US6027514A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for removing occluding material from body lumens
Assignee: Fox Hollow Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 1997-12-17
•
Granted: 2000-02-22
•
Expires: 2017-12-17
Abstract
Abstract An atherectomy catheter includes a catheter body having a blade assembly at its distal end. The blade assembly includes first blade and a second blade, where each blade has an opposed cutting edge. At least one of the cutting edges will have a penetrating point formed thereon. Preferably, both edges will have at least one aligned cutting point, more preferably at least two or more aligned cutting points. When the blades are actuated to shear tissue therebetween, the cutting points act to penetrate and capture the material to be sheared.
Inventors
- 👤 John G. Stine
- 👤 David W. Snow
- 👤 John B. Simpson
- 👤 Martin F. Overbeek Bloem
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:43
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/3205; A61B17/3207; A61B17/320783; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22051; A61B2017/22052
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 76
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A catheter comprising: a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end; a first blade having a cutting edge and a second blade having a cutting edge disposed near the distal end of the catheter body; and an actuator operatively linked to the first and second blades to draw their respective cutting edges together, said blades disposed to shear tissue between the cutting edges in response to actuation by said actuator; wherein at least one of the cutting edges has a penetrating point disposed to penetrate and engage material to be removed as the cutting edges are passed through said material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
A catheter comprising: a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end; a first blade having a cutting edge and a second blade having a cutting edge disposed near the distal end of the catheter body; and an actuator operatively linked to the first and second blades to draw their respective cutting edges together, said blades disposed to shear tissue between the cutting edges in response to actuation by said actuator; wherein at least one of the cutting edges has a penetrating point disposed to penetrate and engage material to be removed as the cutting edges are passed through said material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A catheter as in claim 1, wherein the cutting edges of both the first and second blades have penetrating points.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A catheter as in claim 2, wherein at least one of the penetrating points on the first cutting blade is aligned with one of the penetrating points on the second cutting blade so that they substantially meet as the cutting edges are drawn together.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A catheter as in claim 3, wherein the first cutting blade has at least two penetrating points aligned with two penetrating points on the second blade.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A catheter as in claim 4, wherein the first cutting blade has at least three penetrating points aligned with three penetrating points on the second cutting blade.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A catheter as in claim 1, wherein the actuator draws the cutting edges of the blades together in an axial direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A catheter as in claim 6, wherein the actuator comprises a rod having a distal end attached to one of the blades and a proximal end having a slider for manual advancement and retraction of the rod and blade.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A catheter as in claim 7, wherein the rod is radially offset in the catheter body and on the same side of a longitudinal axis of the catheter body as a cutting edge on said one of the blades.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A catheter as in claim 1, wherein the actuator draws the cutting edges of the blades together in a circumferential direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A catheter as in claim 1, wherein the first blade is fixedly attached to the distal end of the catheter body and the second blade moves within the first blade.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A catheter as in claim 10, wherein the first and second blades are arranged as coaxial tubes with side apertures which define the cutting edges.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A catheter as in claim 11, wherein the cutting edges are disposed transversely and the actuator translates the second blade axially relative to the first blade.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A catheter as in claim 11, wherein the cutting edges are disposed axially and the actuator rotates the second blade relative to the first to draw the cutting blades together circumferentially.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A catheter as in claim 10, wherein the second blade is spring-biased so that its cutting edge is aligned to shear closely against the cutting edge of the first blade.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A catheter as in claim 14, wherein the second blade is a split tube biased so that its outer surface engages against an inner surface of the first tubular blade.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A catheter as in claim 1, further comprising means for urging the distal end of the catheter body in a transverse direction within a body lumen.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A catheter as in claim 16, wherein the urging means comprises a resilient ski that projects radially outward from the catheter body.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A catheter as in claim 16, wherein the urging means comprises a radially extensible element and an axially translatable element for mechanically extending the element.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
A catheter as in claim 18, wherein the radially extensible element comprises a resilient ski which is fixedly attached at its distal end to the catheter body and attached at its proximal end to the axially translatable element, wherein axial reciprocation of the translatable element causes bowing of the ski.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A catheter as in claim 18, wherein the radially extensible element comprises a resilient membrane and the axially translatable element is disposed to push outwardly on said membrane.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
A catheter as in claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a biasing element that returns the blades to an initial relative position after they have been moved by the actuator to a second position.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
144 words
