53 results about "Atherectomy procedure" patented technology

An elongate tubular body extends between a rotatable cutter and a control. The cutter is connected to the control with a rotatable element. A vacuum is applied through an annular passage defined between the tubular body and the rotatable element. The control has an indicator that reveals resistance to rotation and / or reduction in flow. Material that has been processed by the cutter is aspirated through the tubular body for disposal. The control enables rotation of the rotatable element only following application of a predetermined level of vacuum.

The invention provides a rotational atherectomy device having, in various embodiments, a flexible, elongated, rotatable drive shaft with at least one flexible eccentric enlarged abrading head attached thereto. In other embodiments, the eccentric abrading head is not flexible or partially flexible. At least part of the eccentric enlarged cutting head has a tissue removing surface—typically an abrasive surface. In certain embodiments, the abrading head will be at least partially hollow. When placed within an artery against stenotic tissue and rotated at sufficiently high speeds the eccentric nature of the enlarged cutting head causes the cutting head and drive shaft to rotate in such a fashion as to open the stenotic lesion to a diameter substantially larger than the outer diameter of the enlarged cutting head. Preferably the eccentric enlarged cutting head has a center of mass spaced radially from the rotational axis of the drive shaft, facilitating the ability of the device to open the stenotic lesion to a diameter substantially larger than the outer diameter of the enlarged cutting head when operated at high speeds.

A cutting balloon for use in a PTCA atherectomy procedure includes an elongated balloon that defines a longitudinal axis and is inflatable from a first deflated configuration to a second radially expanded configuration. One or more incising elements are mounted on the inflatable balloon. Compressible sheaths made of a relatively low durometer, flexible material are mounted on the balloon to protect the operative cutting surface of a respective incising element during assembly of the cutting balloon and transit of the cutting balloon to the treatment site. Each sheath extends farther from the longitudinal axis than the corresponding incising element and makes first contact with the tissue during a balloon inflation. Once contact has been established between the tissue and the sheath, further balloon inflation causes the sheath to radially compress between the tissue and the inflatable balloon exposing the operative cutting surface for tissue incision.

The invention provides a rotational atherectomy device having, in various embodiments, a flexible, elongated, rotatable drive shaft with at least one flexible or inflexible eccentric enlarged abrading and cutting head attached thereto which comprises an abrasive surface. When placed against stenotic tissue and rotated at high speed, the eccentric nature of the abrading and cutting head moves along an orbital path, opening the lesion to a diameter larger than the resting diameter of the enlarged abrading and cutting head. Preferably the abrading and cutting head has a center of mass spaced radially from the rotational axis of the drive shaft, facilitating the ability of the device to travel along an orbital path. The abrading and cutting head comprises proximal and / or distal radiused surfaces that facilitate cutting difficult stenosis material while minimizing trauma to the vessel.

The invention provides a rotational atherectomy device having, in various embodiments, a flexible, elongated, rotatable drive shaft with at least one asymmetric and at least partially spherical abrading element attached thereto, which comprises an abrasive surface. The abrading element comprises more mass above the drive shaft than below and comprises a flattened side or transverse surface which creates hard cutting edges and spaces the center of mass radially from the rotational axis of the drive shaft. Thus the center of mass is moved vertically and transversely by the structure of the abrading element, conferring geometric and mass eccentricity upon the element. When placed against stenotic tissue and rotated at high speed, the eccentric nature of the abrading element moves along an orbital path, opening the lesion to a diameter larger than the resting diameter of the abrading element.

The invention relates to a catheter device for performing atherectomy, comprising an atherectomy catheter, an IVMRI sensor, position sensors and an image-processing unit which is fashioned for generating combined 2D and / or 3D image recordings based on the data from the sensors.

A guide wire for assisting in implantation and balancing of an orbital atherectomy device is disclosed. The guide wire is generally configured to be received within a driveshaft and cutting region of the orbital atherectomy device. The guide wire is sufficiently flexible to minimize trauma to the vessel walls is positioned within a patient. The distal end of the guide wire can include on or more weighted elements movable along the distal region of the guide wire to permit the balancing of an a rotating drive shaft and cutting region of an orbital atherectomy device. The guide wire can also include an atraumatic tip located on the end of the guide wire to reduce trauma to the vessels during implantation. Lubricious coatings are also provided to reduce friction between the driveshaft and cutting region of the atherectomy device and guide wire.

The invention provides a rotational atherectomy device having, in various embodiments, a flexible, elongated, rotatable drive shaft with at least one flexible or inflexible eccentric enlarged abrading and cutting head attached thereto which comprises an abrasive surface. When placed against stenotic tissue and rotated at high speed, the eccentric nature of the abrading and cutting head moves along an orbital path, opening the lesion to a diameter larger than the resting diameter of the enlarged abrading and cutting head. Preferably the abrading and cutting head has a center of mass spaced radially from the rotational axis of the drive shaft, facilitating the ability of the device to travel along an orbital path. The abrading and cutting head comprises proximal and / or distal radiused surfaces that facilitate cutting difficult stenosis material while minimizing trauma to the vessel. In some cases, the abrading and cutting head is made from a relatively dense metal.

Described herein is a system and method for identifying elastic lamina during interventional procedures, such as atherectomy. Such identification can be used to avoid trauma to the external elastic lamina during the procedure.

The present invention provides an atherectomy catheter which has a cutting element that is able to cut both soft tissue and hard tissue, and methods of cutting material from a blood vessel lumen using a rotating cutting element. The cutting element has a sharp cutting edge that surrounds a cup-shaped surface and at least one surface of abrasive material. The cup-shaped surface directs the cut material into a tissue chamber. The cutting edge and the cup-shaped surface together are well suited to cut and remove relatively soft tissue from the blood vessel. The abrasive material surface in combination with the cutting element is well suited to abrade and remove hard material from the blood vessel.

A high-speed rotational atherectomy device for opening a stenosis in an artery having a given diameter, comprising: a guide wire; a flexible elongated, rotatable drive shaft advanceable over the guide wire, the drive shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; an abrading head; and a piloting member fixedly attached to the drive shaft and disposed distally of the abrading head. When the piloting member is advanced to a stenosis, the piloting member creates a piloting hole when the drive shaft at a sufficient rotational speed. The eccentric abrading head is then advanced through the piloting hole and distally across the stenotic lesion, thereby opening the stenotic lesion to a diameter larger than the nominal diameter of the eccentric enlarged diameter section.

An atherectomy device comprising a rotatabry motor- driven flexible hollow shaft that is coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the guidewire; an annular distal end of the hollow shaft having a diameter that is only slightly larger than the diameter of the guidewire and configured with cutting surfaces for piercing hardened atherosclerotic plaque! a tubular sleeve secured to a first peripheral surface of the hollow shaft and configured with cutting surfaces for enlarging an opening formed in the plaque; and an asymmetric cutting unit extending between the sleeve and a second peripheral surface of the hollow shaft, to enable eccentric rotation of the hollow shaft for cutting and removing additional occlusive material from the blood vessel to open a chronic total occlusion. In one embodiment, the cutting unit is a helical strand unit having a polygonal cross section with a first side that atraumatically contacts a blood vessel wall.