Method and apparatus for avulsion of varicose veins
AssigneeVNUS Medical Technologies, Inc.
InventorsMichael S. Mirizzi, Mark P. Parker, Radit Tantisira, John Rodriguez
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Abstract
Apparatuses and methods for removing veins, usually varicose veins, rely on endoluminal capture of a distal end of the vein segment to be removed. In the illustrated embodiments, a shaft having reciprocatable penetrating elements is used to engage and capture the distal end of the vein. After rotating the shaft to pull the distal segment of the vein away from the connecting tissue, the shaft is withdrawn proximally, invaginating the segment back to the point of insertion.
Claims35
A method for removing a blood vessel, having a vessel wall from tissue, said method comprising:
- introducing a shaft having fully retracted penetration through a tissue penetration and into a lumen of the vein at a proximal location;
- exposing the penetrating elements and capturing the vessel wall at the distal location from the lumen with the distal end of the shaft;
- and
- manipulating the shaft to remove the vessel from the tissue.
Apparatus for removing a vein from tissue, said apparatus comprising:
- a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end,
- means at the distal end of the shaft for intraluminally penetrating a venous wall to a depth selected to capture the wall and permit separation of the wall from underlying connective tissue, said means being fully retractable into the shaft;
- and
- a handle disposed at the proximal end of the shaft and having an actuator coupled to the penetrating means.
Apparatus as in claims 24, wherein the penetrating element(s) protrude from the shaft in a radial direction by a distance in the range from 0.25 mm to 10 mm when fully radially extended.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.