Bipolar electrocautery valvulotome

A bipolar electrocautery valvulotome comprising:

• an elongated catheter main body having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end for being held and manipulated by a user, and a distal end;
• a first electrode provided at said distal end and having an exposed electrode surface facing distally of said catheter main body, said first electrode being adapted to be electrically coupled to device for generating a current;
• a second electrode disposed distally of said first electrode, said second electrode being adapted to be electrically coupled to said current generating device, said second electrode having an exposed surface in a plane substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said catheter main body;
• at least one of said first and second electrodes being movable relative to the other of said first and second electrodes so as to selectively capture a structure to be cauterized therebetween, and
• a head component having a distal end and a proximal end, said head component being at least one of inclined and curved so as to gradually increase in width from said distal end toward said proximal end, said proximal end including a surface disposed substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said catheter main body, said second electrode being mounted to said surface of said proximal end of said head component.

A bipolar electrocautery valvulotome comprising:

• an elongated catheter main body having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end for being held and manipulated by a user, and a distal end;
• a first electrode provided at said distal end and having an exposed electrode surface facing distally of said catheter main body, said first electrode being adapted to be electrically coupled to device for generating a current;
• and
• a second electrode disposed distally of said first electrode, said second electrode being adapted to be electrically coupled to said current generating device, said second electrode having an exposed surface in a plane substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said catheter main body;
• at least one of said first and second electrodes being movable relative to the other of said first and second electrodes so as to selectively capture a structure to be cauterized therebetween, wherein said first electrode comprises at least two electrode segments mounted to a distal portion of said catheter main body, said distal portion comprising at least two tab elements that can be selectively flexed relative to said longitudinal axis of said catheter main body, a said electrode segment being mounted to each said tab element.

A method of disabling a venous valve using a valvulotome comprising an elongated catheter main body having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end for being held and manipulated by a user, and a distal end;

• a first electrode provided at said distal end and having an exposed surface facing distally of said catheter main body, said first electrode being electrically coupled to device for generating a current;
• a second electrode disposed distally of said first electrode, said second electrode being electrically coupled to said current generating device, said second electrode having an exposed surface facing proximally of said catheter main body and in a plane substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said catheter main body, at least one of said first and second electrodes being movable relative to the other of said first and second electrodes so as to selectively capture a structure to be cauterized therebetween, the method comprising the steps of:
• a) making an incision in a target vein segment adjacent a first end of the vein segment;
• b) inserting a distal end of said valvulotome through said incision with said first and second electrodes in opposed facing relation,
• c) advancing said valvulotome in a direction of blood flow through said vein segment to a second end of said vein segment;
• d) displacing one of said first and second electrodes relative to the other so that said first and second electrodes are spaced apart;
• e) passing said first electrode back through a valve in said vein segment;
• f) displacing said second electrode to a position substantially immediately adjacent one side of said valve;
• g) advancing said first electrode so as to sandwich said valve between said first and second electrodes;
• and
• h) actuating said current device whereby said valve is ablated.