# US 12,178,467 B2 · Device and method for removing material from a hollow anatomical structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,178,467 B2 - Document ID: US12178467B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/892,678 - Filed: 2022-08-22 - Published: 2023-02-16 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2011-03-15 - Assignees: AngioDynamics, Inc. - Applicants: AngioDynamics, Inc. - Inventors: William A. Cartier; William C. Hamilton, Jr.; James J. Mitchell; Daniel T. Lagoe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178467B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/320725: {with radially expandable cutting or abrading elements (A61B17/32075 takes precedence)} - A61B 17/221: Gripping devices in the form of loops or baskets {for gripping calculi or similar types of obstructions (surgical snare instruments A61B17/32056)} - 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 2017/00685: {Archimedes screw} - A61B 2017/22038: {with a guide wire} - A61B 2017/22067: {Blocking; Occlusion (A61B2017/22054 takes precedence)} - A61B 2017/22068: {Centering} - A61B 2017/2212: {having a closed distal end, e.g. a loop} - A61B 2017/2215: {having an open distal end} - A61B 2017/320716: {comprising means for preventing embolism by dislodged material} - A61B 2017/320733: {with a flexible cutting or scraping element, e.g. with a whip-like distal filament member} - A61B 2017/320775: {Morcellators, impeller or propeller like means} - A61B 2090/08021: {of the patient or his organs} - A61B 2217/005: with suction drainage system - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A medical device for removing a material from a hollow anatomical structure is provided. The device may include a shaft member. The device may include an expandable centering element near the distal end of the device. The device may include a macerator element either attached to the shaft or independent and freely moveable from the shaft. Alternatively, the device may include a rotating wire attached to the macerator element. The device may include an aspiration lumen in for removal of material. The device may include a drive shaft attached to a motor and used to rotate the macerator element. The device may be used in combination with a distal occlusion element, which may be either a radially expandable filter or balloon member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for removing undesirable material from a body, the device comprising: an elongate shaft comprising an outer shaft and an inner shaft; an expandable structure coupled to the outer shaft and inner shaft, the expandable structure defined by a plurality of wires interconnecting at interconnection locations, the expandable structure configured to transition from a collapsed configuration in which the expandable structure has a first outer diameter and an expanded configuration in which the expandable structure has a second outer diameter larger than the first outer diameter; a first collar coupled to the expandable structure and the inner shaft, and a second collar coupled to the outer shaft, wherein the plurality of wires includes a proximal wire section and a distal wire section, wherein a number of interconnection locations of the distal wire section is greater than a number of interconnection locations of the proximal wire section, and wherein the first collar is positioned distal of the second collar and is moveable relative to the second collar, and wherein the first collar is positioned within the proximal wire section of the expandable structure when the expandable structure is in the expanded configuration. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wires includes shape memory material, nitinol, stainless steel or plastic. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the expandable structure further comprises a cover coupled to at least part of the expandable structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein the first collar is positioned within the expandable structure in a transition configuration that occurs between the collapsed configuration and the expanded configuration. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein, in the expanded configuration, the expandable structure is configured such that application of a longitudinal force thereto causes the distal wire section to invert and collapse into the proximal wire section, thereby forming a substantially semi-spherical shape defining the expanded configuration. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein: the second collar is a proximal collar coupled to the proximal wire section. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the second collar is coupled to the expandable structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising an aspiration area defined between the outer shaft and the inner shaft, the aspiration area to facilitate aspirating the undesired material from the body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, wherein the inner shaft is configured to move relative to the outer shaft to apply a longitudinal force to the expandable structure. ### Claim 10 A system for removing undesired material from a body, the system comprising: a sheath; and a retriever device configured to be inserted into the sheath, wherein the retriever device is configured to mechanically disrupt the undesirable material from a vessel wall upon application of a force applied to the retriever device, the retriever device comprising: an elongate shaft comprising an outer shaft and an inner shaft; an expandable structure coupled to the outer shaft and inner shaft, the expandable structure defined by a plurality of wires interconnecting at interconnection points, the expandable structure configured to transition from a collapsed configuration in which the expandable structure has a first outer diameter and an expanded configuration in which the expandable structure has a second outer diameter larger than the first diameter; a first collar coupled to the expandable structure and the inner shaft, and a second collar coupled to the outer shaft, wherein the plurality of wires includes a proximal wire section and a distal wire section, wherein a number of interconnection points of the distal wire section is greater than a number of interconnection points in the proximal wire section, wherein the first collar is positioned distal of the second collar, and wherein the first collar is positioned within the proximal wire section of the expandable structure when the expandable structure is in the expanded configuration. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the inner shaft is coupled to the distal wire section and the outer shaft is coupled to the proximal wire section. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein application of longitudinal force to the expandable structure causes the expandable structure to transition from the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of wires includes shape memory material, nitinol, stainless steel or plastic. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, further comprising: an aspiration area defined between the sheath and the retriever device, the aspiration area to facilitate aspirating the undesired material from the body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, further comprising: a vacuum source operatively coupled to the aspiration area and configured to aspirate at least a portion of the undesired material through the aspiration area. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the retriever device further comprises a macerator element configured to disrupt or break apart the undesired material within the expandable structure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein a distal edge of the retriever device in the expanded configuration is rounded to prevent perforation of the vessel wall upon the application of force on the retriever device to mechanically disrupt the undesirable material. ### Claim 18 A system for removing undesired material from the body, the system comprising: an inner shaft and an outer shaft; a retriever device configured to: be rotated to engage the undesirable material, and mechanically disrupt the undesirable material from the vessel wall upon application of a force applied to the retriever device, the retriever device comprising: a plurality of wires defining an expandable structure, the expandable structure comprising a distal wire section, a proximal wire section, and an inversion section, a first collar coupled to the expandable structure and the inner shaft, and a second collar coupled to the outer shaft, wherein: the distal wire section is coupled to the inner shaft, the proximal wire section is coupled to the outer shaft, the plurality of wires interconnect at interconnection locations, wherein a number of interconnection locations of the distal wire section is greater than a number of interconnection locations of the proximal wire section, the expandable structure is configured to transition between a collapsed configuration and a deployed configuration, in the collapsed configuration, the expandable structure is configured to be placed near the undesired material; and in the deployed configuration, the expandable structure is configured such that application of a longitudinal force to either the outer shaft, the inner shaft, or the outer shaft and the inner shaft causes the expandable structure to expand; and the first collar is positioned distal of the second collar and within the proximal wire section of the expandable structure when the expandable structure is in the deployed configuration. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein a distal edge of the retriever device in the expanded configuration is rounded to prevent perforation of the vessel wall upon the application of force on the retriever device to mechanically disrupt the undesirable material. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of wires includes shape memory material, nitinol, stainless steel or plastic.