
A method of excising material comprising plaque from an artery comprising the steps of: inserting an instrument into the artery, the artery having an axis; placing the instrument adjacent to the material comprising plaque in the artery; grasping the material comprising plaque with the instrument without materially cutting the material comprising plaque by the instrument; maintaining the grasp of material comprising plaque while displacing the instrument thereby generally axially separating a length of the material comprising plaque from other material in the artery; removing the dislodged length of material comprising plaque from the artery.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of excising material comprising plaque from an artery comprising the steps of: inserting an instrument into the artery, the artery having an axis; placing the instrument adjacent to the material comprising plaque in the artery; grasping the material comprising plaque with the instrument without materially cutting the material comprising plaque by the instrument; maintaining the grasp of material comprising plaque while displacing the instrument thereby generally axially separating a length of the material comprising plaque from other material in the artery; removing the dislodged length of material comprising plaque from the artery.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of removing material comprising arterial plaque comprising the steps of: grabbing hold of the material comprising plaque within an artery with a removal instrument; applying force to the material comprising plaque generally along the length of the artery to part a segment of said material from other wall material in the artery without longitudinally cutting the segment; withdrawing the segment of material comprising plaque from the artery.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of removing material comprising arterial plaque comprising the steps of: grabbing hold of the material comprising plaque within an artery with a removal instrument; applying force to the material comprising plaque generally along the length of the artery to part a segment of said material from other wall material in the artery without longitudinally cutting the segment; withdrawing the segment of material comprising plaque from the artery.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
110 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 material comprising plaque; gripping the material comprising plaque at the site with the gripping instrument; tearing at least some the material comprising plaque from the artery without appreciably cutting the material comprising plaque along the axis of the artery by displacing the instrument while the instrument is gripping the material comprising plaque; removing the instrument and the gripped material comprising plaque through the manmade opening.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
110 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 material comprising plaque; gripping the material comprising plaque at the site with the gripping instrument; tearing at least some the material comprising plaque from the artery without appreciably cutting the material comprising plaque along the axis of the artery by displacing the instrument while the instrument is gripping the material comprising plaque; removing the instrument and the gripped material comprising plaque through the manmade opening.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of increasing blood flow in an artery comprising the steps of: tethering arterial material comprising plaque to an indwelling instrument at a site within the artery with immaterial axial cutting of tethered material comprising plaque, pulling the instrument and the material comprising plaque along the length of the artery thereby forcibly tearing a segment of the material comprising plaque, in the direction of the length of the artery, from a portion of the artery and removing the torn segment of the material comprising plaque from the artery.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of increasing blood flow in an artery comprising the steps of: tethering arterial material comprising plaque to an indwelling instrument at a site within the artery with immaterial axial cutting of tethered material comprising plaque, pulling the instrument and the material comprising plaque along the length of the artery thereby forcibly tearing a segment of the material comprising plaque, in the direction of the length of the artery, from a portion of the artery and removing the torn segment of the material comprising plaque from the artery.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of treating material comprising 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 material comprising plaque within the artery; removably connecting the head to the material comprising plaque without cutting the material comprising plaque from the artery along its length; pulling on the material comprising plaque through the head thereby parting a segment of the material comprising plaque intact from the artery; retrieving the head and connected severed segment of the material comprising plaque from the artery.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of treating material comprising 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 material comprising plaque within the artery; removably connecting the head to the material comprising plaque without cutting the material comprising plaque from the artery along its length; pulling on the material comprising plaque through the head thereby parting a segment of the material comprising plaque intact from the artery; retrieving the head and connected severed segment of the material comprising 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
19 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the inserting step is preceded by preliminarily loosening the material comprising plaque.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein the loosening step comprises making at least one primarily radial cut in the material comprising 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
22 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the removably connecting step comprises taking hold of the material comprising plaque by the head.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the removably connecting step comprises grasping the material comprising plaque by the head.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the removably connecting step comprises grasping the material comprising plaque by the head.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the removably connecting step comprises engaging the material comprising plaque by the head.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the severing step comprises shearing the material comprising plaque intact from a wall of the artery.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the retrieving step comprises removing the head and the severed segment of material comprising plaque from the artery.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the removably connecting step comprises hooking the material comprising plaque with the head.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the removably connecting step comprises piercing the material comprising 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
22 words
A method according to claim 19 wherein the rotating step comprises causing the head to bindingly bite into the material comprising plaque.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 19 wherein the rotating step comprises embedding material comprising plaque within the head in binding relation.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the removably connecting step comprises binding the material comprising plaque and the head together.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the removably connecting step comprises snagging the material comprising 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
121 words
A method of treating material comprising arterial plaque in an artery to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: preliminarily loosening the material comprising arterial plaque by subjecting the material comprising arterial plaque to be removed to dottering; inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to the preliminarily loosened material comprising arterial plaque within the artery; removably connecting the head to the material comprising arterial plaque; pulling on the material comprising arterial plaque through the head thereby part severing a segment of the material comprising arterial plaque intact from other material remaining in the artery; retrieving the head and the connected severed segment of the material comprising arterial plaque from the other material remaining in the artery.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of treating material comprising arterial plaque in an artery to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: preliminarily loosening the material comprising arterial plaque by subjecting the material comprising arterial plaque to be removed to dottering; inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to the preliminarily loosened material comprising arterial plaque within the artery; removably connecting the head to the material comprising arterial plaque; pulling on the material comprising arterial plaque through the head thereby part severing a segment of the material comprising arterial plaque intact from other material remaining in the artery; retrieving the head and the connected severed segment of the material comprising arterial plaque from the other material remaining in the artery.