# US 12,213,697 B2 · Atherectomy system adapted to free a stuck atherectomy burr > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,213,697 B2 - Document ID: US12213697B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/706,866 - Filed: 2022-03-29 - Published: 2022-07-14 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-18 - Assignees: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. - Applicants: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. - Inventors: Mark A. Hilse; Corydon Carlson; David Gordon Spangler; Daniel Frank Massimini; Laszlo Trent Farago - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12213697B2 ## 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 17/22: Implements for squeezing-off ulcers or the like on inner organs of the body; Implements for scraping-out cavities of body organs, e.g. bones; for invasive removal or destruction of calculus using mechanical vibrations; for removing obstructions in blood vessels, not otherwise provided for - A61M 25/09: Guide wires - A61B 2017/00017: {Electrical control of surgical instruments} - A61B 2017/00075: {Motion} - A61B 2017/00119: {alarm; indicating an abnormal situation} - A61B 2017/00199: {with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display} - A61B 2017/00398: {using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids} - A61B 2017/22038: {with a guide wire} - A61B 2017/22094: {for crossing total occlusions, i.e. piercing} - A61B 2017/320741: {for stripping the intima or the internal plaque from a blood vessel, e.g. for endarterectomy} - A61B 2090/066: {for measuring torque} - A61B 2090/08021: {of the patient or his organs} - A61F 2/01: Filters implantable into blood vessels - 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)} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract An atherectomy system includes a drive mechanism adapted to rotatably actuate an atherectomy burr and a controller that is adapted to operate the drive mechanism in a first operating mode in which the atherectomy burr is operated at a speed reference and with a predetermined torque limit. The controller is adapted to determine when the atherectomy burr becomes stuck while in the first operating mode and is further adapted to, when the atherectomy burr becomes stuck, operate the drive mechanism in a second operating mode that is different from the first operating mode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An atherectomy system, comprising: an atherectomy burr; a drive mechanism adapted to rotatably actuate the atherectomy burr; a controller adapted to operate the drive mechanism in a first rotational direction; the controller further adapted to determine when the atherectomy burr becomes stuck, and when the atherectomy burr becomes stuck, the controller is further adapted to alternate between actively driving the drive mechanism in the first rotational direction for a first distance and actively driving the drive mechanism in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction for a second distance different from the first distance. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The atherectomy system of claim 1, wherein the first distance comprises a first number of rotations of the drive mechanism in the first rotational direction and the second distance comprises a second number of rotations of the drive mechanism in the second rotational direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The atherectomy system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further adapted to periodically adjust the first distance and/or the second distance. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The atherectomy system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further adapted to periodically adjust a time period between driving the drive mechanism in the first rotational direction and driving the drive mechanism in the second rotational direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The atherectomy system of claim 1, wherein the first distance and the second distance are selected based on a known spring constant of the drive mechanism. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The atherectomy system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further adapted to revert back to operating the drive mechanism in the first rotational direction as soon as the atherectomy burr begins to move. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The atherectomy system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further adapted to temporarily exceed a predetermined torque limit while alternating driving the drive mechanism in the first rotational direction and driving the drive mechanism in the second rotational direction. ### Claim 8 An atherectomy system, comprising: an atherectomy burr; a drive mechanism adapted to rotatably actuate the atherectomy burr; a controller adapted to operate the drive mechanism in a forward direction while a torque remains under a torque limit; the controller further adapted to alternate between actively driving the drive mechanism in the forward direction and actively driving the drive mechanism in a reverse direction when the torque exceeds the torque limit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The atherectomy system of claim 8, wherein in response to determining that the torque has exceeded the torque limit, the controller is further adapted to alternately drive the drive mechanism in the forward direction for a first number of rotations and drive the drive mechanism in the reverse direction for a second number of rotations different from the first number of rotations. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The atherectomy system of claim 8, wherein the controller is further adapted to periodically adjust the first number of rotations and/or the second number of rotations. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The atherectomy system of claim 8, wherein the controller is further adapted to periodically adjust a time period between driving the drive mechanism in the forward direction and driving the drive mechanism in the reverse direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The atherectomy system of claim 8, wherein the controller is further adapted to revert back to operating the drive mechanism in the forward direction as soon as the atherectomy burr begins to move.