Large volume atherectomy device

Abstract

A side-cutting atherectomy catheter with a housing containing a tissue-removal means, a window on one side, and a large volume inflatable support on the opposite side. The large volume inflatable support has a maximum diameter larger than the diameter of the cutter housing, generating a greater degree of contact with a blood vessel's interior diameter than conventional balloon-housing configurations. This feature stabilizes the cutter housing and improves tissue-removal during the atherectomy procedure. Large volume inflatable supports have a maximum inflated diameter at least 1.1 times, and preferably 1.35 times, greater than the diameter of the housing. The supports may be formed from either elastic or inelastic materials. When formed from inelastic materials, the supports have slack material when uninflated which can extend into and become entangled with the cutter window. To prevent this problem, the large volume inflatable support is constrained when uninflated. The means for constraining the support generally comprises balloon structures, housing structures, or storage or shielding features. In a preferred embodiment, the large volume inflatable support comprises a balloon formed with a plurality of preferential longitudinal folds. When deflated, the folds cause the balloon to form an overlapping flap of material which constrains the slack balloon material from extending around the housing and becoming entangled in the cutter window.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.