An atherectomy catheter comprising: a catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen therethrough; a first tubular blade having an interior and attached to the distal end of the catheter body so that said interior opens into the lumen of the catheter body; a second tubular blade coaxially disposed within the interior of the first tubular blade, wherein the first and second blades each have a side apertures defining transverse, opposed cutting edges and wherein each of said cutting edges has at least one penetrating point aligned with a penetrating point on the other cutting edge; and an actuator disposed at the proximal end of the catheter body for axially translating the second tubular blade with the first tubular blade to cause the penetrating points to penetrate material within the apertures and the cutting edges to shear material within apertures.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
144 words
An atherectomy catheter comprising: a catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen therethrough; a first tubular blade having an interior and attached to the distal end of the catheter body so that said interior opens into the lumen of the catheter body; a second tubular blade coaxially disposed within the interior of the first tubular blade, wherein the first and second blades each have a side apertures defining transverse, opposed cutting edges and wherein each of said cutting edges has at least one penetrating point aligned with a penetrating point on the other cutting edge; and an actuator disposed at the proximal end of the catheter body for axially translating the second tubular blade with the first tubular blade to cause the penetrating points to penetrate material within the apertures and the cutting edges to shear material within apertures.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
46 words
An atherectomy catheter as in claim 22, wherein the actuator comprises a rod having a distal end attached to a proximal end of the second tubular blade and a proximal end having a slider for manual advancement and retraction of the rod and second tubular blade.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
An atherectomy catheter as in claim 23, wherein the rod is attached to a side of the second tubular blade having the side aperture therein.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
An atherectomy catheter as in claim 22, wherein the first cutting blade has at least two penetrating points aligned with two penetrating points on the second blade.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
An atherectomy catheter as in claim 25, wherein the first cutting blade has at least three penetrating points aligned with three penetrating points on the second cutting blade.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
An atherectomy catheter as in claim 22, wherein the inner blade is spring-biased so that its cutting edge is aligned to shear closely against the cutting edge of the first blade.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
An atherectomy catheter as in claim 27, wherein the inner blade is a split tube biased so that its outer surface engages against an inner surface of the outer tubular blade.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
An atherectomy catheter as in claim 22, further comprising means for urging the distal end of the catheter body in a transverse direction within a body lumen.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
An atherectomy catheter as in claim 29, wherein the urging means comprises a resilient ski that projects radially outward from the catheter body.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
An atherectomy catheter as in claim 29, wherein the urging means comprises a radially extensible element and an axially translatable element for mechanically extending the radially extensible element.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
51 words
An atherectomy catheter as in claim 31, wherein the radially extensible element comprises a resilient ski which is fixedly attached at its distal end to the catheter body and attached at its proximal end to the axially translatable element, wherein axial reciprocation of the translatable element causes bowing of the ski.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
29 words
An atherectomy catheter as in claim 31, wherein the radially extensible element comprises a resilient membrane and the axially translatable element is disposed to push outwardly on said membrane.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
35 words
An atherectomy catheter as in claim 22, wherein the actuator comprises a biasing element that returns the blades to an initial relative position after they have been moved by the actuator to a second position.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for excising occlusive material from within a body lumen, said method comprising: disposing a first blade within the body lumen so that a cutting edge of said blade is on one side of a portion of said material; disposing a second blade within the body lumen so that a cutting edge of said second blade is on another side of said portion of said material wherein at least one of said blades has a penetrating point on its cutting edge; and drawing the blades together to first penetrate the penetrating point into said material and thereafter to shear the portion between the cutting edges.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for excising occlusive material from within a body lumen, said method comprising: disposing a first blade within the body lumen so that a cutting edge of said blade is on one side of a portion of said material; disposing a second blade within the body lumen so that a cutting edge of said second blade is on another side of said portion of said material wherein at least one of said blades has a penetrating point on its cutting edge; and drawing the blades together to first penetrate the penetrating point into said material and thereafter to shear the portion between the cutting edges.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 35, wherein the disposing steps comprises intraluminally advancing the blades on a catheter.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 36, wherein the body lumen is blood vessel and the occlusive material is selected from the group consisting of clot, thrombus, atheroma, and plaque.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 35, wherein the drawing step excises a volume of material in the range from 0.1 mg to 5 mg.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 35, wherein the cutting edges of both the first and second blades have penetrating points.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as in claim 39, wherein at least one of the penetration points on the first cutting blade is aligned with one of the penetrating points on the second cutting blade so that they substantially meet as the cutting edges are drawn together.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 40, wherein the first cutting blade has at least two penetrating points aligned with two penetrating points on the second blade.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 41, wherein the first cutting blade has at least three penetrating points aligned with three penetrating points on the second cutting blade.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 35, wherein the drawing step comprises translating the blades relative to each other in a direction aligned with an axis of the body lumen.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as in claim 35, wherein the drawing step comprises rotating the blades in a circumferential direction relative to each other with respect to an axis of the body lumen.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as in claim 35, further comprising removing excised material from the body lumen.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 35, wherein the drawing step is repeated a plurality of times to penetrate and shear a plurality of occlusive material portions.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 35, further comprising radially engaging the blades against a target site on the lumenal wall.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 47, wherein the radially engaging step comprises urging the blades with at least one radially disposed resilient ski.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
