Catheter for performing an atherectomy procedure
AssigneeFTS Engineering, Inc.
InventorJeddy D. Nixon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A catheter for performing an atherectomy procedure to remove plaque from an artery is disclosed. The catheter includes a plaque cutting head having an outer shell of thin flexible material generally cylindrical in cross-section and shaped to engage plaque in an artery. The outer shell has a plurality of openings through which the plaque will enter the shell as the shell is forced against the plaque. A cutter rotates inside the shell to cut the plaque that enters into the shell into small pieces as the catheter is pushed through an artery. A motor drive elongated drive shaft rotates the cutter.
Claims7
A catheter for performing an atherectomy procedure to remove plaque from an artery comprising a plaque cutting head including an outer shell of thin flexible material generally cylindrical in cross section and shaped to engage plaque in an artery, said outer shell having a plurality of openings through which the plaque will enter the shell as the shell is forced against the plaque, and a cutter rotating inside the shell to cut the plaque that enters into the shell into small pieces as the catheter is pushed through an artery, an elongated drive shaft for rotating the cutter, piezo electric crystals mounted on the drive shaft to cause the cutting head to vibrate, means for supplying the crystals with electrical energy to cause such vibration, and a motor for rotating the shaft and the cutter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.