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of treating material comprising plaque in an artery to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: preliminarily displacing the material comprising plaque by subjecting the plaque to be removed to balloon angioplasty; inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to the material comprising plaque within the artery; removably connecting the head to the material comprising plaque; pulling on the material comprising plaque through the head thereby severing a segment of the material comprising plaque intact from a remainder of material in the artery; retrieving the head and the connected severed segment of the material comprising plaque from the remainder of material in the artery.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of treating material comprising plaque in an artery to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: preliminarily displacing the material comprising plaque by subjecting the plaque to be removed to balloon angioplasty; inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to the material comprising plaque within the artery; removably connecting the head to the material comprising plaque; pulling on the material comprising plaque through the head thereby severing a segment of the material comprising plaque intact from a remainder of material in the artery; retrieving the head and the connected severed segment of the material comprising plaque from the remainder of material in the artery.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of treating material comprising plaque in an artery to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to the material comprising plaque within the artery by placing the head within the artery between the material comprising plaque and a wall portion of the artery so that insertion of the head separates at least in part the material comprising plaque and the artery at the interface between the two; removably connecting the head to the material comprising plaque; pulling on the material comprising plaque through the head thereby dividing a segment of the material comprising plaque intact from a remaining wall portion of the artery; retrieving the head and the connected divided segment of the material comprising plaque from the wall portion of the artery.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of treating material comprising plaque in an artery to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to the material comprising plaque within the artery by placing the head within the artery between the material comprising plaque and a wall portion of the artery so that insertion of the head separates at least in part the material comprising plaque and the artery at the interface between the two; removably connecting the head to the material comprising plaque; pulling on the material comprising plaque through the head thereby dividing a segment of the material comprising plaque intact from a remaining wall portion of the artery; retrieving the head and the connected divided segment of the material comprising plaque from the wall portion of the artery.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of treating material comprising plaque in an artery to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to the material comprising plaque within the artery; removably connecting the head to the material comprising the plaque by compressively engaging and holding the material comprising plaque at the head; pulling on the material comprising plaque through the head thereby parting a segment of the material comprising plaque intact from material remaining in the artery; retrieving the head and the connected severed segment of the material comprising plaque from the material remaining in the artery.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of treating material comprising plaque in an artery to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to the material comprising plaque within the artery; removably connecting the head to the material comprising the plaque by compressively engaging and holding the material comprising plaque at the head; pulling on the material comprising plaque through the head thereby parting a segment of the material comprising plaque intact from material remaining in the artery; retrieving the head and the connected severed segment of the material comprising plaque from the material remaining in the artery.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of treating material comprising plaque in an artery to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to the material comprising plaque within the artery; removably connecting the head to the material comprising plaque; pulling on the material comprising plaque through the head by stretching the material comprising plaque thereby separating a segment of the material comprising plaque intact from other material remaining in the artery; retrieving the head and the connected severed segment of the material comprising plaque from the other material remaining in the artery.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of treating material comprising plaque in an artery to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to the material comprising plaque within the artery; removably connecting the head to the material comprising plaque; pulling on the material comprising plaque through the head by stretching the material comprising plaque thereby separating a segment of the material comprising plaque intact from other material remaining in the artery; retrieving the head and the connected severed segment of the material comprising plaque from the other material remaining in the artery.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of treating material comprising plaque in an artery to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to the material comprising plaque within the artery; removably connecting the head to the material comprising plaque; pulling on the material comprising plaque through the head thereby causing a segment of the material comprising plaque to peel intact from other material remaining in the artery; retrieving the head and the connected severed segment of the material comprising plaque from the other material remaining in the artery.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of treating material comprising plaque in an artery to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to the material comprising plaque within the artery; removably connecting the head to the material comprising plaque; pulling on the material comprising plaque through the head thereby causing a segment of the material comprising plaque to peel intact from other material remaining in the artery; retrieving the head and the connected severed segment of the material comprising plaque from the other material remaining in the artery.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of treating material comprising plaque in an artery to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to the material comprising plaque within the artery; removably connecting the head to the material comprising plaque; pulling on the material comprising plaque through the head thereby removing a segment of the material comprising plaque intact from the other material remaining in the artery by both axially separating the segment from the other material remaining within the artery and displacing the segment in respect to the other material remaining in the artery; retrieving the head and the connected severed segment of the material comprising plaque from the other material remaining in the artery.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of treating material comprising plaque in an artery to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to the material comprising plaque within the artery; removably connecting the head to the material comprising plaque; pulling on the material comprising plaque through the head thereby removing a segment of the material comprising plaque intact from the other material remaining in the artery by both axially separating the segment from the other material remaining within the artery and displacing the segment in respect to the other material remaining in the artery; retrieving the head and the connected severed segment of the material comprising plaque from the other material remaining in the artery.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of treating material comprising plaque in an artery to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to the material comprising plaque within the artery; removably connecting the head to the material comprising plaque by clamping the head to the material comprising plaque; pulling on the material comprising plaque through the head thereby severing a segment of the material comprising plaque intact from the remainder of the artery; retrieving the head and the connected severed segment of the material comprising plaque from the remainder of the artery.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of treating material comprising plaque in an artery to increase blood flow comprising the steps of: inserting a connecting head into an artery; locating the head adjacent to the material comprising plaque within the artery; removably connecting the head to the material comprising plaque by clamping the head to the material comprising plaque; pulling on the material comprising plaque through the head thereby severing a segment of the material comprising plaque intact from the remainder of the artery; retrieving the head and the connected severed segment of the material comprising plaque from the remainder of 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) | 2000-09-08 | 2001-03-10 | 2001-09-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-09-08 | 2005-03-10 | 2005-09-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-09-08 | 2009-03-10 | 2009-09-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |