Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
An atherectomy device comprising: a handle housing; a rotatable prime mover movable longitudinally with respect to the handle housing; a rotatable drive shaft having a proximal end connected to the prime mover for rotation and longitudinal movement therewith, and a distal end portion having a tissue removal implement usable to remove tissue from a bodily passageway; a guide wire disposed within the drive shaft and having a proximal portion extending proximally from the proximal end of the drive shaft; a guide wire clamp disposed within the handle housing for releasably clamping the proximal portion of the guide wire, the guide wire clamp being selectively movable from a guide wire-clamped position to a guide wire-released position; the handle housing being shaped and sized with respect to the guide wire clamp to permit manual movement of the guide wire clamp from its guide wire-clamped position to its guide wire-released position; and an override clamp removably securable to the handle housing to move the guide wire clamp to the guide wire-released position and to hold the guide wire clamp in such position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
An atherectomy device comprising: a handle housing; a rotatable prime mover movable longitudinally with respect to the handle housing; a rotatable drive shaft having a proximal end connected to the prime mover for rotation and longitudinal movement therewith, and a distal end portion having a tissue removal implement usable to remove tissue from a bodily passageway; a guide wire disposed within the drive shaft and having a proximal portion extending proximally from the proximal end of the drive shaft; a guide wire clamp disposed within the handle housing for releasably clamping the proximal portion of the guide wire, the guide wire clamp being selectively movable from a guide wire-clamped position to a guide wire-released position; the handle housing being shaped and sized with respect to the guide wire clamp to permit manual movement of the guide wire clamp from its guide wire-clamped position to its guide wire-released position; and an override clamp removably securable to the handle housing to move the guide wire clamp to the guide wire-released position and to hold the guide wire clamp in such position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The atherectomy device of claim 1 wherein the handle housing substantially surrounds the guide wire clamp, the handle housing including one or more clamp override openings aligned with the guide wire clamp to permit manual manipulation of the guide wire clamp.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
The atherectomy device of claim 2 wherein the guide wire clamp is comprised of a pair of opposed clamping blocks, each having a clamping surface, and a resilient collar encircling the clamping blocks, the size and shape of the clamping blocks and the resilient collar being selected so that the resilient collar biases the clamping surfaces toward each other to clamp the guide wire.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The atherectomy device of claim 3 wherein the handle housing includes two clamp override openings aligned with the resilient collar, thereby permitting the override clamp to compress the resilient collar to move the guide wire clamp to its guide wire-released position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
The atherectomy device of claim 4 wherein the prime mover is located within the handle housing, the handle housing having a longitudinal slot through which the prime mover is connected to a control knob external to the handle housing, the override clamp including a mechanical linkage engagable with the control knob to prevent longitudinal movement of the control knob and the prime mover with respect to the handle housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The atherectomy device of claim 5 wherein the mechanical linkage comprises a distally extending strap having an orifice sized to closely receive and retain the control knob therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The atherectomy device of claim 4 wherein the override clamp includes a generally C-shaped portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The atherectomy device of claim 7 wherein the generally C-shaped portion of the override clamp includes an inwardly protruding curved button for operative engagement with the resilient collar.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The atherectomy device of claim 8 wherein the button is generally hemispherical in shape.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The atherectomy device of claim 7 wherein the handle housing has a pair of generally opposing clamp override openings and wherein the C-shaped portion of the override clamp also includes a pair of generally opposing inwardly protruding curved buttons for operative engagement with the resilient collar.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
The atherectomy device of claim 10 wherein, when the override clamp is positioned on the handle housing, each curved button of the override clamp protrudes into its respective override opening sufficiently that the generally C-shaped portion of the override clamp becomes removably interlocked with the handle housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The atherectomy device of claim 7 wherein the generally C-shaped portion of the override clamp includes opposing ends which include outwardly extending ears to facilitate removal of the override clamp from the handle housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
183 words
An atherectomy device comprising: a handle housing; a rotatable prime mover disposed within the handle housing and being movable longitudinally with respect to the handle housing; a rotatable drive shaft having a proximal end connected to the prime mover for rotation and longitudinal movement therewith, and a distal end portion having a tissue removal implement usable to remove tissue from a bodily passageway; a guide wire disposed within the drive shaft and having a proximal portion extending proximally from the proximal end of the drive shaft; a guide wire clamp disposed within the handle housing and comprised of a pair of opposed clamping blocks and a clamp biasing mechanism for moving the clamping blocks from a guide wire-released position to a guide wire-clamped position; the handle housing including one or more clamp override openings aligned with the clamp to permit manual override of the clamp biasing mechanism; and an override clamp removably securable to the handle housing in alignment with the one or more clamp override openings and causing the clamp biasing mechanism to release the clamping blocks from the guide wire-clamped position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
183 words
An atherectomy device comprising: a handle housing; a rotatable prime mover disposed within the handle housing and being movable longitudinally with respect to the handle housing; a rotatable drive shaft having a proximal end connected to the prime mover for rotation and longitudinal movement therewith, and a distal end portion having a tissue removal implement usable to remove tissue from a bodily passageway; a guide wire disposed within the drive shaft and having a proximal portion extending proximally from the proximal end of the drive shaft; a guide wire clamp disposed within the handle housing and comprised of a pair of opposed clamping blocks and a clamp biasing mechanism for moving the clamping blocks from a guide wire-released position to a guide wire-clamped position; the handle housing including one or more clamp override openings aligned with the clamp to permit manual override of the clamp biasing mechanism; and an override clamp removably securable to the handle housing in alignment with the one or more clamp override openings and causing the clamp biasing mechanism to release the clamping blocks from the guide wire-clamped position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
60 words
The atherectomy device of claim 13 wherein the handle housing has a longitudinal slot through which the prime mover is connected to a control knob external to the handle housing, the override clamp including a mechanical linkage engagable with the control knob to prevent longitudinal movement of the control knob and the prime mover with respect to the handle housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The atherectomy device of claim 14 wherein the mechanical linkage comprises a distally extending strap having an orifice sized to closely receive and retain the control knob therein.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The atherectomy device of claim 13 wherein the override clamp includes a generally C-shaped portion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The atherectomy device of claim 16 wherein the generally C-shaped portion of the override clamp includes an inwardly protruding curved button for operative engagement with the clamp biasing mechanism.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The atherectomy device of claim 17 wherein the button is generally hemispherical in shape.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
The atherectomy device of claim 16 wherein the handle housing has a pair of generally opposing clamp override openings and wherein the C-shaped portion of the override clamp also includes a pair of generally opposing inwardly protruding curved buttons for operative engagement with the clamp biasing mechanism.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
47 words
The atherectomy device of claim 19 wherein, when the override clamp is positioned on the handle housing, each curved button of the override clamp protrudes into its respective override opening sufficiently that the generally C-shaped portion of the override clamp becomes removably interlocked with the handle housing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
The atherectomy device of claim 16 wherein the generally C-shaped portion of the override clamp includes opposing ends which include outwardly extending ears to facilitate removal of the override clamp from the handle housing.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
125 words
An atherectomy device comprising: a handle housing; a rotatable drive shaft having a proximal end and a distal end portion with a tissue removal implement usable to remove tissue from a bodily passageway; a guide wire disposed within the drive shaft and having a proximal portion extending proximally from the proximal end of the drive shaft; a guide wire clamp carried by the handle housing for releasably clamping the proximal portion of the guide wire, the guide wire clamp being selectively movable from a guide wire-clamped position to a guide wire-released position; and an override clamp removably securable with respect to the handle housing to move the guide wire clamp to the guide wire-released position and to hold the guide wire clamp in such position.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
125 words
An atherectomy device comprising: a handle housing; a rotatable drive shaft having a proximal end and a distal end portion with a tissue removal implement usable to remove tissue from a bodily passageway; a guide wire disposed within the drive shaft and having a proximal portion extending proximally from the proximal end of the drive shaft; a guide wire clamp carried by the handle housing for releasably clamping the proximal portion of the guide wire, the guide wire clamp being selectively movable from a guide wire-clamped position to a guide wire-released position; and an override clamp removably securable with respect to the handle housing to move the guide wire clamp to the guide wire-released position and to hold the guide wire clamp in such position.