84 words
A catheter comprising: a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end; a first blade having a cutting edge and a second blade having a cutting edge disposed near the distal end of the catheter body; and an actuator operatively linked to the first and second blades to draw their respective cutting edges together; wherein both the first and second blades have penetrating points disposed to penetrate and engage material to be removed as the cutting edges are passed through said material.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
84 words
A catheter comprising: a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end; a first blade having a cutting edge and a second blade having a cutting edge disposed near the distal end of the catheter body; and an actuator operatively linked to the first and second blades to draw their respective cutting edges together; wherein both the first and second blades have penetrating points disposed to penetrate and engage material to be removed as the cutting edges are passed through said material.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
44 words
A catheter as in claim 49, wherein at least one of the penetrating points on the first cutting blade is aligned with one of the penetrating points on the second cutting blade so that they substantially meet as the cutting edges are drawn together.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
26 words
A catheter as in claim 50, wherein the first cutting blade has at least two penetrating points aligned with two penetrating points on the second blade.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
27 words
A catheter as in claim 51, wherein the first cutting blade has at least three penetrating points aligned with three penetrating points on the second cutting blade.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
147 words
A catheter comprising: a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end; a first blade having a cutting edge and a second blade having a cutting edge disposed near the distal end of the catheter body; and an actuator operatively linked to the first and second blades to draw their respective cutting edges together in an axial direction, said actuator comprising a rod radially offset in the catheter body and having a distal end attached to one of the blades, said rod axially aligned with a cutting edge on said blade, and a proximal end having a slider for manual advancement and retraction of the rod and said one of the blades; wherein at least one of the cutting edges has a penetrating point disposed to penetrate and engage material to be removed as the at least one cutting edge is passed through said material.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
147 words
A catheter comprising: a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end; a first blade having a cutting edge and a second blade having a cutting edge disposed near the distal end of the catheter body; and an actuator operatively linked to the first and second blades to draw their respective cutting edges together in an axial direction, said actuator comprising a rod radially offset in the catheter body and having a distal end attached to one of the blades, said rod axially aligned with a cutting edge on said blade, and a proximal end having a slider for manual advancement and retraction of the rod and said one of the blades; wherein at least one of the cutting edges has a penetrating point disposed to penetrate and engage material to be removed as the at least one cutting edge is passed through said material.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
141 words
A catheter comprising: a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end; a first blade having a cutting edge and a second blade having a cutting edge disposed near the distal end of the catheter body; and an actuator operatively linked to the first and second blades to draw their respective cutting edges together, said blades mounted to shear tissue between the cutting edges; wherein at least one of the cutting edges has a penetrating point disposed to penetrate and engage material to be removed as the at least one cutting edge is passed through said material; wherein the first and second blades are arranged as coaxial tubes with side apertures which define the cutting edges, said first blade is fixedly attached to the distal end of the catheter body and the second blade moves within the first blade.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
141 words
A catheter comprising: a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end; a first blade having a cutting edge and a second blade having a cutting edge disposed near the distal end of the catheter body; and an actuator operatively linked to the first and second blades to draw their respective cutting edges together, said blades mounted to shear tissue between the cutting edges; wherein at least one of the cutting edges has a penetrating point disposed to penetrate and engage material to be removed as the at least one cutting edge is passed through said material; wherein the first and second blades are arranged as coaxial tubes with side apertures which define the cutting edges, said first blade is fixedly attached to the distal end of the catheter body and the second blade moves within the first blade.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
26 words
A catheter as in claim 54, wherein the cutting edges are disposed transversely and the actuator translates the second blade axially relative to the first blade.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
31 words
A catheter as in claim 54, wherein the cutting edges as disposed axially and the actuator rotates the second blade relative to the first to draw the cutting blades together circumferentially.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
113 words
A catheter comprising: a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end; a first blade having a cutting edge and a second blade having a cutting edge disposed near the distal end of the catheter body, wherein the second blade is spring-biased so that its cutting edge is aligned to shear closely against the cutting edge of the first blade; and an actuator operatively linked to the first and second blades to draw their respective cutting edges together; wherein at least one of the cutting edges has a penetrating point disposed to penetrate and engage material to be removed as the at least one cutting edge is passed through said material.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
