Device and Method for Treating a Chronic Total Occlusion

A vascular drilling device for centrally aligning and crossing an occluded blood vessel, said device having a stationary unit and a drilling unit,

• the stationary unit comprising:
• an outer tubular member;
• an inner tubular member interposed within said outer tubular member
• a torque-transmitting member interposed within said inner tubular member extending from said stationary unit to said drilling unit, wherein said torque-transmitting member is substantially enclosed by, and attached to, an inner rotatable hypotube;
• a plurality of coiled curved alignment structures extending non-perpendicularly from said outer tubular member, wherein said curved alignment structures extend approximately between the range of 3 mm and 8 mm from an outer surface of said outer tubular member, and wherein each of said curved alignment structures is approximately between 25 mm and 50 mm in length;
• whereby said plurality of curved alignment structures align said device in a central region of a blood vessel, thereby preventing accidental puncturing of blood vessel walls;
• the drilling unit comprising:
• a plurality of distal end loops projecting from a distal region of said drilling unit;
• whereby said distal end loops fracture an occlusion when said loops rotate and advance though said occlusion.

A method of traversing a vascular occlusion using a vascular drilling device comprising a stationary unit and a drilling unit, the stationary unit comprising an outer tubular member, an inner tubular member interposed within said outer tubular member, a torque-transmitting member interposed within said inner tubular member extending from said stationary unit to said drilling unit, a plurality of curved alignment structures extending from said outer tubular member;

• the drilling unit comprising said torque-transmitting member, and a plurality of distal end loops projecting from a distal region of said drilling unit, the method comprising the steps of:
• positioning said device such that the distal end of said device is proximate to an occlusion;
• rotating at least a portion of said device for fracturing said occlusion;
• and,
• advancing said device through said occlusion.

A vascular drilling device for centrally aligning and crossing an occluded blood vessel, the vascular drilling device comprising

• A main body having an outer cylindrical surface;
• a plurality of curved alignment structures extending from said outer cylindrical surface;
• wherein each of said curved alignment structures comprises a coiled alignment member integral with said curved alignment structure;
• and
• wherein each of said coiled alignment member extends from said outer cylindrical surface to stabilize said main body substantially within the center of said blood vessel.