Atherectomy apparatus, systems and methods
AssigneeAtheromed, Inc.
InventorsTorrey SMITH, Douglas E. ROWE, August Christopher POMBO, Paul Quentin ESCUDERO, Christopher J. DANEK, John T. TO
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Abstract
Described here are devices and methods for performing atherectomies. Generally, the atherectomy devices may comprise a handle, a cutter assembly, and a catheter or catheter assembly therebetween. The cutter assembly may include a cutter housing and a cutter comprising a first cutting element and a second cutting element, each of which may be rotated relative to the atherectomy device to cut occlusive material.
Claims20
A device for removing occlusive material from a vessel comprising;
- a handle;
- a catheter;
- and
- a cutter assembly, wherein the cutter assembly comprises a cutter housing and a cutter configured to rotate within the housing, wherein the cutter comprises at least one helical flute forming a cutting blade having a positive rake angle, wherein the positive rake angle is at least 20 degrees.
A cutter assembly for cutting and removing occlusive material from a vessel comprising:
- a housing comprising a distal opening and having an outer diameter;
- and
- a cutter comprising a first cutting element, wherein the first cutting element extends at least partially from the distal opening of the housing and comprises at least one helical flute, wherein the each of the at least one helical flute forms a cutting blade having a cutting edge, and wherein at least a portion of the first cutting element has an outer diameter greater than or equal to the outer diameter of the housing.
A device for removing occlusive material from a vessel comprising;
- a handle;
- a first catheter having a proximal portion and a distal portion;
- a second catheter having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the second catheter moveable between an undeflected configuration and a deflected configuration in which the distal portion of the second catheter comprises a first curve and a second curve;
- and
- a cutter assembly attached to the first catheter,
- wherein the distal portion of the second catheter is stiffer than the distal portion of the first catheter, and wherein the proximal portion of the first catheter is stiffer than the distal portion of the second catheter, and wherein the first catheter is moveable relative to the second catheter to change the second catheter between the undeflected and deflected configurations.
A method of forming a first cutting element of a cutter comprising:
- advancing a ball mill along a centerline of a blank, wherein the blank has a longitudinal axis, wherein the centerline intersects the longitudinal axis of the blank;
- moving the ball mill in an arc relative to the blank to form a first portion of a first cutting flute;
- moving the ball mill distally along the longitudinal axis of the blank to form a second portion of the first cutting flute.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.