113 words
A catheter comprising: a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end; a first blade having a cutting edge and a second blade having a cutting edge disposed near the distal end of the catheter body, wherein the second blade is spring-biased so that its cutting edge is aligned to shear closely against the cutting edge of the first blade; and an actuator operatively linked to the first and second blades to draw their respective cutting edges together; wherein at least one of the cutting edges has a penetrating point disposed to penetrate and engage material to be removed as the at least one cutting edge is passed through said material.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
29 words
A catheter as in claim 57, wherein the second blade is a split tube biased so that its outer surface engages against an inner surface of the first blade.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
128 words
A catheter comprising: a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end; a first blade having a cutting edge and a second blade having a cutting edge disposed near the distal end of the catheter body; an actuator operatively linked to the first and second blades to draw their respective cutting edges together; wherein at least one of the cutting edges has a penetrating point disposed to penetrate and engage material to be removed as the at least one cutting edge is passed through said material; and means for urging the distal end of the catheter body in a transverse direction within a body lumen, wherein the urging means comprises a radially extensible element and an axially translatable element for mechanically extending the radially extensible element.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
128 words
A catheter comprising: a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end; a first blade having a cutting edge and a second blade having a cutting edge disposed near the distal end of the catheter body; an actuator operatively linked to the first and second blades to draw their respective cutting edges together; wherein at least one of the cutting edges has a penetrating point disposed to penetrate and engage material to be removed as the at least one cutting edge is passed through said material; and means for urging the distal end of the catheter body in a transverse direction within a body lumen, wherein the urging means comprises a radially extensible element and an axially translatable element for mechanically extending the radially extensible element.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
50 words
A catheter as in claim 59, wherein the radially extensible element comprises a resilient ski which is fixedly attached at its distal end to the catheter body and attached at its proximal end to the axially translatable element, wherein axial reciprocation of the translatable element causes bowing of the ski.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
28 words
A catheter as in claim 59, wherein the radially extensible element comprises a resilient membrane and the axially translatable element is disposed to push outwardly on said membrane.
Claim 70
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for excising occlusive material from within a body lumen, said method comprising: disposing a first blade within the body lumen so that a cutting edge of said blade is on one side of a portion of said material; disposing a second blade within the body lumen so that a cutting edge of said second blade is on another side of said portion of said material wherein at least one of said blades has at least one penetrating point thereon; and drawing the blades together to first penetrate the penetrating point into said material and thereafter to shear the portion with the cutting edges, wherein the cutting edges of both the first and second blades have penetrating points.
Claim 71
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for excising occlusive material from within a body lumen, said method comprising: disposing a first blade within the body lumen so that a cutting edge of said blade is on one side of a portion of said material; disposing a second blade within the body lumen so that a cutting edge of said second blade is on another side of said portion of said material wherein at least one of said blades has at least one penetrating point thereon; and drawing the blades together to first penetrate the penetrating point into said material and thereafter to shear the portion with the cutting edges, wherein the cutting edges of both the first and second blades have penetrating points.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as in claim 62, wherein at least one of the penetrating points on the first cutting blade is aligned with one of the penetrating points on the second cutting blade so that they substantially meet as the cutting edges are drawn together.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 63, wherein the first cutting blade has at least two penetrating points aligned with two penetrating points on the second blade.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 64, wherein the first cutting blade has at least three penetrating points aligned with three penetrating points on the second cutting blade.
Claim 75
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for excising occlusive material from within a body lumen, said method comprising: disposing a first blade within the body lumen so that a cutting edge of said blade is on one side of a portion of said material; disposing a second blade within the body lumen so that a cutting edge of said second blade is on another side of said portion of said material wherein at least one of said blades has a penetrating point thereon; and drawing the blades together to first penetrate the penetrating point into said material and thereafter to shear the portion with the cutting edges; radially engaging the blades against a target site on the luminal wall, wherein radially engaging the blades comprises urging the blades with at least one radially disposed resilient ski.
Claim 76
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for excising occlusive material from within a body lumen, said method comprising: disposing a first blade within the body lumen so that a cutting edge of said blade is on one side of a portion of said material; disposing a second blade within the body lumen so that a cutting edge of said second blade is on another side of said portion of said material wherein at least one of said blades has a penetrating point thereon; and drawing the blades together to first penetrate the penetrating point into said material and thereafter to shear the portion with the cutting edges; radially engaging the blades against a target site on the luminal wall, wherein radially engaging the blades comprises urging the blades with at least one radially disposed resilient ski.
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