# US 11,896,260 B2 · Tissue-removing catheter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,896,260 B2 - Document ID: US11896260B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/153,079 - Filed: 2021-01-20 - Published: 2021-06-17 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-03 - Assignees: Medtronic Vascular, Inc. - Applicants: Medtronic Vascular, Inc. - Inventors: Aram Jamous; John Kelly; Conor McMullen; Matthew Fleming; Colin William Meade; Grainne Teresa Carroll - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896260B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/320758: {with a rotating cutting instrument, e.g. motor driven (A61B17/320725, A61B17/32075 and A61B17/320783 take precedence; for removing intra-ocular material A61F9/00763; endoscopic rotatable cutting instruments A61B17/32002)} - A61B 17/00234: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence)} - A61B 17/32002: {with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments} - A61B 17/32053: {Punch like cutting instruments, e.g. using a cylindrical or oval knife (A61B17/326 takes precedence; trepans A61B17/1695)} - A61B 17/320783: {through side-hole, e.g. sliding or rotating cutter inside catheter} - A61M 25/0082: {Catheter tip comprising a tool} - A61B 2017/00292: {mounted on or guided by flexible, e.g. catheter-like, means} - A61B 2017/00398: {using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids} - A61B 2017/00477: {Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence)} - A61B 2017/00738: {part of the tool being offset with respect to a main axis, e.g. for better view for the surgeon} - A61B 2017/00845: {of moving parts with respect to each other} - A61B 2017/0088: {ceramic} - A61B 2017/22001: {Angioplasty, e.g. PCTA} - A61B 2017/22038: {with a guide wire} - A61B 2017/320004: {abrasive} - A61B 2017/320024: {Morcellators, e.g. having a hollow cutting tube with an annular cutter for morcellating and removing tissue} - A61B 2017/320052: {Guides for cutting instruments} - A61B 2017/320064: {with tissue or sample retaining means} - A61B 2017/320741: {for stripping the intima or the internal plaque from a blood vessel, e.g. for endarterectomy} - A61B 2017/320775: {Morcellators, impeller or propeller like means} - A61B 2090/0801: {Prevention of accidental cutting or pricking} - A61M 25/0108: {using radio-opaque or ultrasound markers} - A61M 2025/0096: {being laterally outward extensions or tools, e.g. hooks or fibres} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract A tissue-removing catheter for removing tissue in a body lumen includes a tube extending axially along the catheter. A junction box housing is located at a distal end of the tube. An elongate body extends distally from the junction box housing. The elongate body is sized and shaped to be received in the body lumen. A gear assembly is disposed in the junction box housing. The gear assembly engages the elongate body for rotating the elongate body. A tissue-removing element is mounted on a distal end portion of the elongate body. The tissue-removing element is configured to remove the tissue as the tissue-removing element is rotated by the elongate body within the body lumen. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tissue-removing catheter for removing tissue in a body lumen, the tissue-removing catheter comprising: a tube extending axially along the catheter; a junction box housing located at a distal end of the tube; an elongate body extending distally from the junction box housing, the elongate body being sized and shaped to be received in the body lumen; a gear assembly disposed in the junction box housing, the gear assembly engaging the elongate body for rotating the elongate body; and a tissue-removing element comprising one of an abrasive surface or a cutting element mounted on a distal end portion of the elongate body, the tissue-removing element being configured to remove the tissue as the tissue-removing element is rotated by the elongate body within the body lumen; wherein the tube defines a fluid port in a circumferentially extending wall of the tube for introducing fluid into the gear assembly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A tissue-removing catheter as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a handle mounted at a proximal end portion of the tube and operable to cause rotation of the elongate body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A tissue-removing catheter as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a motor in the handle and a drive engaging the gear assembly for rotating the gear assembly to rotate the elongate body and tissue-removing element mounted on the elongate body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A tissue-removing catheter as set forth in claim 3, wherein the drive defines a longitudinal axis that is parallel to and spaced apart from a longitudinal axis of the elongate body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) A tissue-removing catheter as set forth in claim 3, further comprising an actuator positioned on the handle and configured to selectively actuate the motor to drive rotation of the elongate body and tissue-removing element, wherein the actuator comprises one of a lever, a button, a dial, or a switch. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) A tissue-removing catheter as set forth in claim 3, wherein the gear assembly comprises a first gear fixedly attached to the drive, and a second gear in mesh with the first gear and fixedly attached to the elongate body such that rotation of the drive causes rotation of the first gear which in turn rotates the second gear thereby causing rotation of the elongate body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A tissue-removing catheter as set forth in claim 6, wherein the second gear defines a passage for receiving the inner liner. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) A tissue-removing catheter as set forth in claim 6, where the first gear is a pinion gear and the second gear is a coil gear. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) A tissue-removing catheter as set forth in claim 6, further comprising a sleeve disposed around a proximal end portion of the second gear to reduce friction on the second gear created by a push force caused from advancing the catheter through the body lumen. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A tissue-removing catheter as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an inner liner received within the elongate body, the inner liner defining at least a portion of a guidewire lumen. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A tissue-removing catheter as set forth in claim 10, wherein a distal end of the inner liner extends distally of the tissue-removing element. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A tissue-removing catheter as set forth in claim 1, wherein the fluid port is located in a distal end portion of the drive tube. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A tissue-removing catheter as set forth in claim 1, wherein rotation of the first gear is configured to transfer the fluid around the first gear and to the second gear when the fluid is introduced into the gear assembly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A tissue-removing catheter as set forth in claim 13, wherein rotation of the second gear is configured to move the fluid around the second gear and transport the fluid to the elongate body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A tissue-removing catheter as set forth in claim 14, further comprising an outer sheath disposed around the elongate body, wherein rotation of second gear is configured to introduce the fluid into a space between the outer sheath and the elongate body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A tissue-removing catheter as set forth in claim 1, wherein the gear assembly in the junction box housing is configured to transport fluid from a proximal end of the junction box housing to a distal end of the junction box housing to cool the gear assembly with the fluid. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A tissue-removing catheter as set forth in claim 1, wherein the junction box housing comprises a rigid center portion generally surrounding the gear assembly, and flexible proximal and distal end portions. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A tissue-removing catheter as set forth in claim 17, wherein the rigid center portion comprises a casing and a first bearing holder mounted on a proximal end of the casing and a second bearing holder mounted on a distal end of the casing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A tissue-removing catheter as set forth in claim 1, wherein the tissue-removing element comprises an abrasive burr. ### Claim 20 A tissue-removing catheter for removing tissue in a body lumen, the tissue-removing catheter comprising: a tube extending axially along the catheter; a junction box housing located at a distal end of the tube; an elongate body extending distally from the junction box housing, the elongate body being sized and shaped to be received in the body lumen; a gear assembly disposed in the junction box housing, the gear assembly engaging the elongate body for rotating the elongate body; and a tissue-removing element comprising one of an abrasive surface or a cutting element mounted on a distal end portion of the elongate body, the tissue-removing element being configured to remove the tissue as the tissue-removing element is rotated by the elongate body within the body lumen; wherein the junction box housing comprises a rigid center portion generally surrounding the gear assembly, and flexible proximal and distal end portions. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A tissue-removing catheter as set forth in claim 20, wherein the rigid center portion comprises a casing and a first bearing holder mounted on a proximal end of the casing and a second bearing holder mounted on a distal end of the casing.