# US 10,368,900 B2 · Tissue slitting methods and systems

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,368,900 B2
- Document ID: US10368900B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/229,873
- Filed: 2016-08-05
- Published: 2016-11-24
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2012-09-14
- Assignees: The Spectranetics Corporation
- Applicants: The Spectranetics Corporation
- Inventors: Wade A. Bowe; George Woodrow Burton; Paul Joseph Dalby; Ryan Michael Sotak; Matthew Allan James
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10368900B2

## CPC

- A61B 17/32075: {Pullback cutting; combined forward and pullback cutting, e.g. with cutters at both sides of the plaque}
- A61B 17/3203: Fluid jet cutting instruments
- A61B 17/32037: {for removing obstructions from inner organs or blood vessels, e.g. for atherectomy}
- A61B 17/3207: Atherectomy devices {working by cutting or abrading; Similar devices specially adapted for non-vascular obstructions (A61B17/32037 takes precedence; endoscopic cutting instruments A61B17/320016)}
- A61B 17/320725: {with radially expandable cutting or abrading elements (A61B17/32075 takes precedence)}
- A61B 17/3211: Surgical scalpels, knives; Accessories therefor
- A61B 17/50: Instruments {, other than pincettes or toothpicks,} for removing foreign bodies from the human body (surgical pincettes, i.e. surgical tweezers, A61B17/30)
- A61B 18/245: {for removing obstructions in blood vessels or calculi}
- A61B 90/02: {Devices for expanding tissue, e.g. skin tissue (implements for holding wounds open, surgical tractors A61B17/02; implantable mammary prosthesis A61F2/12; dilators A61M29/00)}
- A61N 1/05: for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode (A61N1/06 takes precedence)
- A61N 1/056: {Transvascular endocardial electrode systems}
- A61N 1/057: {Anchoring means; Means for fixing the head inside the heart}
- G10L 21/00: Speech or voice signal processing techniques to produce another audible or non-audible signal, e.g. visual or tactile, in order to modify its quality or its intelligibility (G10L19/00 takes precedence)
- H04L 65/403: Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences (data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15)
- H04M 3/568: {audio processing specific to telephonic conferencing, e.g. spatial distribution, mixing of participants (echo suppression in two-way loud-speaking telephone systems H04M9/02; sound field processing per se H04S7/30)}
- A61B 2017/320004: {abrasive}
- A61B 2017/320044: {Blunt dissectors}
- A61N 2001/0578: {having means for removal or extraction}
- F04C 2270/041: Controlled or regulated
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)
- G10L: SPEECH ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES OR SPEECH SYNTHESIS; SPEECH RECOGNITION; SPEECH OR VOICE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES; SPEECH OR AUDIO CODING OR DECODING
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)
- F04C: ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS (engines F03C); ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS

## Abstract

Methods and systems for separating an object, such as a lead, from formed tissue are provided. Specifically, a tissue slitting device is configured to engage patient formed tissue at a slitting engagement point. While the object is subjected to a first traction force, the tissue slitting device is caused to move further into the engaged tissue and slit the tissue past the point of engagement. The slitting device causes the tissue to separate along an axial direction of the length of the formed tissue and releases at least some of the force containing the object. The methods and systems are well suited for use in cardiac pacing or defibrillator lead explant procedures.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A tissue slitting apparatus comprising:
a shaft, wherein the shaft is flexible, the shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end comprises an opening and a circumference, wherein the circumference has a perimeter completely surrounding the opening, and wherein the shaft includes an inner lumen extending proximally from the opening to receive at least one of an implanted object and a mechanical traction device, the inner lumen defining a longitudinal axis of the shaft;
a tissue abrading device disposed adjacent to the opening, the tissue abrading device comprising:
a leading edge disposed at a distal portion of the tissue abrading device; and
an abrading tip, wherein the abrading tip is disposed adjacent to the leading edge, wherein the abrading tip includes at least one reciprocating grinder, the at least one reciprocating grinder having at least one abrasive surface, wherein the at least one reciprocating grinder is configured to be operatively coupled with an actuator, wherein the at least one reciprocating grinder is configured to reciprocate in a direction relative to the shaft via an actuation force provided by the actuator, and wherein the at least one reciprocating grinder only reciprocates along a portion of the perimeter of the circumference.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The tissue slitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the abrasive surface is manufactured from a material with at least one of a rough surface, knurl, machined surface, formed surface, and diamond deposition surface.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The tissue slitting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the material is made of metal.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The tissue slitting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the material is made of plastic.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The tissue slitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the abrading tip is configured to move relative to the leading edge from a first position to a second position as the tissue abrading device contacts the tissue growth.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The tissue slitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one reciprocating grinder moves axially relative to the shaft.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The tissue slitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator is powered by an electric motor.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The tissue slitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator is powered by a pneumatic motor.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The tissue slitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator is powered by a hydraulic motor.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The tissue slitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one reciprocating grinder moves across the abrading tip.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The tissue slitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one reciprocating grinder moves axially relative to the shaft and independently of movement of the shaft.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The tissue slitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one reciprocating grinder reciprocates along about 50% or less of the perimeter of the circumference.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The tissue slitting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one reciprocating grinder reciprocates along less than 50% of the perimeter of the circumference.